CAN A FAT HORSE/PONY BE A FIT HORSE?

well on the basis that i had a friend at uni who was *ahem* on the larger side, but played hockey and lacrosse internationally I would say yes (!)
 
Horses don't carry fat on their bellies, that is just gut fill. I know a thin horse can, when we bought our lad he was very thin but very, very fit. So I suppose a fat one could be.

FDC
 
My (greedy) rocket of a pony was hunting and bombing around a X Country course every weekend sporting a pot belly so I'd hope so lol :D
 
Thanks guys. I hope other people don't pull me up on the fact that Frank is a tad porky. I have been looking forward to this charity ride for ages and have been riding him loads.:):cool:
 
I know a pony that you can't feel it's ribs but it can happily buck and mess around like a loon without a single puff after a good hour trying to take the pee !
 
I was out on a 2hr xc hack this afternoon. My podgy mare jogged, snorted, pulled, huffed and puffed her way round the whole thing! She was slightly damp under saddle/girth but coped way better than me! Every horse is an individual and some will always carry a bit of chub for a rainy day! They can be just as fit as a super slim type!
 
My daughters pony is on the round side, but hes as fit as a fiddle my daughter bombs round non stop for at least an hour a day he goes showjumping training weekly for an hour at PC, does a couple of classes at shows at the weekend, 2 hour hack at the weekend and 3 hour rallies in school holidays , he hardly ever breaks a sweat hes so fit (unless its really warm). When shes on him its non stop trotting and cantering. ANd when shes hacking he keeps up with the 16hh cantering. I would say hes fitter than most horses at hour yard. So yes definatly would say they can be porky and fit.
 
Fany Du Champ said:
Horses don't carry fat on their bellies, that is just gut fill. I know a thin horse can, when we bought our lad he was very thin but very, very fit. So I suppose a fat one could be.

FDC
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Horses might not but my Shetland Pony most decidedly does. Do you wanna come and poke it :)??? I think you might mean on the very bottom of their bellies, but they certainly carry it down the sides and in my Shetland, so low down that it does alter the line of his belly if he is too fat.
 
cptrayes said:
Horses might not but my Shetland Pony most decidedly does. Do you wanna come and poke it :)??? I think you might mean on the very bottom of their bellies, but they certainly carry it down the sides and in my Shetland, so low down that it does alter the line of his belly if he is too fat.
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The belly is the underside.
I have taken this from the BHS Website-basic feeding
"Relatively speaking the stomach is much smaller in the horse than it is in humans. Humans store fat around their stomachs, horses do not. Horses with a big grass belly are storing bulk, but if you feel under their tummies, you will not find fat."

Horses do not store fat in around their stomachs they do store in around their rib cages.
FDC
 
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