Would love honest opinions. History is 20 yr old Appy, hard keeper especially in winter. All pics are from today except last two pics are October 31 when I moved him to new barn - his first day there. He is not a stocky App typically - built more like a TB. He is ridden 3-4 times per week, light work, hacks and weekly lesson. When I palpate his sides, I cannot overtly feel ribs. When I touch his shoulder area, it jiggles a bit - good padding of fat there. His weight tape is slightly down. I have been supplementing his daily feed with "lunch" or snack of 1.5 lb. soaked alf cubes with 1 lb. TC senior. It soaks up to a nice amount, filling his food pan. He also eats: 3 lbs senior feed a.m. & p.m., 1 lb. Legends Omega Plus a.m. and p.m. (1800 cals. per pound, 25% fat) and he is on Plat. Performance CJ.
His back teeth are worn to gums. He can chew soft hays but isn't a big hay eater. He has free choice alfalfa mix in his stall - he eats maybe a flake or two....and he has free choice in field but prefers to graze on grass. Believe it or not, here in VA, we still have lots of grass - albeit brown, it's long and still out there and he chooses more to munch on that.
Anyway, would love opionions on his weight. Some angles he looks worse, some better. I am trying not to be paranoid when his weight tape measurement drops slightly, but if you saw what he looked like when I got him 4 years ago, he was emaciated and it took alot to get him healthy. His teeth were just done (not alot to do but I have dentist out every 6 mos. regardless) and he had negative fecal end of Oct, and had Equimax Dec. 15. He never gets great winter coat - this is about the best. He is blanketed heavy below 35 degrees, and medium when it's a bit warmer.
Thoughts? Would you be concerned? Pics are at this link. Thanks!
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=9QZs2zdm0ZiE
His back teeth are worn to gums. He can chew soft hays but isn't a big hay eater. He has free choice alfalfa mix in his stall - he eats maybe a flake or two....and he has free choice in field but prefers to graze on grass. Believe it or not, here in VA, we still have lots of grass - albeit brown, it's long and still out there and he chooses more to munch on that.
Anyway, would love opionions on his weight. Some angles he looks worse, some better. I am trying not to be paranoid when his weight tape measurement drops slightly, but if you saw what he looked like when I got him 4 years ago, he was emaciated and it took alot to get him healthy. His teeth were just done (not alot to do but I have dentist out every 6 mos. regardless) and he had negative fecal end of Oct, and had Equimax Dec. 15. He never gets great winter coat - this is about the best. He is blanketed heavy below 35 degrees, and medium when it's a bit warmer.
Thoughts? Would you be concerned? Pics are at this link. Thanks!
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=9QZs2zdm0ZiE