Cresty necks

[bellajack]

This probably is a silly question but how cresty a neck is considered normal for a Dales?

I know that they do have heavily muscled necks, like Iberians, but at what point should I start to worry?

My 6yo gelding wasn't gelded until 18months and I am trying to convince myself that this is why his neck looks so solid now he is an adult, but I am terrified of Laminitis and not sure how much I should panic.
His digital pulses are fine and he doesn't look any fatter than last year apart from his neck. Do very fit Dales still have cresty necks? What is considered normal for the breed?

I keep him on the barest grazing we have and soak his hay for 12 hours to get rid of soluable sugars and starches, and feed him a fibre only diet but his neck still looks too solid for my liking.

All advice most gratefully recieved.

[Biggerside Benwell]

Dannys neck is always cresty than i would like at this time of year. I find strenuous exercise reduces it slighly and Danny gets started on NAF laminaze supplement at this time of year also.

[greydales]

Saturn wasn't gelded until he was nearly 3, and he does have quite a cresty neck compared to the others.

I am unsure of the link between cresty necks and laminitis - I know it isn't supposed to be a good thing if they are solid - but Saturn's and also my filly Olivia have quite solid necks much of the time. I know of quite a few Dales ponies who have this, including mares.

It sounds as if you have good management for your Dales, so I would try not to worry too much but just keep a regular eye so if anything were to occur you would spot it early on.

I also have an endless worry as my grazing is lush cow pasture, and no matter how 'bare' the paddock, they still put on weight!

[khristyne]

we've got one too, but it is quite soft!!

[harveydales]

Lovely pic Khristyne!

Yes, these Dales are a worry as they are such good doers and it is so hard to give them they need to keep them right. But it sounds like you are managing your gelding very well, not much more you can do and you are obviously keeping an eye on things. Once they have developed a crest of any size, it is very difficult if not impossible to get rid of it and with yours being gelded so late, this is probably the reason for him having a crest in the first place. If it suddenly becomes rock hard, then that would be more of a worry. but from what you say, I think you are fine.

[bellajack]

Thanks very much all. I will try not to worry. It's worse than having kids isn't it? (Not that I'd know, I never went in for horse substitutes!).
Greydales, is your filly Olivia, Daloumie Olivia by any chance? If so I have her year older full sister.

[greydales]

Yes Olivia is Daloumie Sweet Olivia - which is yours, and how old? Do you have any pics?

[DalesLady]

We have one pony with a particularly cresty neck. She is not fat though by any stretch of the imagination and we were told she has always had the crestiness, from being small. She was bred like that. She has never been tubby either. In Spring the crest does still harden a bit, but is definitely soft and wobbly most of the year.

Another of our ponies has no crest at all, but she does have a tendency to being overweight far more easily than any of the others, never producing a cresty neck at all. I would be more worried about her for lami than the cresty one though!

[bellajack]

Greydales - mine is Daloumie Arabella. She is rising 5. I have put a bit about her on the 'Our Ponies' thread in Horsey Chat. Does Olivia have a similar personality? Have you done anything with her yet? Will put up some pics if I can ever work out how - complete computer novice here, wrong generation!
PS are Olivia's teeth coming through ok? Bella's were a mess this time last year, but apart from that she has been the easiest pony I have ever come across. Besotted doesn't begin to describe me!!!