how to tell of horse is overweight

[saitou_amaya]

So I have a 9 year old friesian gelding, and as a friesian, he as always been a little...sturdy. In the friesian world we like to call it buroque, lol. It has never really been much of a problem before because he has never really been suject to very hard work. But now that I have moved to a new barn, we are training and showing alot more. He has started being working 5 or 6 days a week and going to shows a couple times a month. And it isn't like I am pushing him too fast for his health, he has never really been "overweight" just a bit chunky. But now that he is being worked harder, I really notice he gets fatigued and tired easy and is very low energy. He is shown in the hunters and he really can't go for more than a few rounds before pooping out. My trainer says he really needs to go on a diet to keep up with the other hunters, but I am a little reluctant, he has always been that size...
For reference, he is on 5 punds of oats twice a day and timothy hay. He weights about 1500-1600 pounds (weight tape doesn't go around all the way lol) and is 15.3 hh. I am going to call my vet after I get other opinions and before I take any actions. In the link is the most recent as semi-conformation picture I could find of the chunky in question.

http://rayrockwellphotography.com/cgi-bin/store/imageFolio.cgi?action=view&link=2009_Horse_Shows_And_Events/010309_Irish_Fox_Sat/25_27_Schooling_Hunter&image=DSC_8643.jpg&img=78&tt=&tfile=tn_DSC_8643.jpg

Ahh sorry this post ended up so long! :(

[JB]

The first test is - how easily can you feel ribs? If they are hibernating ;) then yes,he's toooo heavy. If they are right there, without being visible, then he's just right.

1500lb at 15.3 sounds, offhand, too heavy, but obviously that can be skewed by having a heavier-built horse, so you can't go just by that.

As for the fatigue - it could be from really not training hard enough, it could be his diet is too high in sugars (10lb oats is quite a lot, at 50% sugars/starches), it could be he doesn't have enough nutrition, so hard to say at this point.

However, if you feel you cannot control his weight, and he's just too tired to do anything, I will happily take him off your hands and save you the trouble :D :D

[deltawave]

http://www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/PDFpubs/1010.pdf

[Katy Watts]

You might have your vet test insulin levels. Freisians are prone to IR. Exercise intolerance, or getting tired way too fast, is a symptom of insulin resistance, although it doesn't get much press because it's difficult to quantify clinically. I know it seems counter intuitive, but too much sugar and starch can backfire and make them sluggish if their metabolism cannot deal with it.
Yes, he looks too fat to me, but then I don't adhere to any notion of 'fashionable plumpness' that seems to exist in the show world.
Katy

[Dalemma]

I agree with Katty he looks fat. I would get rid of his oats entirely and give him just a good quality grass hay..........a cup or two of soaked beet pulp to get his minerals and supplements down.

Dalemma

[BornToRide]

Not sure how to put it kindly, but he's obese. He has fat pockets above the rump , a clear indication that probably is already IR. I'd have him tested too - insulin and glucose levels, so you know what you are dealing with.

Typical warning signs a horse is overweight:

No ribs easily felt
gutter down the back
fat pockets above rump, over shoulders, cresty neck and above eyes, where normally indentations should beKeep in mind though that horses do not always show all the symptoms. I would also definitely cut out all the oats immediately.

[Dune]

From that picture, he looks fat to me. Why is he getting the oats?...for energy? You may be surprised with how much energy he has when he has less weight to carry around. ;)

[BumbleBee]

Agree he is WAY fat. He looks almost exactly like a boarders full percheron gelding, only your guys hindquarters look more rotund.

[sublimequine]

He looks rather tubby to me as well.

But talk about pot calling the kettle black, my mare got all-out FATFATFAT for awhile, I'm ashamed to say. I had her on oil to get her to fatten up just a BIT for winter.. and apparently I overdid it. Little piglet-mare expanded like a dang blimp. :eek:

Took her off the oil, backed off her alf hay cubes a bit, and she's not looking so porcine anymore. :lol:

[HOH]

First of all, LOVE your boy! My Friesian's build isn't as Baroque as yours, but here is what I've found concerning his conditioning: He is significantly more challenging in getting and maintaining his endurance than other breeds I've owned. When I ride him 5-6 times a week as you are, though, he can easily keep up with the other horses when the riding is structured for progressive conditioning. You might want to prioritize fitness with your rides.

