How is my TB looking? ..too fat?

[Cash]

Haven't done one of these in a while.
Ok this is Cash (8yo TB ex racer)about a week after I first got him, about 3 months ago now (time flies when you're having fun and all that ). He was pretty skinny at this point due to stressing settling in and lacking topline.

Then some in between then and now, in chronological order so you can see the weight gain and (hopefully!) condition improvement.

(Sorry if you are blinded by all the red in this one! )

My RI thinks he looks great, and I must admit I am really pleased at how he has muscled up over his back and bum and topline generally.
And finally (if you've managed to get through all of those, sorry got carried away ) here are some I've taken today.

Is he getting a bit fat? It is worth taking into account that he is a 'bigger' TB with quite substantial bone for a TB, so should be quite chunky (though obviously not overweight) compared to a little LW TB bred for flat racing. Or that's what my RI says anyway!
I can easily feel his ribs, and see them a bit too, and definitely no crest or gutter or anything like that. I normally ride for 1-2hrs a day (although I have admittedly been on holiday, got back on Mon!).

Thoughts and opinions?? Coke and a Twirl if you get this far! Thanks

(PS a photo of him at our first competition, last one I promise, but he looked really nice and I was very proud )

 

[Chestnuttymare]

and so you should be proud, he is looking great. Nice shine going on too and getting a right bum on him. I think he is looking fab.

 

[reindeerlover]

I think he looks great! I like the way you have tried to improve his balance by training him to stand on three legs in the yard too. Although maybe you should get his back/teeth/saddle/feed checked in case he is lame

(Sorry, got a bit frivolous due to funny postings!)

 

[BobbyMondeo]

I think he looks great! you should be proud of yourself

 

[Cash]

I like the way you have tried to improve his balance by training him to stand on three legs in the yard too. Although maybe you should get his back/teeth/saddle/feed checked in case he is lame

Oh yes, I make him stand like that for hours, my instructor says it will make him more supple and therefore easier to do Rollkur with.
Pretty sure he's healthy, he always eats up his French Fancies and crisps which I give him for dinner

 

[Cash]

Thanks very much all, I have worked hard to get him to this point so I'm glad I'm on the right track

 

[monkeybum13]

I think he looks superb, well done!

 

[reindeerlover]

I like the way you have tried to improve his balance by training him to stand on three legs in the yard too. Although maybe you should get his back/teeth/saddle/feed checked in case he is lame

Oh yes, I make him stand like that for hours, my instructor says it will make him more supple and therefore easier to do Rollkur with.
Pretty sure he's healthy, he always eats up his French Fancies and crisps which I give him for dinner

Oh, sounds fine then. I'd have thought the crisps would make his mouth sore though what with it bleeding from all the gadgets that you have to cram in there?

 

[Cash]

I like the way you have tried to improve his balance by training him to stand on three legs in the yard too. Although maybe you should get his back/teeth/saddle/feed checked in case he is lame

Oh, sounds fine then. I'd have thought the crisps would make his mouth sore though what with it bleeding from all the gadgets that you have to cram in there?

Well yes, I may have to stop using my twisted-wire pelham with a 2 foot shank (and ONE rein ) but it's ok, I'll stick to groundwork- I haven't done much Parelli recently. Or maybe I should just give up on Cash and rescue another one instead?

ETS to say, actually, I could never give up on my ponio wonio, he is my babyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

 

[jaypeebee]

He doesnt look skinny to me in your first photo although he did look like he could do with a little bit more topline. I will be the first to say that I do think he looks too fat now. He looks like anice horse and if you are happy with the way he looks then all is well.

 

[Cash]

He doesnt look skinny to me in your first photo although he did look like he could do with a little bit more topline. I will be the first to say that I do think he looks too fat now. He looks like anice horse and if you are happy with the way he looks then all is well.

Thanks for your comments, don't mind you saying that at all, I made this post as I did think he was getting a bit chunky and I wanted more opinions IMO he looked skinny at the time of the first photo, but I guess not too bad considering he'd just come out of winter. I'm not really concerned about how he looks (don't really 'prefer' him fatter or skinnier, either way!) as long as he is happy, fit and healthy

 

[Kenzo]

I would say for weight wise, the pic with his fly mask on is when he looks the best, as in the weight he's carrying, I wouldnt say he's fat now but he just looks more like a TB should (to me that is) in the 3rd photo, but everyone's different and all TB are too, certainly can see he improvement

 

[Cash]

Thanks Kenzo, that's a good point, they don't all look the same do they

Think I'll just cut his feed a little bit and see how I go, am sure any excess will drop off soon what with all the exercise I have planned for him

 

[Sparkles]

Not fat at all. It's nice too see a well covered TB Just keep working on the neck and topline to match his back end

Lovely improvement!

