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 Georgia Peach
Posts: 8338
    
Location: Georgia |
Ok this is the first baby I've ever raised so this is all new to me. There's a good chance I may be over thinking everything. While I typically like my horses to be thick, she is what I would consider to be overwight. Through my research, it seems a lighter yearling is a healthier one. Right now she is on free choice hay, which seems to be highly recommended, and the TC Growth formula - 14% Protein & 10% Fat. She gets 1 pound a day split between two feedings. Problem #1 is she is getting wider, not taller. I'm worried that because we are feeding her next to nothing for grain, that she isnt getting the minerals she needs to grow. Is this a valid concern? I am aware that some people turn their babies out to pasture and dont feed anything, but this filly's genetics scream "short" so im trying to reach her maximum growth potential.
I had thought about cutting out the complete feed and instead giving her a ration balancer, which has less fat and more protein. I just need some ideas. What else does she need in her diet?
Edited by Runninbay 2015-02-04 6:36 PM
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  Northern Chocolate Queen
Posts: 16576
Location: ND | Do you have pictures? I've honestly never seen a yearling that I'd consider overweight. Changes are she's fine. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 473
| I would change to a lower fat feed or add extra vitamins and minerals.
I had the same problem with my colt so I added the THE Muscle Mass Yearling Formula. |
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Georgia Peach
Posts: 8338
Location: Georgia | SaraJean - 2015-02-02 9:12 PM Do you have pictures? I've honestly never seen a yearling that I'd consider overweight. Changes are she's fine.
I dont have a good one. Ill get one tomorrow morning and post it. She isnt obese...just a little heavier than I would like her to be. Everyone that sees her says the same. |
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 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | I'm thinking maybe she maybe is going to have a growth spurt pretty soon. My friends mare, who is now 9 I think, was a chunky yearling/coming 2 year old (well, she is still chunky, LOL) but she is over 15 hands high, so there may be hope for your yearling yet!  |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 550
| Mine also got a little pudgy on the TC Growth, I took out some & added the TC 30% in it's place. The 30% is made to go with other TC feeds, so you can go 50/50, or 75/25 (by weight) to get the amount you need. The max amount by weight to feed on the 30% is around 1-1.5lbs, so less calories for the same nutrition.
If it's the one in your profile pic & that pic is recent, I think she looks good. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1367
Location: mi | I would switch her to a ration balancer. I have had the best luck with those for my foals. I usually keep them on that up until their 2 year old year. I add in a fat if they need it but doesn't sound like yours does.
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Tried and True
Posts: 21185
Location: Where I am happiest | I dont know how "fat" she is but just wanted to point out they grow in spurts. So just because she may look short and thick now, when she does hit a grow again she will change. Everything starts growing again in the spring and you will notice her getting butt high. Then the front end will catch up only for her to get butt high again. |
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 Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | ThreeCorners - 2015-02-03 8:39 AM I dont know how "fat" she is but just wanted to point out they grow in spurts. So just because she may look short and thick now, when she does hit a grow again she will change. Everything starts growing again in the spring and you will notice her getting butt high. Then the front end will catch up only for her to get butt high again.
agree |
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 Night Chat Leader
Posts: 13150
Location: Home....Smiling M Farms | ThreeCorners - 2015-02-03 7:39 AM
I dont know how "fat" she is but just wanted to point out they grow in spurts. So just because she may look short and thick now, when she does hit a grow again she will change. Everything starts growing again in the spring and you will notice her getting butt high. Then the front end will catch up only for her to get butt high again.
^^^Agree, mine started the butt high thing again in the last few weeks, so either he's hitting it early or he'll have a double dose when spring gets here. |
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 Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | Genetics may be making her bloom out instead of up. Also, I wouldn't worry about one being overweight on that type of diet. Does she have a deep divit down her spine? That is a good way to know if they are too fat. |
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 Living on the edge of common sense
Posts: 24138
Location: Carpenter, WY | Bibliafarm - 2015-02-03 8:08 AM ThreeCorners - 2015-02-03 8:39 AM I dont know how "fat" she is but just wanted to point out they grow in spurts. So just because she may look short and thick now, when she does hit a grow again she will change. Everything starts growing again in the spring and you will notice her getting butt high. Then the front end will catch up only for her to get butt high again. agree
I agree too  They will grow out or up and I really think alot of people tend to overfeed all the extras to a young one. |
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 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | Is it your first down french??? I will tell you, Both of mine I have had, have been WIDE little suckers when they were little. And they both looked fat. My FDF yearling was pot bellied this winter so I dewormed her and that helped a lot. But she's still a chunk that is for sure. The one I raised that is now a 2YO apparently hit a growth spurt because his new owners told me he's bigger than their 3YOs and is the biggest colt they have! So I think they just have their own style of growing.
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You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | Just as an example. The first picture is my FDF filly in December. The second picture is her on Feb 1. You can see how she's changed and leveled out. She doesn't look fat at all right now, in fact I'm about ready to bump her and my other colt up in feed.
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Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | casualdust07 - 2015-02-04 2:40 PM Just as an example. The first picture is my FDF filly in December. The second picture is her on Feb 1. You can see how she's changed and leveled out. She doesn't look fat at all right now, in fact I'm about ready to bump her and my other colt up in feed.
Beautiful baby! I have to wait until 2016 to see if I luck out with a palomino or buckskin FG grandbaby. |
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Georgia Peach
Posts: 8338
Location: Georgia |
I snapped this picture this morning......I swear she got skinnier as soon as I posted this thread. Maybe she works out during the night? But seriously, from the front she still looks like a house.
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Georgia Peach
Posts: 8338
Location: Georgia | casualdust07 - 2015-02-04 4:40 PM Just as an example. The first picture is my FDF filly in December. The second picture is her on Feb 1. You can see how she's changed and leveled out. She doesn't look fat at all right now, in fact I'm about ready to bump her and my other colt up in feed.
Jesus woman....is this filly stalled? Where is her hair! (Jealousy) |
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Tried and True
Posts: 21185
Location: Where I am happiest | Your filly is not fat. I wouldnt change a thing. Love her coloring. |
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Georgia Peach
Posts: 8338
Location: Georgia | ThreeCorners - 2015-02-04 9:01 PM Your filly is not fat. I wouldnt change a thing. Love her coloring.
Thank you. I swear she is fatter than she looks in that picture. But after looking closer at her today and reading your comments, I think I will leave her alone for now.
Edited by Runninbay 2015-02-04 8:40 PM
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | She looks great to me! Nice filly. |
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