CBFan
Well-Known Member
This morning at the yard a lady called me over, pointing at her horse saying 'CBFan, I think he's fat! what do you think?' I walked over, checked him out, felt for his ribs and said, 'well he looks good (which he does - he's quite fit now) but I can't feel his ribs particularly easily and given that this is your first spring with him and you don't know how the grass is going to affect his waistline, I'd be carefull' (I said this considering she is prone to overfeeding anyway and her last horse had lami which she didn't make much effort to control through diet - I'd rather be safe than sorry) she agreed and said that perhaps she would start cutting his feed down a little. At this point, another livery marched up uninvited and (quite abrubtly said 'He's not fat! he's Irish draught crossed with thoroughbred isn't he?' to which owner replied 'yes' then other livery said 'well in that case he should look about half the size of xxx (a full ID mare on the yard)' - WTF??!! How can you judge a horses condition by comparing it to another horse (of a completely different stamp and level of fitness BTW) ??? Surely it should be done on an individual basis??! I just stood there speechless...
