Horses with a round tummy but visable ribs...

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Scampi

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... what do you do with a horse that has a round tummy (dipped tummy lets say) but at certain angles can see one or two ribs? Can't work out if she's fat or just needs toning up! Cheers
 
assuming the horse isn't preggers or wormy I guess not worry?

Brown horse is a 'ribby' horse. However fat he gets you can always see at least three ribs. He def isn't infoal and is worm counted every three months so isn't wormy either. It's just how he's built.

I try and gauge his weight from his neck and bum as his middle is an unreliable source!
 
Wormy / pregnant / funny shaped horse (:p) / figure wrecked by previous pregnancies, should have told owners she was too posh to push and had a c-section and tummy tuck:p
 
Check out the post by JessikaGinger on pg 1 in stable yard on what to feed horse! Her horse is pregnant and it shows pictures so you could compare with your mare!
 
My little horse is like this, the vet describes her as a belly on legs :o.
She has followed a vet given fittening program and although she has toned up, her shape hasn't changed too much.

It's just the way she is :).
 
hello - that sounds like worms might be an issue. has she had a wormer recently, and one for tapeworms this spring?

good luck in sorting her out. :)
 
My mare was like this, she had a huge tummy but could still see ribs.
I got her worm counted (came back 0), tried every type of feed. She was very fit, worked properly but it got worse. She was also prone to colic in the spring/autumn.
Sadly she died of colic on the operating theatre and when they opened her up her insides were a mess :( :(. It was basically old worm damage from a youngster before I got her, she had adhesions and pock marks in her gut years old. This had weakened her digestive system, she always had a gut because she wasn't processing her food properly. She always used to have a lot of droppings too.
I am now seriously paranoid about gutty but ribby horses! People don't think of previous worm damage :( :(
 
My mare always has a pretty large tummy and did even when eventing though it was more toned when she was in proper work!. I accept it on her now to a degree as she doesn't use herself properly (arthritis in her neck) so therefore doesn't work through her back and therefore keep her stomach muscles toned
 
Mine always has a huge saggy belly but can get really ribby and poor. We've always assumed she was over-used as a broodmare when she was younger, as she has such a fab temperment. It used to get to the point where it was "flat" to the ground (rather than sagging towards) once very, very fit and had a good topline - only happened once though as she can only hack now due to an unrelated injury. I think part of the problem is also that she has awfully straight hindlegs and she physically can't use herself properly, so has a weak back and bum as a result.

Nothing you can do except ignore the "she's fat" comments... :p
 
Lottie is a bit like this but is 31 and semi retired so all her medical people say it's just her age and go off her neck and bum. More excercise now it's better weather (arthritis(sp) so not too much work when cold/wet) is helping to 'lift' the belly a bit as she builds back muscle, it's the main reason she is still in work, that and she gets bored and depressed if she stops completely when she feels fit!
 
I have a gelding who puffs up like a balloon in the middle, without appearing fat anywhere else at all. He also has a somewhat dipped back. He poos for Scotland, too: his personal best is 13 poos (some very small, granted) on one 2-hour hack. It seems to be a "grass belly". Only thing that works with him is combo of restricted grazing and lots of work, and even then, he's a little funny-looking around the middle.
 
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