Out of interest what sort of condition do you like to keep your horses in, particularly cobby or more substantial ones? Real answers please, not copied from the text book because you know that's what the answer
should be!
Luka has been on a diet since he came because I think he's too fat. A few people have asked how many kg I want off him before he's no longer on a diet, the answer is I don't know but I want to be able to easily feel at least some ribs and I want more of his crest gone. The concept of cobs having ribs that can be felt seems to upset some people judging by the comments about that's too thin for his type. So what are your views - he'll be dieting anyway and I won't be offended if people don't agree
I am in the U.S. I often have a difficult time convincing owners of Quarter Horses that my Tennessee Walkers should never look like a QH
. TWH’s do have a Morgan mare as their Foundation Mare of Record, so many of them can have more fat than they need and they are all predisposed to metabolic issues.
My grandfather wanted his horses to look “well cared for”, aka fat
. That was and still is a hard habit for me to break, but I have dealt with metabolic issues in two Tennessee Walkers and the third one is a very easy keeper, so I watch them carefully.
One of the precursors to possible, impending metabolic issues is the infamous water channel down the top line. Any horse In the U.S. needs to be on a weight loss plan “yesterday” if it has a water channel for a top line. Add off/on hoof soreness to that and the horse is likely heading for founder.
We try to use the Henneke Scale as a guide. I take a lot of pictures since my eyes lie to me all the time
. I like to be able to feel ribs, which I can’t on my 27 yr old, and I do not like to see my geldings tummies waddling side-to-side, like a pregnant mare; which my 27 yr old is a bit waddly
This is my 27 yr old, heading out to pasture a few days ago. He looks at great weight in this picture but he could stand to lose ~30 pounds. I can’t ride anymore, so I am thankful our pastures are full of hills as Rusty gets more natural exercise in an hour than I could give him in twice that time.
Below is my 26 yr old Tennessee Walker. The one I had to take 100+ pounds off when his insulin soared and he foundered so bad in 2012. Even Cornell University marveled he was alive.
I almost lost this horse due to founder from high insulin and he is why I sometimes get a little too sassy about other horses that need to lose weigh. Not only are the effects of metabolic issues heartbreaking to see and live with, if it is too serious, it becomes bloody expensive to try and reverse the damage.
Joker now Also has Cushings (which is not reversible) and has become difficult to keep weight on him, due to the Cushings.
I could easily see his ribs thru his winter hair. All three of his vets said he was “ok”. Well, no he wasn’t “ok” because I was starting to see his hip bones. He is a short-coupled-built-like-an-old-style Lippitt Morgan, so those hip bones we’re making me nervous.
I buy my supplements from HorseTech and they sold me a custom mix that consisted of increased amino acids and fat calories. It helped tremendously. This is how Joker looks today. His ribs are visible when he is standing a certain way - honest
