8EBEE258-27CF-46AE-87AB-8ACC49577D47.heic (3.7 MB)
I am starting some very basic training with this youngster with a fantastic mind. Can you tell me anything about this horse from his pedigree? Particularly if he has any inherited diseases.
He seems to get tired very, very easily, this is compared to tb, wb, Andalusian types, is this normal?
He’s a 2 year old. They are not all rockets.
Fitness can be another issue. It takes some time to build that.
Any genetic testing and diseases should be shown on the back of his papers.
I agree. Many of the 2-year-old QHs and Paints I’ve worked with are pretty darn quiet, providing they’ve had some socialization.
If there isn’t DNA testing certification on his papers, you’re on your own. If you’re concerned that he might have some metabolic issues contributing to his lack of energy or stamina, your vet can draw blood and send it off for the panel.
Photos and some info on his sire and his dam’s sire can be found just by Googling.
Link wouldn’t open for me.
I second this. I am not on an apple device so .HEIC files do not open and are not visible.
@colorfan can you save your image in some other format?
He’s young and growing. Most of the young ones that I’ve owned, or worked with, have been tired to some degree coinciding with their growth spurts. My current 2 year old is doing this now and naps quite often. There’s nothing wrong with him; growing takes a lot of energy.
He is panel tested though. If your guy is not, it would be worth it to do so because you may have to manage him, and work him, differently. All the best!
I will try!
Yes, comparing him to other young and growing breeds he seems to tire easily. However, I am not saying that is bad, as I get older it could be the best thing…
I am just checking, this may be normal for him, if so great, if it is an indicator of an underlying issue then I want to get on top of it.
Pull mane hairs and send to UC Davis for a full 7 panel test so you know what you’re dealing with
If he’s got PSSM and is homozygous, that can easily explain his tiredness.
Is he getting REM sleep? How much turnout?
Full turn out with one older horse. He does lay down and sleep, I don’t know how much REM he is getting.
Yes, I think a full panel is a good idea.
I can’t open the link, but this has been increasingly common in the more affordable, common lines of QH’s. VERY common on halter bred and western pleasure bred types, seen it in some cutting lines too that were super reactive but zero stamina.
I mountain ride on rough terrain for long distances. My friend grew up doing the same and we both used to ride QH’s. Now I do it on a Thoroughbred and she has a Fjord - the last 10 years of QH’s that we could get simply couldn’t do it. Winded easily even when fitted up.
I had a cowboy borrow one of my Thoroughbreds for a summer, he was working on a massive ranch and was in the saddle often for 8 hours a day and his QH’s were not able to keep up with it. He was happy as heck on the TB and I got my horse back next-level broke!
I would go for the appendix type, barrel racing bred, or good old Hancock/Blue Valentine lines if I could afford do but those are the only ones I’d touch for a long hard day in the saddle.
Sire is CS Lookin At Escorts
Dam is Perks Raisin Brandi
I would also look at what you are feeding him and the amount of actual energy it provides.
I have QHs and Paints, and due to metabolic issues with previous horses of similar bloodlines to what I have now, I tend to feed a diet low (< 15%) in NSC.
I do wonder at times, particularly with horses in harder work, if a slight increase in NSC wouldn’t be beneficial and not cause issues. BUT, I personally would not be working a 2 year old that hard.
Yeah I am talking about in hand walk, some trot beside me work, no lunging or even ponying.
Was thinking about this while out braving the cold and wind.
Depending on what you are currently feeding, you could try supplementing with added fat to see if that provides your horse with additional “safe” energy.
I would stay away from corn oil, but rice bran or rice bran oil would do the job.
Be aware that feeding changes usually take a minimum of 4-6 weeks to see results, if they do make a difference.
Another thought is Selenium deficiency. This will affect his muscles and ability to use them. Can appear horse “just poops out” in work. Selenium is a separate test from what a blood work screen will show.
You may think he is getting enough with mineral blocks, vitamin supplements, when he is not. Only testing will tell you. We bought a horse home to Michigan from Virginia. We were told he had been hunting weekly, very fit! Sore bodied when groomed. He could not keep up with our horses who were only moderately fit! We always test new horses for Selenium and his test returned with him in the danger zone deficient! Doc came out with results and Selenium shots to keep horse from trying to die in work!! Horse was fine, no soreness, plenty of endurance once his Selenium numbers got up into the “normal range.”
We supplement all the horses with individual dosing of the Selenium and Vit E mixed. Vit E must be fed because it is needed to help absorb the Selenium. This is 1/8 teaspoon per horse, per day, to make sure they get enough. We have no Selenium in our local soil, so supplementing is required. Working a horse so it sweats often uses up Selenium, making supplementing even more important to the horse.
I think that is a good idea, I will add some fat and see what happens.
I live in a selenium deficient area so usually supplement for that buuuut, have changed my mineral a while back, will double check it. thanks.
Which means nothing to me. Is the horse on all breed at least?
For those that can’t see the link, I’m on a Windows device and you just have to download a standard (free) converter on your computer. (Haven’t run across the issue on a smart phone.)
Here’s what the OP posted.
Tired?
Or lazy?
Those are two different things. 
It may be normal.
QH and TB have a higher percentage of Type IIa and Type IIb (fast twitch) muscle fibers and a lower percentage of Type 1 (slow twitch) muscle fibers. But, compared to QHs, TBs have more Type I and Type IIa muscle fibers.
Arabians, WBs, and Andalusians (among others) have a higher percentage of Type I and lower percentage of Type II.
So, it is possible that your QH gets tired faster than horses of the other breeds you’re comparing him to because of differences in types of muscle fibers. Especially given that he is still relatively unfit.
Of course, these statements are all generalizations and may not apply to your specific horse.
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