 

[Cash]

Thanks Binky, I am lucky I guess in that he's never going to be a fatty due to his TBness (and slightly nervy consitution!!)- and as I'm sure we all know, it's easier to gain weight than lose it
Schooling is coming along well which should help back and neck- getting him working long and low to build up topline. Also currently teaching him to lunge with 2 lunge reins (one around bum) as he tends to go a bit long and giraffey, the other rein seems to work well to 'gather him up', keep him working evenly and remind him to work from behind and use his back- so that should help too hopefully He is also favours one side alot (which i'm told is common in ex racers?) so occasionally needs straightening up


Anyone got any tips for building up neck and back topline, other than lunging in a Pessoa or similar (can't really afford one ATM )-maybe something like a chambon?- and schooling long and low. Hillwork not really an option round here

 

[Sparkles]

Bungee And doing the draw rein technique...my exracer lad goes lovely when lunging with the draws on, but not so much in sides or similar

Edited - yeah tell me about it! Piling in as much grass I can down my lad before winter....it'll come around too soon no doubt!

 

[horsecrazy25]

He is looking lovely, handsome aswell

I know Pessoa's are expensive but i remember looking on EBAY for one and there was person selling bran new ones for £15!! And my friend brought something similar to a Pessoa for £24!! Which is really good compared to £80-90 in magazines!!!

 

[gilliantahatann]

Wow, he's gorgeous! So you should be very proud of him i would be too! Well done to you for putting all the work (and food ) into him, looks like its all paid off
I'm doing the same with my boy atm, lunging him in pessoa to build up back muscle and topline, and hes gradually getting there might do before and after pics too lol. xx

 

[Apercrumbie]

I don't think he looks fat at all! I have a chunkier tb like you and they are naturally quite a bit bigger. He looks brilliant - really well-covered and with a good amount of muscle.

Saying that, you definitely don't want him any fatter so like you said, keep an eye on his feed and weight. It looks like you're doing a great job with him

 

[helencharlie]

Well done, I know how much hard work goes into keeping a tb looking that good! I have a constant battle with Charlie to keep him looking as good as your boy. So I know what it is like. Is he a poor or a good doer? I find with Charlie being a poor doer, that he will always drop weight in the summer, when the grass goes down. So I appreciate the hard work that you have put in.

 

[jaypeebee]

Thanks for your comments, don't mind you saying that at all, I made this post as I did think he was getting a bit chunky and I wanted more opinions IMO he looked skinny at the time of the first photo, but I guess not too bad considering he'd just come out of winter. I'm not really concerned about how he looks (don't really 'prefer' him fatter or skinnier, either way!) as long as he is happy, fit and healthy

I breed TBs so I know how chunky some of these large built ones can be. Mine are also a little too well covered right now although they are nearly all pregnant so it isnt too surprising. My lighter build TBs are far more pleasing on my eye and all of them still look very fit. I agree with Kenzo that the third photo shows your horse looking the best.

 

[kirstyl]

Thanks Binky, I am lucky I guess in that he's never going to be a fatty due to his TBness (and slightly nervy consitution!!)- and as I'm sure we all know, it's easier to gain weight than lose it
Schooling is coming along well which should help back and neck- getting him working long and low to build up topline. Also currently teaching him to lunge with 2 lunge reins (one around bum) as he tends to go a bit long and giraffey, the other rein seems to work well to 'gather him up', keep him working evenly and remind him to work from behind and use his back- so that should help too hopefully He is also favours one side alot (which i'm told is common in ex racers?) so occasionally needs straightening up


Anyone got any tips for building up neck and back topline, other than lunging in a Pessoa or similar (can't really afford one ATM )-maybe something like a chambon?- and schooling long and low. Hillwork not really an option round here

Side reins when lunging and working him in a correct consistent outline when on board. You could start to strap him too, build up v gradually! My exracer TB is just the same, chunky body now and looking well muscled but neck needs more work. Well done you! Isn't it satisfying to bring on a TB and turn it around. IMO he looked scrawny in first photo!