does he actually look that bad....

Looks good to me. Wouldn't want another pound on him. Your YO clearly wants her head banging off a brick wall though.
 
Fit, not fat - the way a horse should look, IMO :)

And as well as being a good weight, your horse looks relaxed and very shiny - I wouldn't change a thing, if I were you.
 
Hey, he looks fab just like our ex racer.....some people really shouldnt be having horses if they think your fantastic looking tb is skinny.
Xx
 
For the record I have had comments about my lightweight ex racer and I know exactly how b***** annoying it is. I also agree that your beautiful horsey is fit, not fat and as such would expect to be lean?? Afterall tb's are not meant to look like wb's!
I posted on here with pics of my horsey and son after a serious bout of colic over xmas in which we nearly lost him. What i didnt mention in the post (i wanted honest opinions) was the reason for the post...basically my farrier has made constant digs for the last 3 years about my horse...he's too fat, too skinny, sour, no condition, to good for me, that weak he can barely lift his feet up!!...I think you get the picture!!
Luckily for me and my sanity the vet thinks he is looking fantastic so I have told the farrier he dosent know what he is talking about!!
I suggest you do the same with the YO!!
 
hatrd to say from one photo. Got any more? I think he looks fine but could do with more muscle of his hind. Are you a feeding a conditioning mix, my Tb did very well on Baileys:)
 
I think that he looks ideal to me, fed up of seeing these over-stuffed ponies! I would certainly have a quiet word with your YO though and explain that he is in perfect weight (possibly bring a condition scoring image to back up your statement) and let her know how offended you are and how it is out of order.
A lot of people bully and torment others because they believe that they can get away with it, don't let her!
 
He looks grand, lacking in topline but that will come with age and maturity properly. He's got enough coverage on him that will make sure he stays a day out hunting without running up light. Put it this way - if he were still a racehorse he wouldn be far more stripped than that! Ignore your yo as much as possible.
 
congratulations! that's how they are supposed to look, when working and fit.

lets face it if he is working well, with energy, supple and lovely to ride what more can you ask!
 
I think he looks fine. It really gets my goat that so many people have over weight horses these days, that a normal sized horses are not acceptable. My girl is a poor doer and is the skinniest horse on the yard and sometimes I find myself thinking is she too skinny and then I remind myself that all the other horses are too big. Try and not to get drawn in, he looks great!
 
He looks great, very fit. Will build a bit more muscle on top as he gets stronger.

I once looked after a TB straight from the track and fully racing fit and it was an eye opener to me. Looked so different to the other TBs not in training, like a greyhound! But not thin, just superbly fit and muscled in the right way for a TB, complete with ribs and a horsey version of a six-pack!
 
he looks fantastic, I wouldnt put more weight on him, he is covered over his back/hips/pelvis and you can just see his ribs, which is about right for a fit tb. Would be interested to see what your YO horses look like!!! My warmblood looks like yours and is too thin BUT he is thicker set and isnt as fit as yours. Keep up the good work, he looks very well looked after!
 
Your horse is not thin - he lacks topline, that's all! Both my ex-racers lacked topline when I got them from racing. I found that micronised linseed helped with condition. I think too many people are used to seeing horses in "show" condition which seems to be a get out phrase for "obese". :)
 
PaddyMonty said:
Some people wouldn't know a fit horse if you smacked them over the head with it.
The same people wouldn't notice a horse was obese even if it sat on them. :mad:

Looks good to me. :D
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100% this!

I kept my ex racer in Cyprus, he was fed all his nutrients and calories in hard feed, Straw for bulk and no grass (for obvious reasons).

He looked very much like yours does and was the healthiest, fittest horse I have ever owed and in 5 years the only time we saw the vet was for annual jabs.

Your horse is fine acquaint your YO with the Conditioning Scores ;-))
 
hi thanks for allll the replys only just got in :)

thanks so much i do my best woth him and spend my last penny on his lol! he was on baileys cond mix but he was on box rest so was a waste of money lol!

hes now on a pony kmix and happy hoof for now because my main goal is his feet at the moment...

hes only been off box rest since april so i am working on hs topline and getting him working from behind properly :)

i do hope he stop maining about him it gets on my nerves!

hes got 2 TBs one that 14 and less muscle than marley but is a hand bigger and looks a little leaner,,, he also has another one that 26 that looks the same and also he has 4 cobs and 2 of which are overeight....

thanks for all the replys really!! nice to hear that people think hes a a good weight :)
 
He's lacking topline not weight. If your yard owner is that ignorant I would be thinking of moving yards.
 
He looks lovely to me. A nice FIT horse. Can you move yards at all and find a more knowledgable YO who actually knows what a fit TB looks like?? Does your YO do showing at all? If so I rest my case!!
 
He looks super, that's how I like a horse to look..! Fit and not fat, good job keep up the good work. And tell the haters to do one..!
 
The best way to deal with things like this is to have your horse examined by the vet then write a full report. Give a copy to your YO, then have another one enlarged and stick it to your stable door, hi-lighting the bit where it mentions your horse is fine in weight, and is how a fit horse should be....
 
I know how you feel but im on the other end of the scale. Rose is overweight and I'm trying everything to loose it. Then i got people because they have overweight cobs saying aww shes fine shes not fat! Annoys me.

He looks good IMO ignore your YO. x
 
DragonSlayer said:
The best way to deal with things like this is to have your horse examined by the vet then write a full report. Give a copy to your YO, then have another one enlarged and stick it to your stable door, hi-lighting the bit where it mentions your horse is fine in weight, and is how a fit horse should be....
Click to expand...

This is exactly what I was going to do the day after I was told the same. However, I decided not to, as I grudged paying a call out and exam to tell me what I already knew. I was reassured by several people and when my vet DID come out to do my horses teeth, the first thing she commented on was how good my girl was looking. I think you should ignore the YO and listen to what people here are saying. I agree that there is ignorance and jealousy involved here and I wouldn't give YO the satisfaction of knowing they'd got to you.
 
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