A mobile service using state-of-the-art digital equipment to weigh your horse, take a resting heart
(15)
All set up for a full day of educational sessions on weight management at Pytchley Pony Club Camp.
Pony Club is very close to my heart having been a life long member. I learned so much and had such memorable times and made lifelong friends. I am honoured to be able to give something back and help pass on knowledge to the next generation.
Just an average day here at Weighed In 🛠️🛠️🛠️
I have amazing customers. Thank you for being a great human being 🙏
I had a great day on Saturday offering weight management discussion at the Litemyride junior riders training day
It's great to see the girls taking an interest in how and why weight of the horse is important in their training and competing goals
I think alot of owners can relate to this now the weather has come warm and wet. Emily Cole Illustrations is fantastic at catching the real issues we have as horse owners
When Sugarplum looks more SugarPLUMP than plum! 🫣
©Emily Cole Illustrations
Weighed In Wednesday
Teeth 🦷🦷🦷
Regular dental care of your 🐎 is vital to ensure they can chew their food properly, and they don't have any issues that are causing discomfort or pain
⚫Being able to eat correctly will support your horse in getting optimum nutrients from food as well as salivation that supports gut health.
⚫Good nutrition absorption can mean more energy when being worked
⚫Pain free mouths can result in better behaviour, leading to potentially you being able/wanting to ride more
🔁All things that help with weight management 🤓
Sorry to everyone who is waiting for a reply from me. I've been super busy over the last few weeks and then had this weekend off to enjoy the sunshine and get out and about with my own 🦄🦄, and watching the mighty Badminton Horse Trials. I'll be reviewing my diary and making contact tomorrow. Thank you for your patience
I've been out enjoying my horse and the great UK countryside in the 🌞🌞🌞 today
Hands up if you think my Robbie Williams (on the left) is super handsome 🙋🙋🙋
Weighed In Wednesday
Sharing one of my posts from a while back
Extra movement in the field burns calories and that can be particularly useful at this time of year to counterbalance some of those extra calories our 🐴🐴🐴 are getting from the spring grass
At this time of year its useful to be thinking about tactics to reduce the impact of spring grass on the waistline 🌞🌱⚖️
Weighed In Wednesday
Soaking hay really does work for weight management
There are lots of debates on how long you should soak it for. Research I was reading recently argues you don't get any more out of it after an hour or 2
If you are wanting to reduce sugar/calories any soaking is better than nothing
Soaking can allow you to keep volume of fibre higher which is healthier for your horse's tummy
Soaking removes sugar and nutrients so if you are soaking you should consider replacing the vitamins and minerals with a supplement/balancer
You should rinse your hay with clean water after taking it out of its soaking water
You should weigh your hay (see last week's post) prior to soaking
Weighed In Wednesday
Soaking hay really does work for weight management
There are lots of debates on how long you should soak it for. Research I was reading recently argues you don't get any more out of it after an hour or 2
If you are wanting to reduce sugar/calories any soaking is better than nothing
Soaking can allow you to keep volume of fibre higher which is healthier for your horse's tummy
Soaking removes sugar and nutrients so if you are soaking you should consider replacing the vitamins and minerals with a supplement/balancer
You should rinse your hay with clean water after taking it out of its soaking water
You should weigh your hay (see last week's post) prior to soaking
Weighed In Wednesday
Weighing your hay is a powerful tactic in weight management
-allows you to give consistent amount
-ensures you are feeding correct ration to body weight
- allows you to make controlled changes
The recommended daily allowance of dry matter (hay, and grass consumed if dry)
Weight maintenance = 1.5% of bodyweight
Weight loss = less than 1.5% but never less than 1% of bodyweight
Weight gain = more than 1.5% bodyweight
Regular weighing of your horse will allow you to know their accurate body weight so you can measure your hay AND see whether it is working to achieve your goals
I'm proud to be part of BETA's spring feed fact fortnight. Whilst I remain independent and not endorsing any specific feed or company, the knowledge they provide is a vital part of keeping our horse's healthy.
Active weight management involves weighing and body condition scoring your horse on a regular basis so that you can monitor changes. This can be particularly useful if you have changed the horse's diet and/or management or if your horse has been diagnosed with a medical condition that is affected or caused by weight issues.
Weighing on a calibrated platform is the only accurate way to monitor your horse's weight and it is important to record the readings so you can analyse changes. Weighing is for ALL - those that are under/over and correct weight, the young and old, the pet and the top competition horse, the big and the small.
