7yo OTTB. By losing his winter fluff I can visibly make out his ribs. I’m not sure if this is in the realm of normal or something to be worried about.
Assuming you know this horse & his condition pre-Winter.
Your vet knows the horse too, right?
I’d ask their opinion & for a suggestion if you need to add weight.
For myself, I want to know they have ribs, but not be able to count them.
My TWH looked similar 2yrs ago coming out of Winter & I wanted him in better flesh, but he was 18 at the time.
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For my tastes, coming out of winter, that would be too thin.
However, I probably prefer my horses a little heavier than most. When I get to hauling hard and they are standing at the trailer all weekend, they are going to lose some weight and I like them to have a little “cushion”.
Some people might feel the horse looks just fine in the photo.
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I don’t think you need to be worried, but if I notice my OTTB looking a bit leaner I add rice bran to his grain until I have him back at his regular weight. Here’s a recent picture and im happy where his weight is, he is 12.
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Worried about fundamental health? Nah. Run a fecal and adjust his energy needs. As others said, it’s more peace of mind that they have a cushion should they get sick or stressed from travel, have high impact performance training, etc. Not sure where you are but make sure he’s not getting chilled/wet, for example.
I’ve run across multiple articles that argue losing weight in the winter is the natural metabolic fluctuation for horses, and leaves them a margin for gaining on spring grass.
I also have one 17 year old OTTB who cribs and has a very pronounced hunter’s bump. For whatever reason, his build/injuries/way of using ab muscles when cribbing make it so he always has a few ribs visible, even in very good weight. One time he fattened up to the point he had that pad on the croup by the tail, but that was pretty unusual for him.
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Worried all depends on what he’s been eating. If you’ve been shovelling the feed to him all winter and he looks like this, then it’s time to talk to your vet.
If he’s been getting about the same feed as during the summer, when presumably he looked great, then just make a mental note to start increasing calories starting August/September (for my area that’s when we start to get drought and grass starts to get poor, at any rate - earlier than you think - don’t wait for your pasture to go completely dormant before increasing calories) and make adjustments through the winter if he gets too round or doesn’t keep his weight as well as he should.
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Thanks, this was one of my thoughts too. Spring grass should be just around the corner here. I know he doesn’t look atrocious but needed a gut check.
Thanks, I will look up rice bran. I had a friend who fed her horses rice bran oil which I asked BO about a while ago (off the cuff, not when my horse looked like this) and she was reluctant about an oily mess. Maybe just the rice bran would be agreeable.
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To me that photo almost looks like what we are seeing is the hair shedding is making it looks like rib lines. Can you feel his ribs easily?
This seems like it needs a hands on to know if he is actually getting thin.
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Yes, I can feel them. They’re not protruding/there is not deep space between them. I have heard it’s okay to feel (with a little pressure) but not see them. There are a lot of opinions on what’s ideal v okay v not okay so it’s hard for me to gauge.
Either way I’ll bring it up to the BO tomorrow when I see her.
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I’d want some more weight (and topline - that actually may be the bigger issue), personally. Make sure you’re feeding at least the minimum for his weight of whatever feed, and add some fat and/or beet pulp.
I’ve had good luck with pelleted rice bran like Empower Boost, as well as manna pro, and triple crown omega 3 supp. Whatever you choose, add it slowly. I can get my guy to eat a LOT of the fat supps, but if I dump the full serving in his grain cold turkey he says HECK NO.
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My TB could lose weight so quickly! I often wished I had his metabolism. I fed Purina Amplify to mine during the winter or any time when I wanted him to gain a bit of weight. He loved it! I always thought the other horses must have been so jealous of all the food he got: Triple Crown Senior (5-6 pounds per day), Amplify, soaked timothy/alfalfa cubes and all the hay he would eat. My very large draft x mare, on the other hand, stays round on 2 lbs/day of TC plus a ration balancer and beet pulp.
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I personally wouldn’t be too worried seeing a few ribs coming out of winter… but only you know what’s typical for your horse. If they usually come out of the winter looking plump then yea maybe something you need to pay attention to.
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Thanks, topline has been a long journey. Even in this state he looks vastly better than he did 6 months ago. I’m getting my saddle refitted next week because he has filled out so much 🥲
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From that angle it can be deceiving. The picture should include the whole horse and be a straight on side view for us to accurately judge his condition ( at least I need more).
He doesn’t look underweight. Maybe out of shape or under muscled more than anything.
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I wouldn’t worry coming out of winter. But is this normal for him? If it’s your first winter together I wouldn’t stress.
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His weight is completely in the realm of normal.
Just be vigilant. You can blink and TBs lose weight. From one picture, he looks fine- not carrying any extra weight, but not unhealthily thin. His weight might stay right where it is, it might rebound with warmer weather (and grass if he gets it), or he might continue trending downward.
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