How do I?

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fallenangel123

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Tactfully tell someone their horse is fatter than a prize beef bull?

Lovely weather yesterday and as I walked by my friends paddock I saw her horse without its rug for the first time in ages. She is 16.2hh IDx what should be a middleweight hunter type. She has a gutter along her back and bum that is at least an inch deep, fat pads over her shoulders and a huge crest. On a fat score it would be a five! I wouldn't generally be in need of voicing my opinion but said horse has a stifle injury already which isn't being helped by this weight I'm sure, and the owner is very much a novice.

I am not generally known for my tact although my OH says I tend to beat about the bush a bit so it comes out sounding like I'm snidey. Am I best just saying 'My god your horse is seriously fat!!'?

WWYD?
 
Tell her there's a two month waiting list for potters so you hope she has plenty of feed to last.

On second thought, don't take advice from me, I'm a but of a ******* apparently :rolleyes:
 
Place a leaflet/article on laminitis near the owner. Failing that just tell them. If they care they'll be gratefful. they need to be told!
 
I tend to be quite open about it, will just pat the horse & say 'hello fatty' or 'christ, doing sumo with her this year?'
However if its through lack of knowledge its nicer to be diplomatic, the above would be snide comments if she doesn't know better. I'd just say something along the lines of ' I hope you don't think i'm interfering but I've noticed she's a bit heavy for this time of year' then go on to explain about laminitis, joint strain, how a healthy horse should look & most importantly offer to explain & show her how to get weight off & prevent it happening in future.
 
I like littlelegs' approach. If she's a novice she may not even realise the horse is fat, or how to condition score. And if she cares at all I am sure she would take any advice in the spirit in which it was meant.
 
I like littlelegs approach too.

Or you could bounce round with a weight tape and say something like 'Look what I've just bought! let's go and measure the horses' (with everyone's permission, or maybe just do yours and then hers). She'll realise what an oompa loompa her horse is, then you can do the laminitis, joint strain speech.
 
If she's your friend then you should just be honest with her, I would have no problem telling my mate that I thought her horse was getting a bit porky and I know she wouldn't mind me telling her, if your friend is more an associate then you should tell your YM if that's your set up and get her to deal with the problem.
 
I like the 'hello fatty' approach, as a lead in, she is skinnier than me so shouldn't take it the wrong way! As we are not on a yard together it makes it difficult in some ways as I don't want to just drop in and call her horse fat! A few months ago I dropped in to tell her her horse was lame as I saw her sharer out riding it carrying on oblivious.
Perhaps I'll print out some fat scoring info and just happen to have it in my pocket!
 
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