How does he look, weight wise?

TheresaW

TheresaW

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Mac is 17, and was diagnosed with arthritis in his front right at 9, and in his hocks at around 11. He is 3/4 Suffolk punch, so a big boy. On vets advice, he is out as much as possible, 24/7 in summer, in overnight winter. He is hacked out 4/5 times a week, and does a couple of fun rides a year. He has bute as and when needed, in the winter he has to have it for farrier to do his hinds as he struggles to lift them if farrier is coming first thing. He lost a back shoe a couple of weeks ago, and farrier could only come early, so decided to pop him on the lunge before he got there to help loosen him up. I very rarely lunge him as small circles are something he struggles with. All I ask him to do is walk about, if he chooses to have a little trot, that is his choice.

A big thing the vet said would help would be to keep his weight down. I think he looks pretty trim, but I see him every day, so could be a bit blind to it. He is what he is, and I love him, but I know he isn't the best put together horse in the world.
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This was him quite a few years ago when he was bit of a fatty!
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Please ignore the dodgy clip lines. Am too tight to pay someone and do him myself, but still need practice. Although he isn't in hard work, he sweats up just walking in from the field, and can sweat just standing around on mild days. I left off clipping until they came in for the winter at the beginning of December.
 
Looks good to me in top pic, I imagine he'd look a bit tubbier when stood still but if you can keep him that slim come spring and summer you're doing good!
I'm currently getting my fatties leaner for spring so I know how hard it is!
 
What a gorgeous chap, and he look so much fitter.

I think if you could get a little bit more weight off before the summer that would be ideal.
 
Wouldnt want him any fatter at this time of the year but he isn't too fat just now I guess he is stretched out making him look trimmer than he really is so he could use a little more off before the Spring grass comes in
 
Thankyou all. Am working on his weight all the time, overnight he has his hay, and as he would kick the door down at breakfast time when the others were fed, he just has a small handful of hifi lite so he doesn't feel left out. Will try and get some pics of him stood still as well so I can get opinions. It's hard with him as he lives on fresh air, and is I don't like to over work him. I do muzzle him as and when necessary during the summer.
 
Again, thankyou. Have found this photo of him stood still, but was a few years ago when he first went on his diet. His weight doesn't fluctuate too much.

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His legs were clipped out then as he'd suffered a bit of mud fever. Not had to clip them since thankfully.
 
Dont forget his skeletal build is to be a big framed horse, not a light framed tb or arab, so evenu if he was racing fit thin he would still have meat on his bum, so weight score by crest, fat on shoulders, and on buttocks above tail bone, not belly, hope that helps, he is still beautiful
 
Thankyou. I love him, just want to do right by him. I know he will never be a "thin" horse because of his breeding, but don't want to make excuses for his build as well if you know what I mean. IMO he is about right in the last photo of him a couple of years ago.
 
I think he looks great at the min :)
I'm currently trying to get a bit if weight of my boy too for spring

He hadn't lost anything this winter so less he'd feed n more work
Don't want him to big come spring :)
 
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