sugarpony
Well-Known Member
I have a historically poor-doer of a horse, and he’s gone into this winter much leaner than I’d like due to various issues. Is it even worth trying to put weight on him, or should I just try and maintain him as he is, and hope that some good spring grass sorts him out?
When talking about weights he’s 16hh ISH (but likely mostly TB) and relatively fine build, all weights are on a mobile weighbridge.
Came to me from Ireland in June 2021 a bit scrappy and lacking topline, 496kg 1mo after purchase. Put some weight on over the summer and autumn, but come February 2022 had dropped off again. Put it back on over the summer, and actually got almost a bit fat at 540kg (BCS 3.5/5) Held his weight so much better last winter, don’t have an accurate weight but was still BCS 3 in Feb/March. Beginning of April he dropped all his weight and topline in about 2-3wks. He looked horrendous, absolute max BCS 2/5, 456kg. I don’t know 100% why, but he went to a specialist dental vet to have 2 cavities filled at the end of March looking great, and 2.5wks later was a hat rack, so it’s awfully coincidental timing if it’s not related
He’s since been treated for ulcers (not scoped) which made no difference, had succeed test for hind gut ulcers (negative), full blood panel (all ok), been wormed and WEC regularly. Also had a bute trial and lameness exam, neither showed anything up. He looks a lot better, his topline has come back (at least mostly) but he still looks ribbier than I want. He’s now 513kg, still probably only a BCS 2.5/5 (although if you leave off the ribs he’s a 3 elsewhere).
Progress stalled when we moved to the other end of the country in October, and he got quite stressed and wasn’t eating hay or hard feed very well. But he didn’t lose anything overall, was 512kg in July and then 513kg in November, so it just set back the progress a bit. Grass is MUCH better at new yard.
He’s currently eating 1/2 Stubbs scoop am and 3/4 scoop pm (dry) A&P soothe and gain twice a day, with 1/2 scoop mollichaff condition complete. Im on full livery, and already buying the soothe and gain out of my own funds as he won’t eat any of the other feed (fibrebeet/speedibeet type things). Also wont eat grass nuts, we’ve tried several times. won’t eat micronised linseed, we tried introducing it slowly but every time we got to more than a sprinkle he’d stop eating any bucket feed even without linseed in. Was getting equijewel, and I’ve just bought a bag of omega rice to try. He gets a broad spec vit/mineral supplement (science supplements well horse performance), is out in the day and ad-lib high quality meadow hay overnight (2 big large hole nets which he rarely finishes)
He’s in full work, but not super hard over the winter. Average week ridden 5 times, schooling 1-2x, lunging once, hacking 1-2x, jumping lesson every 2-3wks, competing once a month. He feels great, no lack of energy or stamina. I could cut back his ridden work, but he’s so much better mentally and physically when in regular work. Honestly, he comes in quite stressy then after working, even just a 20-30min walk round the block, it’s like he lets out a big breath and relaxes. Plus it means I can make sure he’s keeping all the right muscles working to support his body, as he’s prone to poor posture and muscle tension if you let the work slip.
Sorry this is so p
When talking about weights he’s 16hh ISH (but likely mostly TB) and relatively fine build, all weights are on a mobile weighbridge.
Came to me from Ireland in June 2021 a bit scrappy and lacking topline, 496kg 1mo after purchase. Put some weight on over the summer and autumn, but come February 2022 had dropped off again. Put it back on over the summer, and actually got almost a bit fat at 540kg (BCS 3.5/5) Held his weight so much better last winter, don’t have an accurate weight but was still BCS 3 in Feb/March. Beginning of April he dropped all his weight and topline in about 2-3wks. He looked horrendous, absolute max BCS 2/5, 456kg. I don’t know 100% why, but he went to a specialist dental vet to have 2 cavities filled at the end of March looking great, and 2.5wks later was a hat rack, so it’s awfully coincidental timing if it’s not related
He’s since been treated for ulcers (not scoped) which made no difference, had succeed test for hind gut ulcers (negative), full blood panel (all ok), been wormed and WEC regularly. Also had a bute trial and lameness exam, neither showed anything up. He looks a lot better, his topline has come back (at least mostly) but he still looks ribbier than I want. He’s now 513kg, still probably only a BCS 2.5/5 (although if you leave off the ribs he’s a 3 elsewhere).
Progress stalled when we moved to the other end of the country in October, and he got quite stressed and wasn’t eating hay or hard feed very well. But he didn’t lose anything overall, was 512kg in July and then 513kg in November, so it just set back the progress a bit. Grass is MUCH better at new yard.
He’s currently eating 1/2 Stubbs scoop am and 3/4 scoop pm (dry) A&P soothe and gain twice a day, with 1/2 scoop mollichaff condition complete. Im on full livery, and already buying the soothe and gain out of my own funds as he won’t eat any of the other feed (fibrebeet/speedibeet type things). Also wont eat grass nuts, we’ve tried several times. won’t eat micronised linseed, we tried introducing it slowly but every time we got to more than a sprinkle he’d stop eating any bucket feed even without linseed in. Was getting equijewel, and I’ve just bought a bag of omega rice to try. He gets a broad spec vit/mineral supplement (science supplements well horse performance), is out in the day and ad-lib high quality meadow hay overnight (2 big large hole nets which he rarely finishes)
He’s in full work, but not super hard over the winter. Average week ridden 5 times, schooling 1-2x, lunging once, hacking 1-2x, jumping lesson every 2-3wks, competing once a month. He feels great, no lack of energy or stamina. I could cut back his ridden work, but he’s so much better mentally and physically when in regular work. Honestly, he comes in quite stressy then after working, even just a 20-30min walk round the block, it’s like he lets out a big breath and relaxes. Plus it means I can make sure he’s keeping all the right muscles working to support his body, as he’s prone to poor posture and muscle tension if you let the work slip.
Sorry this is so p
