does he actually look that bad....

I think he looks fine :) many people are far too used to seeing fat horses. Some of them are truly shocking, people see them as 'just right', yet they can't feel their ribs. It's a bit of a shock at my yard that I don't feed my Connie hard feed.. funnily enough he doesn't need it! Horses aren't meant to be carrying around a load of fat, leads to all sorts of problems :( xx
 
From the photo he looks how a fit horse should. As others have said any excess fat for fast work is detrimental to their health

YO's are funny. Mine tried telling me this morn my 5yr old was "not right" because he likes to have a lay down in the field at 7am each morn for an hour. He does this everyday in the summer when he is out 24/7, ESP with the heat. Apparently young horses don't do this! :/
 
I have the same problem with 2 labradors. People are so used to seeing overweight dogs, mine get commented for being too lean on when they are fit and at the right weight. We just had one put down but she was fit and running around until 16 - how many tubby labradors live that long? Horse looks great - I love seeing animals looking how they should look - far too many horses are over-fed, over-rugged and under-worked IMO.
 
Your horse looks great. Must admit am jealous! Would love a horse that could just eat anything and stay in this condition. I have all air ferns and am sick of the, "aren't you being cruel having them on a sacrifice paddock all day"? They get to graze at night on a better but not lush field.

Wish people would start realising fat does not equal healthy! Keep up the good work.

Terri
 
To me he looks like a very fit and healthy horse. It wouldn't hurt to have a tiny bit more on him (and I mean a tiny bit) but it is by no means necessary. Idiot YO.
 
He is lovely ! I would move yards quicker than a rat can get up a drainpipe - been on one where Shy was criticised, and am soooooo happy to have moved :)
 
Trot_On_Dressage said:
YO's are funny. Mine tried telling me this morn my 5yr old was "not right" because he likes to have a lay down in the field at 7am each morn for an hour. Apparently young horses don't do this! :/
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what the hell? lol My youngster must be a complete wierdo then, he lays down at least once a day for around an hour, if it's really hot he's down a couple of times. I have run out of the house on several occassions thinking he must be dead but no, he just lifts his head and looks at me and then goes back to sleep again lol
 
OP if he was my horse then I personally would want a covering over his ribs but that's just my opinion. I used to work with racehorses and even when they were racing fit we could feel but not see the ribs.

If I were you though I'd be getting off that yard ASAP, your YO humiliating you like that in front of other people is just not on. In addition to that, your horse is definitely not a 'disgrace' that is completely overkill. Even if your horse was way too thin that is no way to deal with it, if she had a problem with your horses weight she should have had a quiet word with you and checked to see if everything was OK rather than saying something in front of everyone. This is why I bit the bullet and bought my own place with land!
 
I wish my horses looked like yours mine are FAT and I know its not good for them. It is a struggle to keep weight off :(

Lots of people think mine are an ideal weight. they are not
 
Looks good to me. Fit and not fat! :)

I was always told it was far better for a horse to be a little underweight than overweight, same as feed according to work done and not what they will be doing.

Off topic slightly but I was told my very active collie was underweight by M-I-L upset me so much I spoke to the vet who told me he was spot on and it was a refreshing change to see a fit healthy dog not carrying excess pounds........
 
Not read all the replies yet but he looks good to me.

We've recently had someone from a feed company come with a weighbridge and weigh and condition score all the horses on the yard. Might be worth arranging on your yard so you can be all smug when you are told he is perfect.

My girl has less muscle than yours but is similar in that you can easily feel her ribs and just see them etc I was told she is perfect weight for her size, age and type, I was expecting to be told she is a bit on the lean side so was very pleased.
 
He's spot on for me, lots of nice muscle and no wobbly fat. This time of year it doesn't hurt them to be a bit on the lean side, anyway.

How rude of your YO, I think if I were you I'd be having a quiet word to say that if he has opinions on my horse, I'd rather he told me privately than shout them all round the yard!
 
I with PaddyMonty and the others a lot of people just think obese is healthy now look for another yard for a peaceful life
 
He looks fit not fat, just dont take him into a 'show class' unless it is a working hunter, even then he will look 'thin'
When Cuffey was doing lots of XC he was weighed on a weighbridge at Moreton Morrell at 484 kg, the people doing the checks thought he was spot on for the job in hand.

What does a weigh tape say for your boy?
 
Hes lovely and looks pretty fit xx

I just left a yard because YO decided my pony was fat ( trust me, shes not, vet and i are both happy with her ), she put her on a bare paddock with nothing to eat, wasnt allowed to put anything in for her etc, yard itself is fantastic and a 10 second walk from my house but i cant be doing with interfearing YOs like that.
 
I think he looks fantastic, my welsh sec a is roughly the same (without the muscle!) and all I get is wow she's skinny but shes not, people are just far to used to seeing far horses!
 
I think the great majority of vets (and doctors come to that) agree that it's better to be on the lean side than overweight. I think he looks great and wish more horses looked as fit!
 
Tell them if there that worried to call WHW and watch them laugh in their faces and show them what real skinny horses look like not fit ones!
 
I think he looks lovely, and in no way too thin. One of my first posts on this was about my mare, who I was accused of allowing to get too thin. When I posted, I just said that someone on my yard had said this, it was in fact my yard owner. He said much the same as yours said to you, my girl was a disgrace and people were talking. Amymay was kind enough to have a look at pics of my girl and reassured me. Since then I have had my vet, my farrier and several liveries tell me that my girl has come through winter looking the best she ever has. Yesterday I had an experienced Clydesdale man come to assess my girl and his praise for her put me on top of the world. I guess what I'm trying to say is that both my YO and yours are arses best ignored, it's horrible to be criticised, even worse when there's no justification.
Ps, I don't believe your horse would be gleaming like he is if he was malnourished, and lovely tail by the way! X
 
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