Willie the Windsucker- Weight Critique Please

Ladyknight · 06-25-2009, 04:45 PM

Hello, I am fairly new here and I would like to get some opinions on my horses weight. He is an 8 year old ex-racer, also a windsucker. I know, its not a good thing. But I love him

What would you BCS (Body Condition Score) him?

pippy · 06-25-2009, 04:55 PM

About a 2 - he looks as though he lacks protein in his diet.

( just had a thought I might be on wrong end of scale its been a while since i've used it lol)

dressageluver4 · 06-25-2009, 05:27 PM

I have a cribber and a weight supplament has done ALOT for him. Have you tried any!?

lbandrew · 06-25-2009, 06:05 PM

I'd give him a 3.

Here's why: His withers are very accentuated. His tailhead is not very prominent. His ribs are easily seen, but you can see a layer of fat covering them.

A 3-4 is a common BCS in thoroughbreds.

pippy · 06-25-2009, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lbandrew

I'd give him a 3.

Here's why: His withers are very accentuated. His tailhead is not very prominent. His ribs are easily seen, but you can see a layer of fat covering them.

A 3-4 is a common BCS in thoroughbreds.

I dropped to a 2 because the wooly hair is often "covering" a true image of the horse. And I can't see a lot of fat covering teh ribs - just a thicker coat.... but I may be wrong.

lbandrew · 06-25-2009, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pippy

I dropped to a 2 because the wooly hair is often "covering" a true image of the horse. And I can't see a lot of fat covering teh ribs - just a thicker coat.... but I may be wrong.

Hm. I don't know. A 2 just seems too low to me. I haven't seen many 2's, and this horse isn't (by far) one of the skinniest I've seen.

Here's a description from one website for a 2 and a 3:
"2 Very Thin - Animal emaciated. Slight fat covering over base of spinous processes; transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae feel rounded. Spinous processes, ribs, tailhead and hooks and pins prominent. Withers, shoulders and neck structures discernible."

"3 Thin - Fat buildup about halfway on spinous processes; transverse processes cannot be felt. Slight fat cover over ribs. Spinous processes and ribs easily discernible. Tailhead prominent, but individual vertebrae cannot be easily identified. Hook bones appear rounded, but easily discernible. Withers, shoulders and neck accentuated."

The main reason I gave a 3 is because of the photo of the horses hind end. There is not a "sloping" tailhead, that is, the spine doesn't stick out from the rump area. It looks pretty flat with plenty of fat covering.

pippy · 06-25-2009, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lbandrew

Hm. I don't know. A 2 just seems too low to me. I haven't seen many 2's, and this horse isn't (by far) one of the skinniest I've seen.

Here's a description from one website for a 2 and a 3:
"2 Very Thin - Animal emaciated. Slight fat covering over base of spinous processes; transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae feel rounded. Spinous processes, ribs, tailhead and hooks and pins prominent. Withers, shoulders and neck structures discernible."

"3 Thin - Fat buildup about halfway on spinous processes; transverse processes cannot be felt. Slight fat cover over ribs. Spinous processes and ribs easily discernible. Tailhead prominent, but individual vertebrae cannot be easily identified. Hook bones appear rounded, but easily discernible. Withers, shoulders and neck accentuated."

The main reason I gave a 3 is because of the photo of the horses hind end. There is not a "sloping" tailhead, that is, the spine doesn't stick out from the rump area. It looks pretty flat with plenty of fat covering.

Ok - by that it is closer to a 3 than a 2.

Despite that - he still needs weight put on him as he has the "poor man" line and could probably use the insulation the fat would provide.

Whats he being fed at the moment?

Dawn · 06-25-2009, 06:59 PM

I'd say three to slightly under. Definately not a two based on the rear view. There's still too much fat cover over the rump. (Well not too much. But too much for him to be a 2 even with fur.)

Given the set of circumstances here, it is highly likely that he's suffering from gastric ulcers.

