Worried about my four year old cob dropping weight - advice

[Signal]

My four year old traditional cob has just kept dropping weight this winter. She shares a field with our pony who is thriving. We've had teeth checked, she is wormed regularly, vet gave her a clean bill of health on last check up, she is not yet worked, I have rugged her throughout the colder weather (where as previous years she has been fine unrugged all year) she is fed ample good quality hay, and has hard feed twice a day (conditioning mix and sugerbeet). She's not desperately under weight, i.e. ok to the eye (though mainly fluff!) but you can easily feel her ribs. She has grown by two inches over the past few months. Do I keep on as is, or shall I try anything else?

 

[JanetGeorge]

I would put money on it being teeth. There are a lot of changes at this age - and they happen quite quickly. And I should add, a lot of vets are lousy at teeth - I know!

 

[Cecile]

Good way of keeping an eye on teeth, watch that poo - look for undigested fibre or long fibre in the droppings, I'm a take temperature and watch every orifice kind of woman if I suspect a problem.
I have no shame and will happily go through a pile of poo like I am a CSI detective, if one comes in with worms and then treated my husband will often shout out, FGS get your head out of the wheelbarrow........

 

[honetpot]

I have had a lot of young stock and when they are growing like teenage boys no matter how much you feed them they look long and lanky.
I have natives and sold two I own now as just broken four year olds, both were covered but not in 'show' condition. They were both stuffed with food after leaving me and now are on a constant diet, and despite wintering out with no rugs an very little to eat, they are still too fat! One is now seventeen, and has mild EMS.
If the vet has looked at her and there is nothing obviously wrong the chances are at about six when she stops growing it will start going on her middle. The fashion for having fat horses makes my hands itch. Over weight 'children' are not healthy, and its really bad for them long term.