what condition ??

Agree 2.5-3 is the ideal, however we are still coming out of one of the hardest winters in several generations so as long as owners are doing something about it (rugging appropriately, hay in field and hard feed etc.) then down as low as 2 probably isn't completely uncommon.

For mine if they were a 3 now I'd worry with still lots of spring grass to come.
 
gwniver said:
my boy is about 370 kg on the weight tape ..... he is 14.3hh trotter (5year old )
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A weight tape won't tell you whether your horse/pony is in correct condition, as conformation/depth of girth varies so much between individual horses. Much better to learn to condition score properly.
 
I've never had mine as lean as they are now, or at least they were 2 weeks ago. I just can't get hold of any forage which I'm willing to feed them. My broodies are the leanest as the weather has been so awful I haven't taken the foals away yet (neither are foaling this year). The warmblood one is probably (gulp) a 1.5/2 and the ID a 2.5 Both foals (oops yearlings) are fat though.

Just a horrible, horrible winter but had I still been able to feed ad lib haylage they would all be 3-4 by now as usual. However I am holding my nerve. Both broodies were in a separate field to the foals yesterday and it was soooooo tempting to shut the gate but the forecast in atrocious and I know professional breeders wouldn't even be concerned by the mares' conditions.

Ideally I think I'd like them at a 2.5 now with a view to soon limiting grazing. This year I wonder if I'll have to limit grazing at all and no way is there enough grass to even think of cutting for haylage. Expensive times ahead (again)!
 
scarymare said:
I've never had mine as lean as they are now, or at least they were 2 weeks ago. I just can't get hold of any forage which I'm willing to feed them. My broodies are the leanest as the weather has been so awful I haven't taken the foals away yet (neither are foaling this year). The warmblood one is probably (gulp) a 1.5/2 and the ID a 2.5 Both foals (oops yearlings) are fat though.

Just a horrible, horrible winter but had I still been able to feed ad lib haylage they would all be 3-4 by now as usual. However I am holding my nerve. Both broodies were in a separate field to the foals yesterday and it was soooooo tempting to shut the gate but the forecast in atrocious and I know professional breeders wouldn't even be concerned by the mares' conditions.

Ideally I think I'd like them at a 2.5 now with a view to soon limiting grazing. This year I wonder if I'll have to limit grazing at all and no way is there enough grass to even think of cutting for haylage. Expensive times ahead (again)!
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I don't understand why you can't get hold of haylege? All professional breeders I know have mares in very good condition, your comment makes it sound as though they are happy having skinny mares?
 
My Haffy is a 2.5 I'd say but came out of winter at about 1 and 3 quarters. Vet was very happy with his weight when she came to vaccinate last week, but he has a little bit of room for some gain. Still very ribby but i'd rather him be lean and top him up with hay, than muzzling and restricting grazing.
 
A healthy score is between 2 and 3. An out of work horse lacking muscle may be perfectly healthy at 2, equally a fit event horse may score at 2 and be perfectly appropriately conditioned for their job. For most of us, 2.5-3 is fine. Anything over a 3 should be on a diet.
 
HBM1 said:
I don't understand why you can't get hold of haylege? All professional breeders I know have mares in very good condition, your comment makes it sound as though they are happy having skinny mares?
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LOL, I don't think I could ever be accused of routinely keeping mares in poor condition and suspect that my 1.5 would be somebody's 2 Not sure about your experience then of professional breeders or which breeders you are talking about - certainly when ever I've sent mares to stud they have come back in far worse condition than they went (probably a good thing) and I understand this to be the case from all my colleagues who breed also. My mares go to very good studs and AI centres by the way. As far as getting haylage goes, yes of course I can get some, just not of the quality I would be happy feeding. I have 7 horses currently on 26 acres so would rather the broodies a little lean than have to feed poor quality forage.

TBH your comment surprises me, my experience of professional breeders does not mirror yours, I'm not saying they allow horses to become skinny, just that they wouldn't be overly concerned at a condition 2 at the end of the toughest witner ever - although in reality professional breeders would NEVER let mares keep foals for a year, I just find natural weaning causes soooo much less attachment issues so it works for me. I've even found the very knowledgable breeders on this forum (very helpful too) are less sensitive to ribs etc than I am. Nobody (especially me) is saying skinny horses are OK, the OP is about what condition NOW!!!
 
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