Ideal weight for a yearling?

[striderrider]

What in your opinion is a good weight for a yearling warmblood? Mine is going through a growth spurt right now and he is really long, leggy, and ribby. I feed him as much as the older geldings, he has access to high quality hay and grass at all times and small amounts of step 2 grain (designed for yearlings) morning and night as well as a mineral supplement. Some people say he is too thin, but I cannot shove more food down his throat! Oh and he is de-wormed regularly.

[peppysan]

I prefer my young horses to be more on the lighter side then on the heavier side. Warmbloods mature SLOW and will go through some major gawky and akward stages. It sounds like you are doing everything just fine, he will fill out in time. It's better if there is less stress on their joints at this stage then them being heavy and breaking down before their time, or if you try pumping them full of rich feeds you will only encourage OCD.

[horse99]

I agree with Peppy- There is nothing wrong with them being a little ribby at this stage. This is typical of warmbloods and he will go through several more of these growth spurts. Stay away from the rich feeds and alfalfa based hays. Feed second cut, good grass hay and lots of it. People have to remember that young warmbloods will not look like young quarter horses etc. at the same stage. They take way longer to grow and mature and look like "horses."

[alove4horses]

Some people say he is too thin, but I cannot shove more food down his throat!

I wish people would just mind their own darn business! Why is it that everyone is always so concerned about what other are doing or not doing? Can they not just focus on themselves and on their own horses?

[striderrider]

Thanks guys, this is what I thought but it helps to know I am on the right track...

Alove4horses- It seems that people will always put in their opinions where they can, especially in the horse world. At the end of the day, in this situation, I would rather they be a bit concerned about a thin horse and TALK to me about it, then go behind my back and make assumptions that I am not feeding my horse. It does make me happy that people would care so much about a thin horse then turn a blind eye. What if he really was in trouble? Just make sure your concerns are valid and that you know the story before you go off telling the world!!

[SamanthaSky]

I would air more on the thin side then the heavy side too. Of course too thin is no good but if they are too heavy for their ligaments you are going to run into problems. The ideal situation for young horses is a lot of turn-out in a herd environment with free choice grazing/hay and lots of room to run and grow up fit and strong.