My horse isn't fat...

S

Switchthehorse

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Why do people think its ok to say your horse is fat?

If I said to someone 'your horse is too thin' it would be a criticism too far. Yet everyone seems very happy to comment on my horse being too fat?

I also never comment on other peoples horses, I let people crack on.

Just for the record, she isn't fat - she has good coverage, you can however feel ribs, and see the right bits in the right places. She is part Draught, she's never going to be skinny... She has plenty of bone and doesn't have an ounce of anything 'thin making' in her.

BUT SHE ISN'T FAT!!!!

I finally objected to someone the other day saying 'she isn't fat'.. the response... 'well can you see her ribs?'.. sorry i don't mean she is THIN, but seriously ffs everyone stop telling me she is fat.. she is fine, she is normal, she is right for her make up. LOOK AT THE BREEDING, just because you ride racing snakes, part tb's and other things... are we all so blinkered everything has to look the same?

Pointless post really, just really annoyed with it all.
 
Why would you want to see her ribs anyway?! Was it another livery that said that to you?

If she's part draught, I would expect her to heavy? And I have very little knowledge of breeding!

Ax
 
We are in an age obsessed with obesity!

I personally appreciate when 'A-another' person says, whoa, your horse/pony is porky, be careful! I say this as I see them every day, often thinking I'm doing it just fine!
It is much harder to undo fatness than it is to prevent them getting there in the first place.

Each horse and horse breed is different, but I'm sure people are only saying it to help and are meaning well.
If too thin, people don't say anything and prefer to report to the welfare charities instead.
 
Don't be led into thinking that because she is part draught, she SHOULD be chunky though. It is a bit like "I'm big-boned so weighing 14 stone isn't a problem to me". There was a cob in the stable next to mine with a backside like a peach and you couldn't have felt its ribs if you jumped up and down on them. It also had a neck like the Great Wall of China. But according to its owner (who was rather large herself) she wasn't fat. It got vast amounts of feed and hay and didn't do anything what I would call hard work. If you can feel your mare's ribs then that is very good but keep an eye on all of her. In my experience any breed can be fat if they aren't kept and worked according to the breed. Even a TB!!
 
I wouldn't want to see ribs on a draught type either! Could it be her conformation that makes her appear a bit portly? If it's just some stuck up snobs with their catalogue perfect fullbloods making comments I'd not pay the slightest bit of attention, but if friends and family and whoever else were also making comments I'd be inclined to take a big step back and be sure I've not got mummy-blinkers on.
 
If different people are telling you that your horse is fat, then have you thought that perhaps there could be something in it?

Maybe I know too many people who are in denial about their fat horses....
 
I'd rather someone told me if they thought mine was- especially given that I see him every day so you don't always notice changes then. I'd also tell someone if I thought they didn't realise their horse was looking too poor. (fwiw I have a welsh cob)
 
As an owner of a horse who appears much fatter than he actually is (vet has confirmed this) I do understand your frustration. But I would far rather have to explain his confirmation and his regime than not hear that he is fat, because if he wasn't my horse I would probably assume he was too and I appreciate that they have my horse's welfare at heart. Just thank them for their concern and inform them that your vet is perfectly happy with her weight - as long as your vet is. Maybe ask them to have a good look and feel on their next visit, just to make sure.
 
If everyone keeps telling you perhaps they have a point?
On the other hand, they could just be sticking their noses in without knowing anything but if several people are pointing it out to you I would be wondering if I was missing something
 
I'm constantly being told (particularly by my instructor) my share horse is on the plump side. He's a bit of an odd shape and has a very round belly but you can feel ribs and has no fat pads anywhere. His bottom is nicely shaped, no gutter and if anything his neck is a bit skinny. He's 1/2 TB 1/4 ID and 1/4 Sec D and has distinct parts rather than being an overall mix! Welsh head, belly and feathers, ID bum and TB neck, legs and feet! Definitely an odd combination.

