Is this horse too skinny :(

Amy may I posted these pics as they were the only ones you could see ribs in and I thought I'd put up the worst ones! I know it's hard to tell :)
 
Been told he is a welfare case![/QUOTE]

Really, whoever told you that has probably got a very fat horse. I am sure the animal welfare wouldn't be to impressed to be called out to see your horse, that would be a waste of their time and recsouces.
 
My boy is looking very similar to yours, also a 7yo ex-racer and not really in work at the moment. As others have said, it's just the time of year and he does have a lovely shine on his coat. If he is a welfare case then a lot of our horses must be too! Whoever said that is probably jealous ;) X
 
Moomin1 said:
He's not even remotely a welfare case by the looks of things.

He is very slightly lean, and lacking in muscle tone.
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This I would prefer him to have more condition as it is still early enough for him to lose a whole load more before the grass comes through but he looks ok and as long as he gains rather than loses anymore I would say he was fine. I would be worried if he was eating at that rate and was still losing to be honest but up to now he looks fine
 
My mare hasn't been ridden much this winter or even out in the fields due to stupid weather, she has lost muscle but not a lot of condition. she is just a wee bit more covered than yours. I'm not worried, spring is just around the corner (ever the optimist!). Of course yours is lacking muscle, he hasn't been doing anything.
If people are speaking to you like this then you are being bullied and maybe need to speak to the yo if you can't deal with it yourself. Please don't keep putting up with this.
I think that once your boy starts to muscle up then he will be stunning. Easier to get him fit starting from where you are than if he was overweight.
 
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I agree he's a bit light and lacking muscle but given his breed, time of year, and the fact he's not in work, I wouldn't be too worried. I wouldn't want him to drop any more weight I don't think, but am sure he'll pick up fine with a bit of Dr Green come Spring. People sometimes forget that it's entirely natural for horses to drop weight over Winter, and if they keep them too covered, it means they end up struggling to get weight off when the grass comes in. If you did want more weight on though or were worried about him dropping any more, it'd be worth reviewing his feed - I don't see a lot in there especially for a poor doer - my TB ex- racer has Readymash Extra plus Mollichop cherry Show Chaff to ensure he doesn't drop too much over Winter and i find it keeps him just right. If you need a bit of extra reassurance (or ammunition by the sounds of it!) ask your vet to have a look at him, I'm sure they won't disagree with what's been said in this thread.
 
I saw the pics and thought 'oh, a young ex racer'.

He looks fine - it does take a couple of years of work for them to get muscles in the places we would expect 'conventionally' schooled horses to have muscles, and if he hasn't done any conventional work he won't have had a chance to build up his new musculature. You can see he's still got all his racing muscles on his bum - lots of power there. I'd agree with the poster above - he'd score about 2.5 on the 5 stage condition score, or 4 on the scale of 10.

He looks a nice chap - enjoy :)
 
My TB ex-racer who has just come back into work was like that when I got him, and has put on a bit of weight now.
I don't like pumping them full of feed when they are not doing anything as thats when you get problems IMO. When he is back in work build up the feed gradually with the amount of work, and he will probably be able to take conditioning feed. It is likely that if you feed him high rations of conditioning feeds before you start working him he will end up nuts before you get on!
A nice field of grass would also sort him, though you might need to put a snorkel on him to do that at the mo!
 
Agree with most of the previous replies. Most definitely NOT a welfare case. It is much more likely that the person who said this has a horse that IS a welfare case by being grossly overweight. I would much prefer them to be coming into Spring slightly underweight. Those with obese horses and ponies at this time of year had better watch out when the grass starts to sprout. When it comes to gobby know-it-alls, remember the old adage...'Empty vessels make the most sound.' ;)
 
Whoever said that to your face is obviously poorly schooled, poorly mannered, brought up in a tin can and clearly has "issues" relating to jealousy or something of that vein.

