CC on TB ex racer coming out of winter

[ImmyS]

Hay bellies are never a good thing, but are exceptionally common with TBs coming out of racing and stopping all work. Their stomach muscles essentially relax and their belly drops. It'll go as she begins to work again- have you tried lunging/ long reining? We can't keep Reg looking good if he's not in work, he drops condition rapidly, so when he first started being ridden again (he looked v. similar to yours, slightly thinner) it was a real play off between riding him enough but not too much.
)

I would prefer for her to have a hay belly when in no to little work rather than bring stressed and tucked up? I'm personally not a fan of lunging, only do a little in natural horsemanship sessions, otherwise I do general ground exercises with her. Just want to build the work load slowly.

 

[ImmyS]

For reference, she looked like this last spring time.. About late April early may time...

 

[Spring Feather]

I don't understand what you know as a rope halter then? It's just a bog standard rope halter

OP I've only read to here (will read the rest after) but you're quite right it is just a bog standard rope halter. Used all over the world by thousands, including me. I have tons of them at all hitching rails around my farm. Would never be without them, and yes of course, like the other thousands of people who own them, I tie up in them Sometimes I wonder about some HHOers

 

[ImmyS]

OP I've only read to hear (will read the rest after) but you're quite right it is just a bog standard rope halter. Used all over the world by thousands, including me. I have tons of them at all hitching rails around my farm. Would never be without them, and yes of course, like the other thousands of people who own them, I tie up in them Sometimes I wonder about some HHOers

Thank you spring feather they are a handy bit of kit, wouldn't not use one now!

 

[JFTDWS]

I would prefer for her to have a hay belly when in no to little work rather than bring stressed and tucked up?

There is a middle ground, and that is, obviously, what you should aim for.

 

[ImmyS]

There is a middle ground, and that is, obviously, what you should aim for.

I wouldn't say hers is particularly bad and as another poster said, I think her weaker back end makes her belly look out of proportion.

 

[Spring Feather]

Finished and lol it's a typical HHO thread. Anyway I think she looks fine coming into spring. She looks like a sweetheart

 

[JFTDWS]

I like to see a horse with a good hay belly

I wouldn't say hers is particularly bad and as another poster said, I think her weaker back end makes her belly look out of proportion.

Not saying it's terribly bad, was commenting in reference to the first comment.

 

[ImmyS]

Finished and lol it's a typical HHO thread. Anyway I think she looks fine coming into spring. She looks like a sweetheart

Yeah, has gone off on a bit of a tangent as usual! .. Thank you, considering she was a pity buy and we could have ended up with anything she's been an absolute sweetie to work with, never met such an intelligent horse.

 

[ImmyS]

Not saying it's terribly bad, was commenting in reference to the first comment.

No worries, was just clarifying

 

[Smith123]

Bit of a belly I would say!!! Maybe start cutting her feed now we are coming into spring, or up her work...

 

[RachelFerd]

I agree she is actually carrying a tiny bit too much weight. And I also agree with Lolo - hay belly is not a good term. No they shouldn't be tucked up, but 'hay belly' refers to low-hanging, saggy abdominal muscles - not something you should be aiming for, certainly not with a horse known to have KS. Neither can a hay belly magically morph into a topline - they are 2 quite different things.

She does look very healthy for a TB coming out of winter, but I would probably now be wanting her to tone up that belly as it will be of benefit to the potential KS problem, and start to put more topline on at the same time.

 

[ImmyS]

Bit of a belly I would say!!! Maybe start cutting her feed now we are coming into spring, or up her work...

As said in a previous post she has been in light work all winter and will be in more work come spring, feed will be adjusted accordingly

 

[ImmyS]

I agree she is actually carrying a tiny bit too much weight. And I also agree with Lolo - hay belly is not a good term. No they shouldn't be tucked up, but 'hay belly' refers to low-hanging, saggy abdominal muscles - not something you should be aiming for, certainly not with a horse known to have KS. Neither can a hay belly magically morph into a topline - they are 2 quite different things.

She does look very healthy for a TB coming out of winter, but I would probably now be wanting her to tone up that belly as it will be of benefit to the potential KS problem, and start to put more topline on at the same time.

I understand what you're saying however I see this horse every day, I would not refer to her belly as 'saggy', this is her weight on a better day, her weight fluctuates from day to day and this is most certainly one of her 'rounder' days. However I can still always see her ribs and her muscle is starting to build nicely, she was extremely ewe necked when we first got her which is pretty much gone and she has good muscle along her back, no dips either side of her spine, her hindquarters will be worked on but she will never be 'round' behind due to her conformation.