Fany- does she look too fat?

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Looking at the link to the Ardennes society, I do think that Fany is overweight when compared to the horse which is logging. IMHO the other pic also shows an overweight horse. If you have to put her onto lush grazing could you strip graze, with an electric fence? Much safer, I feel, than a muzzle, which requires a fieldsafe headcollar and can often be removed by the horse.
Are you able to lunge, even though you can't ride? Or even do in-hand exercise? I've seen a remarkable increase in fitness just with 2xdaily short in-hand walks, for some horses.
I should add that I think that Fany is gorgeous and am more than willing to offer her a bare paddock to live in.
Seriously, I can understand your problem with your two extremes, our retired cob used to be a really good doer but now struggles to hold her weight, while the other 3 put weight on just by looking at grass, it is a constant juggling act, as we feel that the cob needs company, so she can't go onto the grass to eat it off before them. We try to keep them all on a fairly bare field and give hay, whilst feeding her grassnuts.
I do hope you recover from your injury soon.

 

[Fii]

Firstly, i think your horse is lovely, but you are right, she is still over weight.
I would be really carefull about lunging her though, i have been told by different people, one a vet, that you should'nt lunge heavies, lots of running in relativly small circles is bad for their joints. I don't suppose she drives does she? that would be an alturnative (sp), for you both.

 

[MissSBird]

Agree with what the others have said, but just wanted to add some reassurance so you don't loose heart to much. It is very difficult with the fatty's and takes a long time to get the weight off. It's taken two years to safetly bring our fell from morbidly obese (the state we bought her in) to slightly on the porky side now. You are also probably looking at a longterm lifestyle choice, as my vet phrased it, rather than a diet.

Also be aware that to truely bring her to her right weight, you will probably need to take her to being slightly underweight and then allow her to put some on again carefully. Different areas of the body lose weight at different times, so the 'gutter' could disappear but the fat on her neck remain for longer.

My only other tip would be, the next time you get your vet out for a routine reason, ask them to teach you how to weight score properly. I find it's much more accurate than a weight tape as that only measures the size of the belly, and doesn't take into account the fat on the neck/shoulders/rear.

Good luck!

 

[BnWJack]

Fatness is difficult to determine without assessing with your hands too. Some animals may appear too fat, but when you palpate them you can feel bony prominences (and it's only due to lack of work and poor muscle tone that they appear fat) and others may seem too lean but they're fit and muscular for the job they are doing. You also need to take type/build into consideration - a TB is much more likely to appear less well covered fat-wise than a native/cob/draught.

If you can run your hands along each side and feel the ribcage lightly, plus you can feel (without much pressure) the side hip prominences, when standing from behind the backside appears smoothly rounded as opposed to "apple" shaped or with a prominent croup, not cresty or have a large swinging belly - should fall into the ok range for weight.

 

[mja]

Is this Sausage I see and Cappy in the bottom pic?? Rosie is that you??

 

[MrsMozartletoe]

If you call the BHS (or WHW, can't remember which!) they'll send out condition score cards. As someone else ^^ said, weigh tape and score card her each week and make a note of it, that way you will be able to keep track and 'see' how she is doing. Pictures can be misleading when you're on a mission like this

I understand your personal damage/pain issue, but are you able to lunge or long-rein her? If neither of those, how about just a head collar or bridle and a lunge whip and free school her in the school? Our horses will all go round without a lunge line attached: it's not particularly pretty, but it is effective exercise

Well done anyway for getting to grips with the issue. Have a hot choccy with a choccy flake . Fingers crossed for daughter's exams

 

[michelleice]

looking at the Ardennes breed i think shes slightly over weight but not by hundreds!

is a pic i found may its over weight tad lol

this one looks better

can she not lunge him twice a week if she cant ride?

 

[FanyDuChamp]

Is this Sausage I see and Cappy in the bottom pic?? Rosie is that you??

Yep me , who else do you know would have 2 horses that are so different! Who is that? Must be off HW 'cos no one on their will accept that her name is actually Fany, no matter how many times I tried to get everyone to call her Sausage on the yard they all refused, apparently itis bad luck to change their names!

Just thought is it you Ang? Only 'cos of MJA name.

 

[FanyDuChamp]

looking at the Ardennes breed i think shes slightly over weight but not by hundreds!

is a pic i found may its over weight tad lol

this one looks better

can she not lunge him twice a week if she cant ride?

I can't lunge her, she simply will not do it and she is not afraid of whip, people running shouting and waving after her etc. However she will free school and does regularly, just out of riding at mo. But that is temporary and normal service will resume after A levels have finished!

Thanks for the picture, I am not sure the second one is an Ardennes and not a Norriker, or a Swedish Ardennes, which is a lighter breed. The top one makes Fany look positively skinny! Maybe I will go and stand her next to him!

When I run my hands over her you can easily feel her ribs and hips, but I certainly acknowledge that she needs to lose more, I thought so at the start to be honest. Thanks eveyone for some excellent ideas and for being honest.