How's my horse's weight looking?

DressageCob

DressageCob

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I apologise in advance for this thread which is one of 1000000s of How Fat is my Horse? type threads.

But still, this is my horse Albert. He's a very good doer, and I've struggled with his weight since I got him 3.5 years ago. He is never unfit, I wouldn't say, but is prone to being a bit portly, to put it politely.

I've been trying to use the winter to shed some pounds off him before getting him eventing fit ready for the season. I was just wondering what people thought of his weight and if I'm on the right tracks?

You can feel the ribs with a bit of effort (especially through the hairy sections), which is a novelty! He's also gone down 3 sizes of girth since August.

So how do you think he's looking? Have we got far to go?

Please excuse the dodgy clip and dirty legs! I didn't clip him, I hasten to add! He doesn't normally look this scruffy. But that's winter for you!

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Thanks :)
 
No real idea but i would say weight wise he looks quite good. No crest or anything like that- looks to have a round bum but maybe photo angle more than anything. I would be quite happy with him, although obviously if he is a good doer a few more pounds off to allow for spring grass will be a bonus!
 
I think he looks perfect weight now, the challenge is going to be keeping him this weight through the spring!

How did you get the weight off him? Do you have any 'before' pictures?
 
I'd say he looks fine for now - esp if you are going to start hard fittening work soon.
I don't like them to be too lean before I start upping canter/hill work etc as I feel they build/convert better to muscle then (just me though - don't know if there's any scientific evidence/logic behind that theory lol!)
 
CobsGalore said:
I think he looks perfect weight now, the challenge is going to be keeping him this weight through the spring!

How did you get the weight off him? Do you have any 'before' pictures?
Click to expand...

Thanks :) This is him before:

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He's been worse than this too. He has previously been in a 54 inch girth :eek:

He's on minimal hard feed (a handful of cool mix, half scoop of chaff and sugarbeet flavoured water) but more than anything I didn't overrug him this year (I forget he's a cob!) and he used his excess calories to keep warm :D He's also been hacking all winter.

I'm going to start introducing more hill work now. I just need him to have a bit more stamina. He's certainly energetic enough, especially now he's a bit slimmer. I noticed he was far too fat when at an XC clinic he was very reluctant, which he isn't usually. He just had too much belly to cart over the fence!
 
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