Youngsters - how fat?

B

BBP

Well-Known Member
Joined
17 July 2008
Messages
6,587
Visit site
My young horse is now 4.5 years old and has been turned away for the last 3 months, and will probably get another 3 before being re-backed. My question is, how 'fat' do you like to see a young horse? I ask because the other people on my yard keep saying that he needs to have a bit more fat on him so he can grow as he is quite physically immature. I know they dont mean to let him get obese, but I would still rather he was on the lighter side - am I wrong? He gets ad lib hay at night and grass during the day, plus safe and sound and a multivitamin.

This is him last winter as i dont have any recent photos but he is in about the same condition...

ososnowtrot.jpg


As he isnt in work at the moment he is similar to this, i.e he has lost the muscle tone he gained over the summer, but to me weight wise he looks and feels about right.

How do you like to see yours?
 
if you cant see his ribs but can rub your fingers along and feel them, then thats about right. it is a rule of thumb i was given by a breeder a long time ago and it has always stood me in good stead. you can up his feed if he starts to drop weight as the weather gets colder or when he starts work again. if he looks like the picture above then i would say you have it spot on. x
 
Thats what I was taught too, as a general rule. Thats what I was going by, but people keep telling me youngsters should be fat. I dont understand why, surely its vitamins, minerals and protein that are of most benefit when it comes to growth? Im a fitness instructor and would never advise people to keep their kids 'abit on the fat side', so it would feel strange to do it to my horse!
 
I aggree with what the others have said.
Youngsters should never be allowed to get too fat - it causes untold problems with growth, especially with joints and the extra pressure put on the legs.
Your boy looks absolutely spot on weight-wise to me, and I wouldn't listen to those who say youngsters should be fat if I were you. I'd rather see a young horse kept slightly on the lean side than overweight.
 
QR- I think the silly people are confusing fat with muscle. Muscle takes time anyway and doesnt start developing more until aged 6. You cant force development! (People try and it ruins horses health)

Excess weight does so much damage so YOU are right, your horse looks great and i would ignore the silly people.
 
Agree with others, youngsters in particular should not carry excess weight. Your lad is carrying ample and certainly doesn't need any more.
grin.gif
 
Thank you - he is Spanish x welsh. I'll try to get a more recent pic of him - the camera struggled rather trying to take a picture of a black horse in the snow!

Thanks for your opinions, I wasnt sure if there was research somewhere that I had missed saying fatter is better!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top