Fat or fit (horse, not person!)

slightlyconfused said:
I agree with amymay, also I don't agree with the whole "He is a good weight going into winter" you can get lami in winter just as easily as you can in summer.

The crest would worry me.
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I agree. I didn't notice my mare developing a crest. You could always see her ribs and she was slim elsewhere. But she came down with lami for the first time ever last Christmas. She tested positive for Cushings. Now I have slimmed her down even more. I don't think these fluctuations in weight are good for horses, I try to keep their weight stable throughout the year.
 
Gorgeous ... but... fat ! sorry ! Its hard to imagine how your horse can look fit unless you have got them there. The only thing that worked with Dex was hunting - couple of outings and it had really changed his shape as he was actually putting the effort in rather than being on cruise the whole time. -
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Just hoping the same may happen to me this year!!
 
Fat for me too I'm afraid. Whilst I agree that poking and prodding is the only accurate way to get a real idea of condition, he certainly looks too well covered to be even borderline. I'd have him on a strict diet and as much work as you can.
 
meesha said:
Gorgeous ... but... fat ! sorry ! Its hard to imagine how your horse can look fit unless you have got them there. The only thing that worked with Dex was hunting - couple of outings and it had really changed his shape as he was actually putting the effort in rather than being on cruise the whole time. -
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after
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Just hoping the same may happen to me this year!!
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he looks amazing in the 2nd picture:)
 
thank you !!! I tried long hacks with hill work, fast work, lunging, schooling and he just wasnt interested in putting enough effort in to get him fit. But, as soon as we started hunting he just toned up almost overnight - think he had only been out autumn trailing about 4 times when the pic was taken - first pic is from the summer !! he is a greedy guts !
 
Yes he's a sturdy cob. He's also fat though, just going from that picture. What's his workload like, what is he doing for those 4/5 sessions a week? I'd be a bit concerned if he were mine, sorry.

Fab to see the before and afters on the thread, really inspiring :)
 
The "good to be fat going into winter" thing only works if the horse is going to be living out without rugs. Most of us won't be doing this, we will clip and feed, so they really don't need to have a covering at this time of year...
 
Ok, when he was really fat:
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At his slimmest ever coming out of winter, I was told off for letting him drop too much weight.
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He is currently schooling for 3-4 sessions a week, up to an hour. The last session was working on getting him on the right leg in canter and going over very small jumps whilst doing so. He was dripping afterwards and had a 20 minute walking hack afterwards. He's being hacked once a week. Sadly, no hills round our way except down to the fields we use.

Bearing in mind everyone's comments, I think I need to add in maybe some lunging too. I can't muzzle him, I've tried every type and he can get them off in under two minutes: I timed him. His grazing is restricted by being in.
 
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Honey08 said:
The "good to be fat going into winter" thing only works if the horse is going to be living out without rugs. Most of us won't be doing this, we will clip and feed, so they really don't need to have a covering at this time of year...
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I was struggling to understand the fat going into winter as well. Mine all live out 24/7 from around April until November time, and then are stabled overnight through winter. They are fed hay, and some feed, and their weights hardly change that much. If anything, they maybe put on a bit during winter as are not working as hard with the lack of daylight hours.

TGM, thankyou for your nice comments about Mac.
 
I actually think he is spot on in the pic you just posted, when you were told he had dropped too much. Was that someone from the showing world or something? He looks great there..
 
Saddler said he'd dropped too much. Obviously not my vet or a nutritionist, but a guy I trust. I think he'd need to be hunting weekly to stay like that normally! I've rarely seen such a slim h/w cob!! At least I have that to use as a yardstick. I'll ask my friend who's an equine vet to give an opinion too when I next see him. I'll keep an eye on the weigh tape, too.

When he was that slim, I didn't really rug unless the fields were filthy and I used quite lightweight stable rugs over the winter. Maybe I've gone soft, as last winter I had him in a h/w when in! Maybe cos I really feel the cold, I was anthromophorthising (sp?) He's not a delicate type!
 
your obviously proud of how he looks in that photo as its on all your posts and i think you are right to be he looks great.
I am not sure I would class him as a heavyweight though
 
He looks lovely in his ' thin ' picture but on my yard we would still be working for slimmer that's 'fat' to me, I think it's a lot want you are used to seeing horses looking like and that's depends on what you do with them so if you are used to racehorses or very fit hunters and event types even a nicely conditioned show horse looks huge.
 
jools1234 said:
your obviously proud of how he looks in that photo as its on all your posts and i think you are right to be he looks great.
I am not sure I would class him as a heavyweight though
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He's on the cusp of heavyweight due to his bone measuring 9.5 and 10 inches is true heavyweight. I do like how he looks in the sig pic but mostly it's there because he won the class, first ever show, at a decent equestrian centre. Shallow of me, I know! :o
 
I mentioned his size to a fellow livery today, who is a big dressage judge. She thinks he's fine. Funny what different people think. I could understand a show judge saying he was OK, I know they've been known for liking obese horses. :eek:

Exercise will have to wait: he has come up lame this afternoon :(
 
cinnamontoast said:
At his slimmest ever coming out of winter, I was told off for letting him drop too much weight.
Beaushowdesktoppicture.jpg
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Think he looks about perfect weight wise in this pic. I think this year has been tricky to manage those who live off thin air, know I have been fighting a losing battle with my own mare (who would be a similar build).