We got this quote from Kelly from Weighed In Ltd is an independent mobile service supporting horse owners in getting and keeping their equine friends at a healthy weight. To find out more visit Weighed In website.
Spring Feed Fact Fortnight is in full swing, bringing you a treasure trove of useful tips, informative videos, live interviews with experts, and thrilling competitions! 💡📚
This edition, we're laser-focused on 'Healthy weight management – practical tips based on scientific research,' while dispelling myths surrounding sugar. 🚫🍭
Keep your eyes peeled on our social media channels for updates and announcements—be sure to share the knowledge with your friends! Let's make this Feed Fact Fortnight a game-changer for equine nutrition! 🌷🐎
🌼📺
Weighed In Wednesday
Now that we are seeing the grass grow, for the next few weeks on Weighed In Wednesday we are sharing management practices that can help balance the scales
MUZZLES
Whilst they are not everyone's cup of tea, I am a fan of anything we can implement which can reduce grass intake but still allow our horse's some freedom, space to move and enjoy some 🌞
There are lots on the market
Getting one that fits correctly is very important
I recommend that it is fitted with a leather strap/head collar so if your horse should get caught on anything it has a good chance to break free (be aware that nylon doesn't break easily)
Weighed In Wednesday
Spring finally looks like it is on the way and that can only mean 1 thing
🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱The Grass is GROWING
There are ways you can keep track of grass growth rates in your area so you can make appropriate management decisions to help keep your horse healthy
Below are the two apps I have found the easiest to use:
AHDB allows you to see the grass growth rate by region https://ahdb.org.uk/knowledge-library/forage-for-knowledge
If you are more concerned about sugar levels you can use the Laminitis Risk App https://www.laminitis-risk.com/index.php
Happy monitoring folks 🧐🧐🧐🧐
I need to get one of these on my client list 🥰🥰🥰🥰
Weighed In Wednesday
The importance of knowing your horse's weight for safe travelling
We all seem to be getting going again after the winter doldrums so I thought this one is particularity timely.
-Vehicles have maximum weight limits that are set for that vehicles safe breaking capacity and structural load
-Going out overloaded puts you, your horse and other road users at risk
and it is breaking the law
-Remember that it is not just the weight of the horse that you need to consider. It EVERYTHING that you load up - including you
Safe travelling everyone
Weighed In Wednesday
Weigh bridge calibration
It is important to use a service that has their weigh bridge calibrated at least annually to ensure the readings you are getting are accurate and therefore are good to use for comparison
There is no requirement in the equine weighing sector for bridges to be calibrated so ask your service provider for their certificate if you want reassurance
Here at Weighed In we get our bridge calibrated annually by a certified weighing solutions company 🤓
Weighed In Wednesday
Why use Weighed In?
~Kelly has had horses since before she could walk
~She brings with her a lifetime knowledge and experience of owning, riding & competing
~We are NON-Judgmental - we are here to support
~We are a mobile service that comes to you
~We service one horse owners and large yards
~We are independent and not affiliated to any specific company - we are interested in you and your horse only
~Here’s the really important bit - our company built and owned online tracker means that your readings are recorded and stored so that you can access them any time, anywhere. We are constantly making improvements to the system so that it stays up to date and relevant for user needs
~We are BETA assured giving you piece of mind that you are dealing with a reputable, sustainable company with horse welfare at its heart
Weighed In Wednesday
What do the readings mean?
It is important to look at the reading for your individual horse and NOT compare them to friends or others on your yard
There are charts that will give an indication of ideal weight for average size and type but these should be used as a guide and not a strict target
The ideal weight of your horse should be in line with the level of activity, their age and time of year. A horse who hacks a few times a week does not need to be to at the same weight as a horse who is going to run a race
Tracking the weight is vital as it will give you accurate data on whether your horse is losing, maintaining or gaining weight and then looking at your management practices if they are working to achieve your goals
Weighed In Wednesday
Who is weighing for?
ALL horses. It’s not just for those that are overweight.
