Should you see ribs on a horse?

This is the first place you'll notice weight gain or loss. Ribs: You should be able to feel — but not see — a healthy horse's ribs.
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Why can I see my horses ribs?

All ribs can be seen. Horses that look like these may not have dental issues or parasite issues, but they are simply aren't getting quit enough hay of good quality or enough pasture. They may need a bump up in their grain. This body condition is a quick fix once an owner realizes there is a problem.
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What does an underweight horse look like?

The too skinny horse may look ewe necked, the withers may appear very pronounced and the spine may be easily felt beneath the skin. The ribs and hip bones may be sharply visible and easily felt and the haunches appear sunken. Horses become too thin for a number of reasons including lack of food, stress or illness.
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Should you see thoroughbreds ribs?

Being able to see the last couple of ribs (nearer the 'hips') is fine also. If you can see all of the ribs then the horse is underweight (sometimes very fit horses such as racehorses and endurance horses have little or no fat over the ribs but have good muscle tone in other areas of the body which is fine).
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Why is my horse fat but ribby?

This is really important as horses do not store fat evenly over their bodies, some horses may appear “ribby” but have large amounts of fat over their neck, shoulders and hindquarters. These horses could actually have too much fat and be overweight despite being able to see their ribs.
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Releasing mid ribs



How do I know if my horse is malnourished?

Emaciation, muscular atrophy, a dull coat, glassy eyes and general weakness are the tell-tale signs of malnutrition. Furthermore, undernourished horses suffer from slower gastro- intestinal and immune functions, a reduced tolerance to cold and poorer wound-healing.
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Does my horse have hay belly?

The telltale sign of hay belly is a disproportionately large abdomen on a normal or thin horse. The belly will sag and bulge out to the sides.
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Why is my Thoroughbred skinny?

Many thoroughbreds will look very thin when they are actually in good body condition, while they lack topline and general muscle. So be sure to read our post on Body Condition Scoring to help you determine if your horse needs more condition or needs to build muscle. The former can be done with feed alone.
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Is it normal to see ribs?

Regardless, trying to emulate celebrities who show their rib cages is not a healthy thing. If you happen to naturally have a similar body type then perhaps seeing your ribs is not so bad...as long as you maintain a healthy weight, healthy diet and healthy amount of physical activity.
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Why is my horse skinny?

If your horse is thin without any underlying health issues, and simply needs more calories, you can fix the problem by: Allowing 24/7 access to pasture or hay (or as much forage as possible). If increased amounts of hay aren't enough, try offering a higher quality hay such as alfalfa or an immature grass hay.
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How skinny is too skinny for horses?

This can make it difficult to determine whether a horse is too skinny with just a glance. On average, a healthy racehorse will have a BCS of 4 while showhorses or riding horses have a BCS of 5 or 6. A horse with a BCS of 4 or higher can generally be safely ridden.
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How do you tell if my horse is a good weight?

The best method for determining a horse's ideal weight is to evaluate her Body Condition Score (BCS). Your horse's BCS is based on a scale of one to nine, with one being emaciated and nine being extremely overweight.
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How can I fatten up my horse?

One of the simplest and cheapest ways to add fat to your horse's diet is vegetable oil from the grocery store, which can be poured over his regular concentrate ration. Corn oil is palatable to most horses, but you can also use canola, peanut or any other vegetable oil your horse likes.
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Is my horse fat?

The ribs should be visible or easily palpable. There should be no, or minimal, crest. There should be no fat parts over the shoulder area or the ribs. There shouldn't be a noticeable gully on top and between the horse's hindquarters.
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Why is my horses belly so round?

Because high-fiber forage like grass and hay is fermented in the horse's hindgut for several days, a diet high in those may cause the horse's belly to expand and look pot-bellied.
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What are flared ribs?

Flared rib is where the lower portion at the front of your rib cage protrudes forwards and out. It is easily identified where you can see your bottom ribs popping out. This often worsens when you reach the arms overhead.
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How skinny is too skinny?

From a clinical perspective, an individual is considered “too skinny” if they are deemed underweight. According to the Centers for Disease Control, an individual is underweight if their Body Mass Index (BMI) is below 18.5 [1].
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How do you fatten up a Thoroughbred horse?

13 Ways to Put Weight on a Thoroughbred
  1. Get Your Horse's Teeth Checked. ...
  2. Have a Vet Check Your Horse for Worms. ...
  3. Make Sure You Are Feeding the Recommended Amounts. ...
  4. Adjust Your Feeding Regimen Based on Activity Level. ...
  5. Feed Your Horse Extra Forage. ...
  6. Add Grain to Your Horse's Diet. ...
  7. Add High Calorie Supplements to Your Horse's Diet.
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What should a Thoroughbred look like?

Good-quality Thoroughbreds have a well-chiseled head on a long neck, high withers, a deep chest, a short back, good depth of hindquarters, a lean body, and long legs. Thoroughbreds are classified among the "hot-blooded" breeds, which are animals bred for agility and speed and are generally considered spirited and bold.
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Is it OK to ride an underweight horse?

It is generally considered bad to ride skinny horses for a number of reasons. First, skinny horses are more prone to health problems, such as malnutrition and dehydration.
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Why is my horses belly swollen?

Swelling under the belly may be pigeon fever. There are several factors that could cause swelling on a horse, and swellings are often quite common. Skin hives, nodules, tumours, local swellings with or without heat and pain, abscesses, subcutaneous swelling, lymph nodes, joint capsules such as windgalls et cetera.
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Does my horse have Cushings?

Signs of Cushing's syndrome include: Failure or later shedding of the winter coat that may become really long, matted and curly especially around the legs. Excessive sweating. Increased drinking and urination.
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Can a horse eat too much hay?

Horses can overeat grass, especially if the pasture is lush, but it is also easy to let a horse get too fat from eating hay. And, sometimes too little hay can mean a horse will lose weight.
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What does a starving horse look like?

Some signs of a horse that is starving, other than a visual assessment, include diarrhea, constipation, laying down a lot, colic, poor coat quality, and a depressed attitude. When a horse is starved, it cannot use fats or carbohydrates that are normally stored in a healthy horse.
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