Chubby or not..

I think he looked better in the first picture to be honest, could do with a little bit more muscle, but i much prefer to see horses at this time of year a bit leaner, I think weight is very difficult to get right in horses, I have an irish draught who on days looks spot on weight wise and is fit, and other days i think gosh right less feed more work, it's a very hard balancing act, but again i'd rather see him leaner as he's a heavy built horse ( he's not lean now as he is only coming back into work but give it 8 weeks and he will be)
 
Thanks everyone. Food for thought. I am surprised because when I was concerned by his leaness, with that exact pic, most of you said he was perfect and exactly right! I suppose when you put the two together it makes the leaness more obvious. Will keep an eye and see how it goes, not sure whether to unmuzzle or not? Might re think it once he's back doing canter work but there is so much grass.. And I know from threads on here that fit and not overweight horses have had it so I do worry.
 
I wouldn't be muzzling a horse that is the weight of the second photograph unless they had metabolic issues. Muzzles are a last resort IMO. Essential for some horses but best avoided when they really aren't needed as in the case of your horse, OP.
 
I think he looks fine in the 2nd picture and now he is back in work I am sure he will be fine, he just looks a bit more covered he has no signs of fat pads or a crest I wouldn't worry, my horse had 5 months box rest and looked pregnant by the end but within 2 months he was back to normal and that was not even doing a huge amount of work, mind you I think the belly was sagging as the muscle had relaxed so much due to no work more than it being fat.
 
He's muzzled because of the sheer amount of grass and the fact he's had a "trauma" to his feet aka inflammation vet seems to think it's best to be cautious as he's not working particularly hard and is continuing to quickly gain. Plus he's been off grass on box rest for weeks so reluctant to let him gorge when he's been off it for a while. Hoping to have it off in a week or so once he's working harder and the grass has died down...


just-wait said:
I wouldn't be muzzling a horse that is the weight of the second photograph unless they had metabolic issues. Muzzles are a last resort IMO. Essential for some horses but best avoided when they really aren't needed as in the case of your horse, OP.
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Michen said:
Thanks everyone. Food for thought. I am surprised because when I was concerned by his leaness, with that exact pic, most of you said he was perfect and exactly right! I suppose when you put the two together it makes the leaness more obvious. Will keep an eye and see how it goes, not sure whether to unmuzzle or not? Might re think it once he's back doing canter work but there is so much grass.. And I know from threads on here that fit and not overweight horses have had it so I do worry.
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I think you're right - if you showed me the first photo on it's own and asked if he was too thin, I'd probably say he looked fine. Fit, but not anything to worry about (assuming he's in hard work). Seeing the two pictures together however, I prefer the second for the reasons already mentioned by others.
 
Have not read the thread but I think he looks like he has a perfect amount of fat in the first picture but not enough muscle
In the second picture I think he's carrying more fat but is still under muscled ,his back would concern me if he were mine .
While I don't think it's a big concern that he's got a little more fat I would not want him to carry any more if he where mine .
I would be doing a targeted training programme to build up that back .
 
Anything you can think of specifically? Using the school isn't really an option for him so needs to be something we can do out hacking! I know I am far to lax in getting him to work correctly out hacking and not just go along on the buckle but anything more specific would be great


Goldenstar said:
Have not read the thread but I think he looks like he has a perfect amount of fat in the first picture but not enough muscle
In the second picture I think he's carrying more fat but is still under muscled ,his back would concern me if he were mine .
While I don't think it's a big concern that he's got a little more fat I would not want him to carry any more if he where mine .
I would be doing a targeted training programme to build up that back .
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