I'm obsessed with his weight (pics)!

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BBP

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All the hard ground we have had here has meant that the little black ponys weight has got away from me, all of a sudden he seemed to have ballooned, gained fatty deposits by his shoulders and on his bottom and his ribs are too well covered. I can't really feed him any less as he doesn't get any hard feed (other than chaff to get a multivitamin down him and for something to chew on as field is bare with just a strip of grass twice a day - not ideal, would rather have him on a much bigger field just picking at grass as it grows, but can't do this til hay is cut) So for the last few weeks I have been trying to work him twice a day, but still mainly in walk as the ground is still rock hard. The problem is I'm beating myself up if I don't manage to work him twice.

Honest opinions on how fat you think he is as I am losing the ability to see if he has made any improvement (on weight tape I would rather him be 15 kgs lighter) and how obsessed I should be about it. In my head he is obese but I don't know if I'm exaggerating!

12june111.jpg

12june112.jpg


I hate having an unfit horse and am really cross at myself...grrrr....
 
I think he looks good.
No massive belly, No cresty neck or gutter bum.
You know your horse so obviously if he does better when he is lighter its up to you, but he is by no means obese! :)
 
Thank you! I keep calling him fatty, but then I've looked at him the last few days and thought maybe that's a bit unfair and that he just needs to be fitter. Bless him, I will stop calling him names and stop being so hard on myself if I can't get him out twice each day (he is a little nervous hacking out alone so long hacks are a little tricky with him)
 
I dont think he looks too bad :) 15kg overweight is not a huge amount for a horse and can easily be solved

Horses weight can vary quite a lot over the day (easily by 20kg) make sure you have been weighing him at the same time.

Also if your walking him dont go at normal speed, by asking him to work faster or slower! than his natural (provided he still is walking properly) will use up significantly more energy and so you need not worry that your only working in walk. As a fast walk can use more energy than a normal trot! (if you want to know more pm me and i will find the lecture that will explain this). Schooling in walk (lateral work / leg yield) will ask more of his body and so use up more energy :)
 
I'm a fellow obsessor when it comes to horses weight so know how you feel. Am in agreement with the other posters that he doesn't look too bad. Brisk walking, hill work and the like should all really help. He's very handsome by the way!
 
I think he looks just right , as said before he's got no crest and no gutter at the the bum end , when your hay is cut and he gets moved on to a bigger area , he'll naturally do more walking so this may help him tone up more , i love him , he's great!
 
whilst I think he could certainly lose a few pounds (I do like slim horses) I've seen a lot worse. In fact one of mine looks an awful lot worse as he's on box rest and can't work at all... As for work in walk, I can get mine to come back from a walk ride sweated up almost as much as they would from a fast ride by asking for more in the walk - faster, slower, collected, lateral work (obviously interspersed with free walk!) so you should be able to get his fitness up that way :) That's what I'm trying to do at the moment too...
 
I think he looks good, but there is nothing wrong with being paranoid! Join by club, I am a mean owner but I'd rather be that than go through the hell that is laminitis xx
 
Supertrooper said:
I think he looks good, but there is nothing wrong with being paranoid! Join by club, I am a mean owner but I'd rather be that than go through the hell that is laminitis xx
Click to expand...

I think that is why I am now so paranoid, my little welsh girly got laminitis aged 35, despite not being in any fatter condition than Oso is now. I never forgave myself for not seeing it coming.

You are all right though, I could do more with his walk. because he is naturally very sharp and prone to panic attacks at new things, I have kind of enjoyed the hacks when he has been chilled and relaxed, but it never really occurred to me that he actually wasn't burning any calories! I will up the impulsion a bit and work on transitions within pace as suggested. It might help to focus his mind at the spooky bits too.

I am also looking to buy a new saddle and didn't want to get one when he is too fat but perhaps I could start looking afterall.
 
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