[Tree]

I looked at the photo first and was thinking, what a nice Percheron. Then I read your post and saw it was a Friesian. :eek: So I went back and looked at the photo again and yep, saw the head and legs but that body weight looks more like a Percheron's.

So my answer the OP's question is: You'll know your Friesian is too fat when he begins to look more like a Percheron. :lol:

[Patty Lynch]

Although we aren't in the UK, they have many a fat horse across the pond and these videos are very well done, IMO :yes: I first saw them on Fran Jurgas' site. Thanks Fran!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvDKgzWDS8I&eurl=http://hoofcare.blogspot.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9dVeVNtFdQ&eurl=http://hoofcare.blogspot.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeCChcmE_zw&eurl=http://hoofcare.blogspot.com/

[Daatje]

I too own a Friesian. :) When I saw the photo of your horse, my first unhindered thought was "my, that's a fat Friesian!". :)

Yes, your lovely boy does need to slim down, which should help his stamina.

Do be aware though, that Friesians as a breed do not have the staying power of other breeds, and in general do not get a second wind once tired.

My mare is 16 hands, 7 years old and currently taking the winter off (no indoor) but will get back into 5 day a week training come spring.

She gets 4lb oats a day, 4 cans dry beet pulp shreds (soaked prior to feeding), 2 oz soy oil, vitaflex accel and MSM. Her hay is Canadian Tim/mix and is fed free choice.

Here are some pics of her from 2008:
http://www.freewebs.com/daatje2008/easycare%20daatje%20jump.jpg
http://www.freewebs.com/daatje2008/IMG_1232small1.JPG
http://www.freewebs.com/daatje2008/IMG_1241small.JPG
http://www.freewebs.com/daatje2008/IMG_0902sm.JPG
http://www.freewebs.com/daatje2008/IMG_0954sm.JPG
http://www.freewebs.com/daatje2008/IMG_0964sm.JPG

I would definitely keep up with a multivitamin, but perhaps cut back on some of the more calorie dense feed (oats). :)

Good luck with your handsome guy! :)

[Melyni]

to assess 'fatness' rather than weight per se. Your boy is on the high side, he looks like a 7 or even possibly an 8.
Thus he is too fat.
Reduce his grain, and give him one good vit/min supplement there's an excellent one out for Friesans called Freisan Fit.
http://3starhorses.moonfruit.com/

Use that along with good hay, plenty of exercise and he'll get fitter and leaner in no time!
MW

[BornToRide]

I would not only reduce the grain - I'd take him completely off until he has reached a more healthy weight level. You can always add some later back in.

[BigBlack]

Hi
I also have a Friesian, who is a baroque type, about the same height as yours and at about 1400lbs. Fully muscled. So I think your guy might be a little rubinesque. Also, mine needs a supplement for IR, insulin resistance. It might help your guy to go on such a supplement. Remission is good and a lot cheaper than Quiessence which is great.

My Friesian does not eat any grain, just hay and pasture, and he is in full blown dressage work, six days a week. If he gets a little down in weight we feed more hay. I used to feed oats, but a 11/2 cooking cups twice a day, not pounds of it. The grain load you feed your horse could be lessened, and ensure he gets all his minerals and vitamins.

Other than that just keep him working and give him time to get in shape.

Quick question for my personal interest, how do you have a Friesian in Hunters???????????

[BigBlack]

Hi guys,

I have never been able to easily feel ribs on a Friesian. My horse is in good health and even when we get him a little thinner i.e. spring time, I can never easily feel his ribs. Feel yes, easily.......nope. His butt can have bones starting to become more pronounced and he is still carrying his little belly and shoulder fat around.

[BigBlack]

Daatje, your horse is gorgeous! My boy has a very similar facial expression, but is coarser in body built.

[merrygoround]

A vote here for "a little on the chubby side". He also,as has been mentioned before, could benefit from more walk, trot canter, work To build up his stamina. It takes months of careful planned riding to get them really fit.