At the BRC champs Spillers had a nutritionist and a weighbridge. He weighed in at 639kgs, which was about what I thought and not bad for a 17hh with his breeding. She also condition scored him as a 5 bang in the middle of the scale. I know he'll bloat a bit in the summer when he gets onto the hayfields but it's nice to know an expert thinks he's fine!

I showed his record card to my instructor and for the first time in about 14 years he accepted he's not fat, just an odd build!
 
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I also would like someone to tell me if they thought my horse was fat. When you see them everyday it's hard to be objective or notice slight increases.
 
To be fair nowadays some people have grossly overweight horses and are incapable of recognising and taking responsibility for it.

I personally feel there is nothing wrong with putting an overweight horse's interests before the owner's feelings.

Have you got a picture of said horse?
 
I simply don't understand why seeing the ribs on a fit horse is seen as an issue and don't understand why seeing the ribs on a draught horse who is fit should be seen as different to a seeing ribs on a fit TB horse.
Horses can be a bit under weight and suffer no long term ill effects as soon as they are overweight you are damaging their joints and shortening their working lives .
I don't mind seeing horses on holiday a little on the porky side but I hate seeing horses jumping while too porky at shows .
All that strain on their joints ,yuk .
 
So many horse and dog owners are blind to their animals being overweight though. Most are far more covered than they should be. If several people have remarked on it there may be something in it?
 
Goldenstar said:
I simply don't understand why seeing the ribs on a fit horse is seen as an issue and don't understand why seeing the ribs on a draught horse who is fit should be seen as different to a seeing ribs on a fit TB horse.
Horses can be a bit under weight and suffer no long term ill effects as soon as they are overweight you are damaging their joints and shortening their working lives .
I don't mind seeing horses on holiday a little on the porky side but I hate seeing horses jumping while too porky at shows .
All that strain on their joints ,yuk .
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Definitely agree with this if a horse is well toned and fit you should be able to see ribs this doesn't mean they're thin
 
are you sure your horse isn't actually fat?

My horse is in great condition at present and but you can still see his ribs through his coat when grazing. But this is mainly due to his shape as he is narrow (and a good thing for me!) whereas if he had a wider barrel his ribs probably wouldnt show. His coat is shining as well.
Can you post a pic of your horse?

I would rather be told if they are fat/thin/good tbh as otherwise you might not notice, and maybe there is some truth in what they say!
 
Patterdale said:
If different people are telling you that your horse is fat, then have you thought that perhaps there could be something in it?

Maybe I know too many people who are in denial about their fat horses....
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Listen to Patters, Patterdale is always right...
 
My Mac is a Suffolk punch cross, and my YO often commented to me about his weight. I thought he was fine, chunky breed, could feel his ribs (at a push). He was diagnosed with arthritis a few years ago, and one of the things the vet said to me was to try and get some weight off to help him.

Seeing before and after pics, draught type horses can look slim and healthy.
Before
19042010011.jpg


After
DSC00154.jpg


This was a couple of weeks ago. Not a great photo, but we'd been on restricted turnout as the fields were so wet, and needed to gently stretch his legs as he was feeling quite stiff.
d46c84d7f1db47462a0a6b38022ecbf6_zps3c3f5d07.jpg
 
Thankyou. He lives on fresh air, and due to his arthritis, we are careful with his exercise. Hopefully we will be back out 24/7 this weekend and he will loosen up much more.
 
He looks fantastic Theresa :)

My mare is a chunky, heavy girl- still not letting her get fat though just cos 'its her type'.

Am on a yard full of welsh D's (they breed them) which are shown and all of them are fat..I frequently hear 'cobs are meant to be fat' genuinely drives me insane.
And it's the horses that suffer.
 
i have the oppisite problem! i have a TB which i think looks a bit on the chubby side but everyone tells me he is fine and could afford to put on a few more pounds! again it is mainly owners of Cob type horses that tell me he needs to put on weight but as a TB he is a bit porky.
 
I have a rising two year old native pony who burns off his food as fast as he eats it! Hopefully he will steady off a little once mature, but for me the issue is currently keeping weight on him. Vet is in the loop and monitoring.
 
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