Agree with everyone else... and also think you should continue laughing in thier faces and thanking them for thier expert advice :D
 
No he isn't skinny. I don't even think he needs more weight like most do, just more muscle. But there isn't a feed in the world which is going to put that on him.

Ignore them. They're tits.
 
I've seen TB's in training look worse than that! You have no problems - except the whinning moaners - as you are feeding him well and self assured - the next time anyone comments - why not say - oh yes, I know I.m evvvvver so worried - I wonder if you'd show me how much I should be feeding him - and let them do all the work!

Another good way of dealing with criticism is to say "I bow to your superior knowledge" and then give them two fingers later.
 
dominobrown said:
My TB ex-racer who has just come back into work was like that when I got him, and has put on a bit of weight now.
I don't like pumping them full of feed when they are not doing anything as thats when you get problems IMO. When he is back in work build up the feed gradually with the amount of work, and he will probably be able to take conditioning feed. It is likely that if you feed him high rations of conditioning feeds before you start working him he will end up nuts before you get on!
A nice field of grass would also sort him, though you might need to put a snorkel on him to do that at the mo!
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I agree - my apologies, to clarify, mine was just an example - I'm sure you know to make changes if any, gradual and based on work/temperament, to avoid overheating and overloading.
 
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He is thin but not welfare thin. Looks like what he is at this time of year, nothing to panic about given you know he's slim and have plans to sensibly build muscle and feed. Agree with others better than packing full of feed while out of work and ending up with a fat wild beast!
 
He looks fine - don't worry. My current TB was in far worse condition than yours when I got her and I had her looking fab in no time and I'm sure you'll be the same. :)
 
Mine didn't have much more condition than this when we had a feed company nutritionist visit the yard. I was worried I'd be told she was too thin, in fact she was condition scored as perfect weight and was one of the only ones on the yard that was just right. It is just easy to get used to seeing fat horses.
 
When I picked up my Ex-racer/ Polo pony I was advised that a common mistake was over-feeding these horses and then getting behavioural problems.
I was reminded to stick to mainly forage and then feed as work dictated; the usual rules.

I think he looks just about right for stage he is at / time of year.
My girl is just gorgeous! Hope you find the same x
 
Looks like exactly want he is an out of work youngish TB .
People completly do my head in with this fat thing whoever told you he was a welfare case has either never seen a welfare case or has a horse that resembles a seal with long legs. Ie covered in several inches of blubber .
 
flump said:
Off work for a year,he is an exracer, going to start on him properly next week. Though he did do a few lunge sessions last September.

Been told he is a welfare case!
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Absolutely no way! Looks to me like some correct work and spring will do him the world of good. He will be looking amazing in no time. He looks like mine did last winter when he'd been off, a few months later he was shiney and erm, little bit porky!
 
I was told basically the same about mine last year at this time. It's horrible, so I know how you feel. I agree with others, not a welfare case by any stretch. Spring grass will sort him out, and a bit of muscle will have him looking great!
 
Oh what the heck, I'll be the one to go against the grain :) My TBs when just out of racing carry more weight than this horse and are highly muscled up. Once they are let-down they are fed gradually for weightgain and become not so well muscled. I'd say this horse is a bit thin and could do with some more calories however it's by no means a rescue case. Rule of thumb, you should be able to feel the ribs easily but they should not be prominently visible. Seeing four or five ribs is okay, seeing the whole ribcage (IMO) as in this horse's case, is not.
 
Spring Feather said:
Oh what the heck, I'll be the one to go against the grain :) My TBs when just out of racing carry more weight than this horse and are highly muscled up. Once they are let-down they are fed gradually for weightgain and become not so well muscled. I'd say this horse is a bit thin and could do with some more calories however it's by no means a rescue case. Rule of thumb, you should be able to feel the ribs easily but they should not be prominently visible. Seeing four or five ribs is okay, seeing the whole ribcage (IMO) as in this horse's case, is not.
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I can't see the whole ribcage? :confused:
 
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