This message is from: "Skeels, Mark A \(GE Healthcare\)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
I would say if worked good several times a week, maybe between 1000-1100 lbs, if a pasture ornament probably 1100-1250. All of our horses are around 14.1-14.2 and when they get worked several days a week the probably loose 100-150 lbs from when they weren't worked. And the ones that aren't worked are around 1250 lbs. I would ask how much they are feeding/day. We feed about 6-8 inches off a small square bale to each horse 2 times/day. If they are being worked that hard they will also need some grain. If they are being worked hard they will probably need a little more hay than that also. Also does their hay have much nutrition in it, or is it overly dried out swamp grass? Could the horse have a infestation of worms or parasite? Also, I think what we call driving or riding in some horse arena's is child's play. Some people, especially rodeo type people, work their horses quite a few more hours a week than most typical Fjord owners, so I don't know if most of us really know what a Fjord would look like if worked real hard. And I don't mean standing for a hour waiting for someone to load a wagon of wood to haul back a half mile to the house once in a while or someone that has 10 fjords and rides each one at a trot a few times around the arena 5 times a week working up a 15 minute sweat or maybe a carriage ride a couple times a week. These things, to hard core rodeo types, is child's play. But I do admit, 800 lbs seems like there would be more rib showing than any 14.1 healthy horse with normal body fat content would have, much less a Fjord. The same is true of people and horses. If we burn more calories than we consume in a day, we loose weight. I don't know if there is a way to figure out actual body fat percentage on a horse, but there must be a way. What is the actual healthy body fat percentage for horses? Other than just standing back and looking at the horse and feeling the ribs, anything scientific and reproducible that takes out human error on the market? Also, there is a limit to how lean a animal or person can be before it can start to affect body organs. And of course the opposite is true also, overly obese horses probably can be subject to similar health problems as overly obese humans. And it don't take much to be considered obese, I being 6'1" at 210 lbs am considered borderline obese. How about my 14.2 horse at 1250 lbs. They would eat until they pop if given a chance it seems at times. We must be careful as we care for our precious ponies, either way, starving or over indulging them. Mark Skeels Helena MT. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of ConnieBennett Sent: Monday, May 16, 2005 5:53 PM To: fjordhorse digest Subject: need information or good source for information on good fjord weight This message is from: ConnieBennett <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I have been using a trainer who mostly works with arabs, qtr horses. She's excellant but I think a little nutty about horses being on the lean and mean side. Last fall my then 5 year old fjord was there. A NOVICE who really wanted a fjord fell in love with my fjord and bought her from me. I thought things would be ok as she was going to leave the fjord at this stable and trainer. My grandson who was co-owner on this fjord needed the $for college so we went ahead. Also, I was in a car acciddent a year ago and 5 horses seemed a bit much to shovel up after. I just took my youngest fjord over to the trainer and she said that she was grossly obese (my vet said 100 lbs overweight). I went and looked at the fjord that was mine last year and I got sick. She looks so thin and not like a fjord at all. In six months I would guess that she weighs 800-850 lbs. She said "it's all muscle" and I said "she doesn't even look like a fjord any more and you're trying to turn her into a blooming little arab. What should a fjord filly, 5-6 years, 14.1h high weigh?