Our service is used by:
~Top competition riders
~Amateur rider / happy hackers
~Non-ridden horses
~Horses with health conditions that require careful weight management
~Healthy horses that owner's want to monitor
~Young & old. Big & small
~Other animals
We will come to you if you are:
~Single horse owner
~Larger yards
~Professional or Amateur
~A competition
~Clinic/Pony Club
~If it is something other than a horse you would like weighing (we've weighed Alpacas, pigs, sheep, goats, and dogs to name a few)
Weighed In Wednesday
Why weigh your horse on a weigh bridge:
~The only way to accurately know your horse's weight
~Know where they are as an individual with their weight
~Have a benchmark to work with, whether that is to gain, lose or maintain weight
~Allows you feed & supplement to correct amounts
~Allows you to worm to correct dosage (we recommend a feacal egg count first)
~Allows you to know that you are within your transport pay loads
~Allows you reassurance what is going on with your horses weight. It is not always easy to see the changes as they happen when we look at them everyday
New for 2024. Every Wednesday I will share insight to the world of weighing, offer suggestions on how you can manage your horse's weight and provide information on useful resources
New website just launched, please go take a peek 😀
Weighedin.co.uk
There is lots more content under development. What would you like to see?????
Laminitis - not just a spring disease
My great grandad used to say "to keep your pony sound in winter keep him off the frosty grass". We now know that frosty grass is high in sugar and therefore a danger to our equine friends by being a trigger for laminitis.
I know it's not easy or always possible to not let your horse eat frosty grass, especially if they live out. But have a think if there is anything you could do to encourage them not to eat frosty grass like putting hay in the field.
If you want to know more about the science check out post
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/RMf4SgGreuVt5Ub8/
W.H.a.T a year it has been. Thanks to all of my amazing customers who trust and believe in my service, 2023 has been another flagship year for my little company.
Weighed In is the first weight management company to be accepted to BETA. A mark of reputable, knowledgeable, and trusted service to the equestrian community
I've seen a record number of horses on the bridge and I close the year at just shy of 3000 records on our database
I've done educational sessions at Pony Club camps and other training days
I've supported some great riders and have taken on commitments to expand this in 2024
I look forward to supporting you all in 2024 and thank you from the bottom of my heart for believing in my service.
Let's make 2024 great 🎊
The joys and reality of running your own business. Sat here on new years eve doing payroll 😩
Does your horse's new year's resolution look like Sugarplum's?
I just love Emily Cole Illustrations
I swear blind she studies my horses 🙈
What would your horse write as their New Year's resolution?
SUPPORT not judge
Weighed In is about support for owners, not judging them on what is on the scales
The image below has been doing the rounds on social media recently and its been really playing on my mind at its acusatory tone to owners.
The tag line on both photos has been neglect.
This has really resonated with me over the last week or so when I've been to clients and they've been super anxious about me seeing their horse because it is not at an ideal weight. They have been worried about being called neglectful to a horse that they quite cleary think the world of and are trying super hard with to get on track with their weight.
Horse's become under/over weight for a variety of reasons, it doesn't mean the owner has been neglectful. We need to support those owners to help get back on track, not call them names, names which will be more likely to make them not reach out for help for fear of being branded with a derogatory label.
We just 💕 the ones that get themselves onto the weigh bridge
Loughborough
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Weighed In Ltd posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Weighed In Wednesday The importance of knowing your horse's weight for safe travelling We all seem to be getting going again after the winter doldrums so I thought this one is particularity timely. -Vehicles have maximum weight limits that are set for that vehicles safe breaking capacity and structural load -Going out overloaded puts you, your horse and other road users at risk and it is breaking the law -Remember that it is not just the weight of the horse that you need to consider. It EVERYTHING that you load up - including you Safe travelling everyone
Which is your favourite?
Experiencing a different kind of horsepower on my day off 💪
On a more positive note I've been to weigh Granby this morning as part of his monitoring for his 2023 Puissance campaign. I'm pleased to report he is on track 🐎⚖️🧐
Thank you all for your patience whilst i get my Autumn diary sorted out. Having been flat out over the spring and early summer I've been on holiday for the past week, re-energising my batteries ready to come and help you track your lovely neddies for the rest of 2023. I'm refusing to get on the weigh bridge for the next few weeks as all it will show is the results of my over consumption of 🍕🍕🍕 A grazing muzzle I think is needed 😂 Clip below is of a little rain storm we encountered in the amazing city of Venice.
Had a fab day yesterday at the FEI World Championships Pratoni - Roma 2022 and had to defect from flying the 🇬🇧 for a short time to cheer on a horse that I've weighed. You can't help but admire the giant leap of Goliath 🤩
Sending 💓💓💓 to all my customers. I couldn't do it without you
We went for a trip to Somerford Park Farm 01260299888 arena xc last week. Such a great facility from logs on the ground to big stuff. Well worth the trip for some fun or more serious training. Pooh Bear has had a busy year and is now on a little break to rest and get some weight on before starting her 2022 event campaign
