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Discussion on Nutrition and conditioning for my clyde cross
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New Member:
martyfis
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Posted on Friday, Jul 11, 2008 - 12:25 pm:
Hello, I have a wonderful 8 year old 1/4 clyde thoroughbred gelding. I live in thoroughbred country, and I'm really tired of hearing how big and heavy my horse is. He's definitely fleshy, but I don't think he's too fat. I measured him with a height weight tape. He measured 16.3 hands and 1,288 pounds. I ride him for 45 mins to an hour 3-5 days a week, and some weekends we do two hour trail rides (included in the 3-5 days a week frequency). This is about all I can do with a full time job and family. I currently do beginniner novice eventing and my goal is to do novice, perhaps training with him. He's a great jumper and making good progress in dressage. He gets 1/4 scoop of grain two times a day, 2-3 flakes of hay in his stall and access to a round bale in his pasture at night. There is some grass in his pasture, but definitely just nibbles, not lush. Basically hay is the only thing I could cut, and I'm a little concerned about doing that since I know they need to keep their digestive track moving. I can definitely feel his ribs if I poke him...His stomach does not poke out on the sides, and his butt and neck are quite muscled. He does have some jiggley fat behind his shoulders and the top of his butt over his tale has a crease--but not too deep. I'm thinking that's characteristic of his breeding. He gets one A-C and a mix of Morton regular and lite salt to help keep him sweating, and heat is definitely difficult for him, but manageable--I always try to ride in the mornings or evenings. He does seem to get winded quicker than the thoroughbreds we ride with, but he recovers quickly. So, my question is, is my horse OK--should I hire someone to ride him to get him fitter? He's not overly lazy, but he'll avoid work given the option--like most horses...My main concern is that he's not at any risk due to his weight--I'd like to stop worrying everytime someone makes a comment about his "big and tall" stature. I work with a number of eventing trainers. One is always commenting on his weight-size, another has told me at times he looks great, other times she says he's a little heavy. Others don't comment on his size at all. I sort of suspect that people get used to seeing thoroughbreds and then my horse looks pretty cushy to them. But, I don't want to have a fat unhealthy horse, so looking for some reassurance. I love my horse.
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Member:
paardex
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Posted on Friday, Jul 11, 2008 - 12:39 pm:
Could you post pictures? I would love to see them as this is for me a quite unusual cross. It seems to me he must look fleshier then TBs but others will comment on that with more knowledge[My horses are always on the fat side ]
Jos
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Sunday, Jul 13, 2008 - 9:24 am:
Marty any condition greater than moderate to fleshy is prone to an increase in problems and certainly will have decreasing endurance. I would attempt to get rid of the crease in the back until the back is flat. Removing the grain and a little more exercise should do it but if not instead of cutting the hay substitute stemmier hays.
DrO
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