Rashad's weight...

[shewasmyshadow]

So, as many of you know last winter/spring/summer we struggled to put weight on Rashad. He was skinny and he had that bout of blood in the stools. We were never able to figure out what caused it, but since then he's improved dramatically and he's gain weight. In fact, he's gained weight sooo well that we are now worried he may have too much weight, but with about 4 inches of THICK hair it's hard to tell.

This is what we know...

Farmers_wife (Faith) taped him at around 780 +/- lbs in the early/mid-fall and now she's taped him at about 1100 +/- lbs using the same measuring tape. We know tapes aren't SUPER accurate, but they definitely work for tracking changes in weight.

Here's a picture of him then...

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs173.snc1/6493_121211500951_514475951_2877579_3751598_n.jpg

and now...

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a41/JessicaBe/GetAttachment-4aspx-2.jpg

Should we be worried? Does he look or seem chubby? He does have a heart murmur, but it doesn't seem to effect him. Not sure if that would make a difference... Farmers had mentioned she was worried about him foundering with his weight so high. Is that a concern?

[shewasmyshadow]

Oh, and he gets a scoop of Purina Senior and a scoop of Progressive Senior twice a day AM/PM and then I believe he gets 3 flakes of alfalfa hay a day, but not sure. Faith will correct me if I'm wrong. :p Oh, and he gets one of those Senior catch-all supplements. :)

[WashingtonBay]

It's hard to tell under all that hair ;) and we can't see his neck.

I think you can tell by feel, and the change probably doesn't have be drastic, just back off on the amounts a little.

[shewasmyshadow]

Okay, here's one of the neck...

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a41/JessicaBe/GetAttachment-5aspx-2.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a41/JessicaBe/GetAttachment-6aspx-2.jpg

Ignore those pesky children. ;)

[WashingtonBay]

OK it's still hard to tell. I'd say if you guys think he's gotten where you want him, then just ease back on the amounts. Make small adjustments now rather than big ones later. You don't want him already a little chubby when spring grass hits.

[shewasmyshadow]

Well, we decided over the phone to keep grains (which are really complete feeds) at the same level, but back off on the alfalfa. We still have like 2-3 months before green grass comes and a lot of cold weather to deal with.

You don't think by looking at the pictures that he looks dangerously overweight, though, right?

[cheval]

I'd try this instead of the tape measurement. You measure length of the body and around the barrel and it goes into an equation. There are a few different websites out there like this one, but you'll get the idea. They have been pretty accurate for me and other folks I know that have used them.

http://www.horsequest.com/journal/health/hweight.htm

[cheval]

Wanted to add, it looks like two different horses entirely. I'd say as long as you weren't feeling ribs too much under that fuzzy coat, he's looking really good. Good job!

[natisha]

Even his tail looks better!

[Tiz]

He needs the hay more to keep warm, so if anything goes it should be some of the grain. I really think you're mostly seeing a super ton of hair, not blubber on the old guy. If he was mine, I don't think I'd cut anything, especially 'cause it is so cold in your neck of the woods.

[shewasmyshadow]

Even his tail looks better!

Well, it was wet and braided in the one picture. That was right after his bloody feces episode and we were trying to keep his tail away from the poo. Also, it was short back then because a goat ate it. :(

[shewasmyshadow]

Wanted to add, it looks like two different horses entirely. I'd say as long as you weren't feeling ribs too much under that fuzzy coat, he's looking really good. Good job!

Thanks :) It's nice to see him chubby, but we know with that comes other concerns. I know I can still feel his back bone pretty easy, but it's hard to tell on the ribs because he has SO much hair. :p We opted not to blanket him this winter since he has a large private run-in. Because of that he really got a wooly coat. :D

[shewasmyshadow]

He needs the hay more to keep warm, so if anything goes it should be some of the grain. I really think you're mostly seeing a super ton of hair, not blubber on the old guy. If he was mine, I don't think I'd cut anything, especially 'cause it is so cold in your neck of the woods.

