Winter thoroughbred challenges how is everyone doing?

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jenningtons

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I've nearly had my tb mare a year and I've never owned this breed before and to be honest from all the bad reps they get I am greatly surprised by my mare who hasn't really lived up to the 'tb reputation' . I was really dreading winter coming as I didn't want her to lose any condition but I've again been surprised by how well she's doing with her weight. How is every doing with theirs this winter?
PRY8y9
 
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My Tb has lived out for the last 2 years.
Previously stabled at night in winter.
he is fed twice a day, has adlib hay and is rug(he is chaser clipped)
He is fine and i feel prefers it and we dont have an issue with his weight.
 
mine is living out with a medium weight rug, and no feed or haylage. Hes living on the grass which is still growing here. and I had stocked up on feed and theres always loads of haylage to give them, but they are just not bothered. I am in Devon and its not got cold yet. Last year he never went beyond a medium weight rug. My heavyweight is there waiting, but hes happy, hes got a good weight on. His feet look superb. and hes far healthier than he ever was stabled at night and on feeds and haylage :)
 
I have an 18 yo ex-racer. He is now pretty much retired so has no top line, but still got plenty of weight on him, pretty much living out except a few rests in the barn when the weather is really rubbish. Other than thick mud where they mope waiting for breakfast, the field is not bad. As he has thin skin and white socks so he has got mud fever in the past. But never had a problem with weight. He is happier out.
 
I just feed him some alfalfa pellets as well as what the others get (sugar free hifi chaff and equibeet) just gives him a few more calories and protein. And linseed and pro earth supplement.

I think they are a breed who can drop off when stressed more than anything. When I first had him 10 years ago he was stressed on a big yard and hard to keep on weight. Moved and had no problems at my last or this yard.
 
My four ex racers are living out this winter. They have ad lib hay and are fed linseed, grass nuts and oats. There's only a couple of them in work but they all look great. Much happier in themselves living out. No cribbing, weaving, box walking, nodding. There's no mud and I have never seen their feet look better.

I felt a small wave of pride on New Year's day when one of my greys went hunting with a friend and despite not being stabled, I thought he was one of the best turned out (something I take great pride in when they hunt) and also in great condition.
 
Mine has dropped off a little. I did feel he needed to loose a bit of tummy though so I'm actually pleased by this, I'd not want him much lighter now though. I think he's looking pretty good :)
In at night ad lib hay as he prefers it to haylage and two big feeds a day.
My old TB was the one to own through winter! A few handfuls of chaff happy hoof and hay and he was grand
 
I have a 20 something 3/4 TB who is also prone to laminitis so winter is a chance not to worry about his weight. The first year we had him he lost a LOT of weight but it was a yard that was quite stressy and feeding hay in the fields was a nightmare. Since then he's not had a problem and now that I can't feed cereal (for the last few years) because of the lami he simply gets ad-lib hay, lots of Speed-beet and a generous helping of micronised linseed. And only one feed a day. His weight is spot on.
 
I'm glad it's not only me that is having a stress free winter with mine :) My tb currently goes out during the day has breakfast& dinner consisting of a balancer and chaff and ad lib hay. She's slightly overweight if anything but I think I was stressing leading up to these months as when I bought her post winter she was very underweight and her owner had said she'd lost it over the winter months so I was expecting it to be a challenge to keep the weight on her :)
 
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