is this horse fat?

[skye123]

i keep getting told by some people that skyes too fat and some say shes just right?

 

[482739]

no i dont thinnk she is fat at all

 

[dozzie]

She does look like shes got a bit of fat behind the shoulder and on her bum so yes, I suppose she could do with losing a bit. But she doesnt look too bad! Lots of long walks and hills needed!!!

You might have to watch her weight with the spring grass!!!!

 

[piebaldsparkle]

Difficult to say without a rear shot or full side on shot. Probably between Good condition and fat. see condition scoring below -

Score 0 - Very Poor
Neck - marked “upside down” ewe neck, narrow and slack at base.
Back and ribs - skin tight over the rib cage and ribs are visible. Backbone (vertebrae spinous processes) sharp and easily seen.
Pelvis - angular, skin tight, very sunken rump with no fatty tissue detectable. Deep cavity under tail and either side of croup.

Score 1 - Poor
Neck - ewe neck, narrow and slack at base.
Back and ribs - ribs easily visible. Skin sunken either side of backbone. Spinous processes well defined.
Pelvis - Rump sunken, but skin supple. Pelvis and croup well-defined, no fatty tissue detectable. Deep depression under tail with “poverty lines” visible.

Score 2 - Moderate
Neck - narrow but firm.
Back and ribs - ribs just visible. Backbone well covered. Spinous processes not visible but easily felt.
Pelvis - rump flat either side of backbone. Croup well defined but some fatty tissue detectable. Slight cavity under tail.

Score 3 - Good
Neck - Firm but no crest, except in stallions.
Back and ribs - ribs just covered but easily felt. No gutter along back. Spinous processes covered but can
be felt.
Pelvis - covered by fat and rounded. No gutter. Pelvis easily felt and skin smooth and supple.

Score 4 - Fat
Neck - wide and firm, slight crest.
Back and ribs - ribs well covered and only felt on firm pressure. Gutter along backbone.
Pelvis - gutter to root of tail, pelvis covered by soft fat - felt only on firm pressure.

Score 5 - Very fat/obese
Neck - Very wide and firm with folds of fat, marked crest.
Back and ribs - ribs buried and cannot be felt.
Back broad and flat with deep gutter.
Pelvis - deep gutter to root of tail. Pelvis buried in fat and cannot be felt.
Skin stretched.

 

[Lynne21]

I think she's a bit too well for this time of year, if you aren't going to restrict her grazing when the spring lush comes, I think you will have problems. She does look gorgeous and well loved though!

 

[rrose]

i think she is fine, maybe a 3.5. seeing as the spring grass will be soon i think you will need to restrict her grazng... as bonzadogdooda said

 

[mickey]

Difficult to see from the photos - In my view it looks like she has a 'grass belly' and not much top line/muscle. I would say she is just over good.

 

[LEC]

I would be delighted if my horses came out of winter looking like that - but you do not want any more and if she is that well conditioned over winter she will need watching through spring with all that rich grass.

 

[Kate_13]

She looks fine to me.

 

[Blizzard]

she looks good but doesnt want any more on her I think.

 

[alfirules]

i think she is fine, but doesnt need to put any more on!

 

[Tiggy1]

She looks fine

 

[AmyMay]

She certainly looks very well. Amy was always a bit on the round side - and some are designed to look like that.

However, I would say that perhaps your mare could do with loosing a little bit, as she is showing signs of fat pads behind her shoulder.

It's probably nothing that a bit more exercise wouldn't sort.

 

[the watcher]

She looks like she is lacking a little muscle, but overall I would say the weight is fine and nothing to worry about. That may change if she gets too much grass.

 

[amandaco2]

she is hardly obese but losing a few pound and adding muscle on would certainly benefit her
she is on the good to getting fat side of thing to me