Well, he doesn't aggressively eat enough hay to keep weight on (IMO anyways). He's never been a big eater, so that is where we got into trouble last spring. He just could not maintain his weight. That's when we fell back on feeding him the complete senior feed. He is getting the option of eating 3 flakes a day and is not coming close to finishing it. Maybe we'll just keep feeding him what we're feeding him and wait until he looses his winter hair. After that we'll be able to tell true weight.

My main question (and you answered it Tiz) was, Does anyone thing he's dangerously overweight and if so, why? In another words, what is the risk?

[natisha]

I think he looks perfect in all ways.

[Peggy Sue]

I would leave everything where it is at for now... when he sheds then make the call... why the two different senior feeds??

[mandisue]

I think he looks good, course my horses are all fat...

[shewasmyshadow]

Thanks for the replies. Tiz and Peggy. I think we will leave it. We'll get some good pictures when he sheds out. :)

why the two different senior feeds??

Well, when Rashad first went to Faith's she was feeding Progressive to her horses, so we decided to try it on Rashad. The results were amazing. Rashad's sway back completely disappeared. I was so impressed, but then he lost some weight a few months later. The Progressive was helping in some areas, but not keeping his weight up. So, we brought in the Purina for it's fat supplement and kept the Progressive because Rashad just looked TONS better when he was on it. That sounds so dumb, but I can't explain it any other way. He just looked OLD when he was on straight Purina and something about the Progressive has just helped his body stay younger looking.

[Peggy Sue]

why not just increase the amount of Progressive he was getting OR add the Envision to it?? I dont' remember I know there was a reason but it is missing at the moment

[shewasmyshadow]

why not just increase the amount of Progressive he was getting OR add the Envision to it?? I dont' remember I know there was a reason but it is missing at the moment

Progressive is expensive!!! :(

[farmers_wife]

why not just increase the amount of Progressive he was getting OR add the Envision to it?? I dont' remember I know there was a reason but it is missing at the moment

Progressive is expensive but if I gave him 2 scoops he would not eat it all. He did not like the taste of progressive by itself. He will eat all his food when we mix it. I was giving him 6 flakes per day but he was waisting it so I cut him back to 4 flakes per day of pure alfalfa.
He fells alot better with the ribs. When I sit on him he does not feel so bony.
He was around 850 and now is 1080. He does look real good and like SWMS said his hair is a lot thicker and no blanket. Another thing is he is by himself this winter and last year he was in with 2 other horses. So he does not have to share food.

My neighbors horse has laminitis and it is winter time. I know laminitis is from lush pasture. I know someone said last year not to let Dolly gain too much weight or she could get laminitis. So that is why I was questioning Rashads weight.

[Peggy Sue]

I knew there was a reason I just didn't remember it

[shewasmyshadow]

Well, I feel good just knowing everyone thinks he looks in good shape. :) After our little bout of sickness with him this summer I think Faith and I are just a little nervous that we're missing something.

[Peggy Sue]

He looks fine and as much as I HATE Purina I wouldn't change a thing at this point wiht him looking that good. If you want to do anything WAIT until spring

[Dakota Sunrise]

I am definately not an expert on different diets for horses or anything like that, but I do know how you feel. Dakota is 20 and a hard keeper, and I've been fighting to get and keep weight on him since the day I got him (although I finally did figure out a good feed plan for him and he's doing very well on it). And Beauty was neglected and soooooo skinny when I first got her. But she gained weight fast and before I knew it she was way too heavy!:innocent: It took me a while, but I finally figured out a diet that works for her, and she's at a healthy weight again now. She's a very easy keeper.

I think Rashad looks good, and so cute with all his fluffyness.:D Like the others have said, I would wait until he sheds out to decide whether or not you need to decrease the amount of food you're giving him now. I don't think he looks overweight and I'm sure he's burning extra calories to keep warm too. I think he's doing just fine, if he were my horse I wouldn't change anything yet.:)

[Gypsy Rose]

I think Rashad looks fine for this time of year. If nothing else, always remember it's easier to take the weight off a senior horse than it is to put it back on!

[farmers_wife]

I think he looks real good. I was wondering about laminitis. I cant wait to see him this summer.

[shewasmyshadow]

Yeah, we were joking that Faith would have her trail horse back again. :D

[farmers_wife]

I would love to have him back as a trail horse.
The sale is first weekend in March. Saturday.