dianneS
Loving the herd life
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- Aug 17, 2009
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I'm trying to figure out if my mare has lost weight or not? The weight tape says no, but she's a little ribby-er this spring than in the past. Now she is a Thoroughbred, and she is 19, so some ribs showing is normal, but they seem to be a little more obvious this year.
I'm not even sure if I would call it "weight loss", perhaps she's just leaner?
She is getting more activity, being ridden more and she has more pasture companions that keep her active. She does a lot more running with the herd than she did in the past when she mostly stood around eating with her little buddy.
She also seems to be in perpetual heat. Could that cause weight loss? She never ever got mare-ish, or showed any signs at all of being in heat in the past. But, ever since I got this foster pony gelding, she has been in heat nearly non-stop! Its embarassing. She flirts shamlessly at him and he's so much smaller than her! I guess she likes short guys? But the romance never stops and the little guy actually attempts to service her, but he's too short!
So do you think these are normal causes for some weight loss? Do you think she could be just trimming down a bit and getting leaner rather than losing weight? I have to say, she does look more muscular and less "round" than in the past. I just want to be sure she's not getting "thin".
Non-horse people ask quite often "why are your horses ribs showing?" Even though I know that its normal for them, I get self-conscious.
This is her today:
Here she is a few years ago with a bit of a winter coat. She was only being ridden once a week, if at all at this point. Doing a lot of loafing mostly.
I'm not even sure if I would call it "weight loss", perhaps she's just leaner?
She is getting more activity, being ridden more and she has more pasture companions that keep her active. She does a lot more running with the herd than she did in the past when she mostly stood around eating with her little buddy.
She also seems to be in perpetual heat. Could that cause weight loss? She never ever got mare-ish, or showed any signs at all of being in heat in the past. But, ever since I got this foster pony gelding, she has been in heat nearly non-stop! Its embarassing. She flirts shamlessly at him and he's so much smaller than her! I guess she likes short guys? But the romance never stops and the little guy actually attempts to service her, but he's too short!
So do you think these are normal causes for some weight loss? Do you think she could be just trimming down a bit and getting leaner rather than losing weight? I have to say, she does look more muscular and less "round" than in the past. I just want to be sure she's not getting "thin".
Non-horse people ask quite often "why are your horses ribs showing?" Even though I know that its normal for them, I get self-conscious.
This is her today:
Here she is a few years ago with a bit of a winter coat. She was only being ridden once a week, if at all at this point. Doing a lot of loafing mostly.