Ladyknight · 06-25-2009, 08:01 PM

Thank you for your replies. He had been scoped for gastric ulcers before I bought him and was out 24/7 in a paddock. He was re-trained for a year and is very calm. At the moment he is being fed 4 bisciuts grassy hay at night, and is being started on Bulk Up 2 scoops (to be increased) a day, in 2 meals, with a cup of vegetable iol per feed. He has been fed on this for a week
http://www.mi-feed.com.au/pdf/Horse-%20Bulk%20Up.pdf

He has a collar on at night to prevent him getting colic (he is stabled at night) from windsucking. I have put him in a paddock before fully electric fenced but he was panicking because he couldnt windsuck at all, there fore losing more weight from stress. Other than that he is pretty chilled

Ladyknight · 06-25-2009, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pippy

Ok - by that it is closer to a 3 than a 2.

Despite that - he still needs weight put on him as he has the "poor man" line and could probably use the insulation the fat would provide.

Whats he being fed at the moment?

What is a 'poor man' line? Forgive my ignorance

06-25-2009, 04:45 PM	#1
Ladyknight Junior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 6 Images: 2	Willie the Windsucker- Weight Critique Please Hello, I am fairly new here and I would like to get some opinions on my horses weight. He is an 8 year old ex-racer, also a windsucker. I know, its not a good thing. But I love him What would you BCS (Body Condition Score) him?

06-25-2009, 04:55 PM	#2
pippy Senior Member+ Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 1,842 Images: 128 Blog Entries: 7	About a 2 - he looks as though he lacks protein in his diet. ( just had a thought I might be on wrong end of scale its been a while since i've used it lol) __________________ Pip + Turbo Living A healthy lifestyle only deprives you of fat and lethargy. Always remember that using your hands BEFORE your driving aids is the same as picking up the telephone before it rings. Why would you pick up the phone? No one is there!

06-25-2009, 05:27 PM	#3
dressageluver4 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Minnesota. Posts: 1,091 Images: 45	I have a cribber and a weight supplament has done ALOT for him. Have you tried any!? __________________ He knows when you're happy He knows when you're comfortable He knows when you're confident And he always knows when you have carrots.

06-25-2009, 06:59 PM	#8
Dawn Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 37,203 Images: 1580	I'd say three to slightly under. Definately not a two based on the rear view. There's still too much fat cover over the rump. (Well not too much. But too much for him to be a 2 even with fur.) Given the set of circumstances here, it is highly likely that he's suffering from gastric ulcers. __________________ Sexy by Christmas Challenge-r!! Goal: 11 lbs LOST CURRENT: 4 lbs LOST Starting Weight 170 lbs. Goal Weight 155 lbs. Reached! 20 pound club 2009 Starting Weight 152 lbs. Goal Weight 140 lbs. Reached!

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06-25-2009, 06:05 PM	#4
lbandrew Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Reidsville, NC Posts: 433 Images: 21	I'd give him a 3. Here's why: His withers are very accentuated. His tailhead is not very prominent. His ribs are easily seen, but you can see a layer of fat covering them. A 3-4 is a common BCS in thoroughbreds.

06-25-2009, 08:01 PM	#9
Ladyknight Junior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 6 Images: 2	Thank you for your replies. He had been scoped for gastric ulcers before I bought him and was out 24/7 in a paddock. He was re-trained for a year and is very calm. At the moment he is being fed 4 bisciuts grassy hay at night, and is being started on Bulk Up 2 scoops (to be increased) a day, in 2 meals, with a cup of vegetable iol per feed. He has been fed on this for a week http://www.mi-feed.com.au/pdf/Horse-%20Bulk%20Up.pdf He has a collar on at night to prevent him getting colic (he is stabled at night) from windsucking. I have put him in a paddock before fully electric fenced but he was panicking because he couldnt windsuck at all, there fore losing more weight from stress. Other than that he is pretty chilled