Sorry to hear he is lame and hope it is nothing serious.:(
 
Sorry, I'm a bit late getting back to this thread, but for those who think cobs should have big crests and fat bums, here is some info I posted on here a while ago:

Just thought I would post a bit of information for those who feel it is not really a problem if a horse or pony is 'pleasantly plump' or 'comfortably cuddly'. Unfortunately, being overweight is really a big health risk for equines. It is now known that fat cells can produce a wide range of hormones - if the animal's fat deposits are larger than normal then this can upset the hormone balance and result in the animal becoming insulin resistant, which in turn makes the animal very susceptible to laminitis.

A good summary of the problem here:

http://www.lakeviewvets.co.uk/index...icle&id=80:ems&catid=38:equine-info&Itemid=67

and a key quote from it:

"Obesity, as a direct result of excessive calorie intake, is the primary cause of insulin resistance in horses (as with people). It is now known that fat cells can produce a wide range of hormones and inflammatory mediators. These hormones down-regulate the sensitivity of tissues to insulin, which is a normal body function. However, if they are produced by larger than normal deposits of fat, their down-regulatory action is too much for the body to cope with and insulin resistance occurs. The excessive production of inflammatory mediators by the fat tissue also leads to a constant state of low grade inflammation. "

And another easily readable summary from Dengie:

http://www.dengie.com/pages/dengie-...naging-a-horse-or-pony-prone-to-laminitis.php

Sadly, a big part of the problem is that owners do not always recognise when their animal is overweight. A WHW survey found the following:

"Despite being a nation of animal lovers, over half of the people surveyed either could not recognise an overweight horse or if they did, had no idea of the dire health or welfare implications to the animal. This compares to over three quarters of the people surveyed who believed being underweight was a threat. In addition, according to other research by the charity, between 35 - 45% of UK horses are believed to be overweight or obese."

Link is here:

http://www.worldhorsewelfare.org/information/latest-news?view=show&content_id=3185

So please don't be complacent about the 'pleasantly plump' or 'comfortably cuddly' pony in your paddocks - it is not a cosmetic or aesthetic issue, but a serious health one. You really don't want this to happen to your horse/pony:

http://www.farmersguardian.com/Pictures/inline/k/a/x/Health_laminitis.jpg

http://www.tceh.co.uk/images/content/articles/laminitis/severe-acute-laminitis.png
 
Whoever told you off for his condition in the second pic showing deserves to be hung drawn and quartered, they obviously know absolutely nothing about having a healthy fit horse.

His weight in that pic is just perfect and something to be aimed at for any time of the year if you want him to have a useful and healthy life. Any more weight on him than as there then I'd say yes, he's far too fat.
 
TGM said:
Sorry, I'm a bit late getting back to this thread, but for those who think cobs should have big crests and fat bums, here is some info I posted on here a while ago:

Just thought I would post a bit of information for those who feel it is not really a problem if a horse or pony is 'pleasantly plump' or 'comfortably cuddly'. Unfortunately, being overweight is really a big health risk for equines. It is now known that fat cells can produce a wide range of hormones - if the animal's fat deposits are larger than normal then this can upset the hormone balance and result in the animal becoming insulin resistant, which in turn makes the animal very susceptible to laminitis.

A good summary of the problem here:

http://www.lakeviewvets.co.uk/index...icle&id=80:ems&catid=38:equine-info&Itemid=67

and a key quote from it:

"Obesity, as a direct result of excessive calorie intake, is the primary cause of insulin resistance in horses (as with people). It is now known that fat cells can produce a wide range of hormones and inflammatory mediators. These hormones down-regulate the sensitivity of tissues to insulin, which is a normal body function. However, if they are produced by larger than normal deposits of fat, their down-regulatory action is too much for the body to cope with and insulin resistance occurs. The excessive production of inflammatory mediators by the fat tissue also leads to a constant state of low grade inflammation. "

And another easily readable summary from Dengie:

http://www.dengie.com/pages/dengie-...naging-a-horse-or-pony-prone-to-laminitis.php

Sadly, a big part of the problem is that owners do not always recognise when their animal is overweight. A WHW survey found the following:

"Despite being a nation of animal lovers, over half of the people surveyed either could not recognise an overweight horse or if they did, had no idea of the dire health or welfare implications to the animal. This compares to over three quarters of the people surveyed who believed being underweight was a threat. In addition, according to other research by the charity, between 35 - 45% of UK horses are believed to be overweight or obese."

Link is here:

http://www.worldhorsewelfare.org/information/latest-news?view=show&content_id=3185

So please don't be complacent about the 'pleasantly plump' or 'comfortably cuddly' pony in your paddocks - it is not a cosmetic or aesthetic issue, but a serious health one. You really don't want this to happen to your horse/pony:

http://www.farmersguardian.com/Pictures/inline/k/a/x/Health_laminitis.jpg

http://www.tceh.co.uk/images/content/articles/laminitis/severe-acute-laminitis.png
Click to expand...

*Like*

OP sounds like you might be onto something with the rugging - agree with whoever it was that said they only need to be plump going into winter if going to be out/no rugs etc.
 
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