My 'thin' horses

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sam72431

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Not sure who saw my post the other day but I have been accused at my yard of starving my horses as they are looking poor, I actually think they are rather chubby and have put them on a bit of a diet as they didn't drop of over winter and its nearly impossible to get weight off them once the summer grass comes through, they are out 24/7 atm as the weather is nice and I've taken there rugs off although if it gets cold again I will put rugs back on, they are getting about six good sized sections of hay a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, they are also getting one feed a day each of 1/2 scoop of conditioning cubes (I will change to maintenance once this bag runs out) and a scoop of chaff they also have a horslyx in the field to make sure they are getting all there vits and mins the grass is pretty good for this time of year and they are usually grazing when I arrive in the evening. Anyway what are your opinions on there weight? The chesnut is five but due to various reasons has never been in consistent work so has never built any topline or muscle on his bum! I have tried to explain that they are on a bit of a diet as they should loose a little weight in winter and then put it back on once summer hits only to be told this is rubbish and I should maintain a consistent weight all year round, which I have done over winter but just wanted them carrying less condition, anyway I could go on and on here are the pics what do you think? Excuse there scruffy appearance I took this before they had there nightly brush!
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Neither look as if they have any muscle tone or topline. They don't look unhealthy, though they are pot bellied, but then again that is prob down to the lack of topline.

They don't look bad but they don't look great either - just depends on what you do with them I suppose!! :)
 
I agree with the above posters :)
Lack of muscle and topline, but as you say, the chestnut hasn't been in consistant work so not yet developed it.

What are your plans with him this year?
 
They look brilliant for horses coming out of winter, I agree with the no topline comments, but then you already know that yourself. The bellies are probably grass bellies from the spring grass that has flown through the last few weeks. If I were to put pics on of our tbx and the warmblood I reckon you would have difficulty telling them apart, in fact I have a field full of horses with no topline because they just haven't had any work. They certainly don't look thin!
 
Agree with others, re the topline, but that's nothing to do with feeding them. They look fine to me for this time of year, I too allow mine to gain over summer & lose over winter. If a horse is in hardwork then aiming for a constant weight is fine, but very few are. Or for medical reasons that prevent lots of grazing in summer. Otherwise wintering off is best thing for them, just too many people are used to seeing fat horses.
 
I despair , there is no way those horse are thin . Neither look as though they are muscled like horse doing a lot of schooling so yes they lack top line and there abdominal muscles look weak in the photos but they are not thin.
Horses are not healthy fat a little bit thin leaves horses with fewer long learn health troubles than being fat does.
If those where my horses I would have them on a gentle diet at the moment.
Who on earth was giving you a hard time about them OP ?
 
As golden star said! They don't want to be any fatter going into spring else you will have obese ponies at higher risk of lami and metabolic complications. JUst cos these other people don't know what healthy looks like doesn't mean u should compromise your horses care !
 
Hey yeah neither are in work, basically I lost my job last September and had to take a lower paid job which meant ive been having to work a second evening job and work alot of weekends so other than feeding poo picking etc I haven't ridden in months! So neither have proper topline! The chesnut is being sold as he has more potential to compete etc which is something I'm not going to have time to do! So that means I can quite my part time jobs and have time for my bay and get her back into work! :) well a lady that used to do showing and everyone else has jumped on the bandwagon basically, I explained about the lack of topline making them look in not such good condition and was actually told that I can build that up with feed! So that gives you an idea of the type of people I'm dealing with! I'm looking to move my mare once my boy is sold he is being vetted next week so please wish me luck he passes as I really need him to go! Yeah he is a little tucked it's because I've taken there rugs off to try and help drop the weight off and these were taken just as the temp was dropping! Also I know it doesn't show in pic but both of them have nice glossy coats and the chesnut actually has quite a few dapples
 
you know they have no muscle or topline but apart from that they look pretty spot on - wish my chap was nearer yours weight wise!

Mine has topspec lite 1 cup twice a day and the odd flap of hay chucked in field for him and my mare - they are on 1.5 acres of pretty poor grazing and he is doing something 3 or 4 times a week but is lardy , although like you my neighbours think his weight is fine! when I compare him to pics of him back in November when had been hunting couple of times he is def. a lardy !

Good for you for keeping their weight down - we all find it very hard to get our heads round but in fact its much healthier for them to be on the slim side than lardy !
 
Sorry on my phone and it posted without me wanting it too! Anyway my horses are the only ones anywhere near an acceptable weight none of them get worked really consistently apart from two ponies who get worked heavily with no warm up (that's a different story) I've tried to explain it all but it's like going up against a brick wall! They dong listen the women is convinced I'm starving them and they look poor! They actually asked me to go onto a really lush field (it's a new one they have made which has never been grazed as they have only just finished the fencing) I refused as mine are fat and they keep saying that mine are so hungry etc and they shouldn't be on a diet, it's only a gentle one but they just don't listen and it's made me begin to question myself! Being at this yard has honestly made me think on alot of occasions I'd be better off not having horses the people are just idiots!
 
They look fine, and look like lovely types! I will keep my fingers crossed that he passes his vetting for you!

Ignore others, people always have different views, and sometimes they refuse to admit they are wrong ;)
 
used to do showing mmmm definatly sounds like someone to ignore on all aspects of horse condition.
I am sorry if people are giving you a hard time but you are right .I hope the chestnut gets away to his new home and that you can use the extra time etc to enjoy your bay the last thing you need when you are having a hard time is silly people adding unnecessary hassle .
 
I think they would have a heart attack if they saw what my girl looks like in heavy work!
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bit of a funny angle that I took this but it gives you the general impression this was a couple of years ago when I actually had some time!
 
Thanks everyone its been a really hard time and these people just add to it! Can't wait to move yards just hope he passes, I can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel now!
 
sam72431 said:
well a lady that used to do showing and everyone else has jumped on the bandwagon
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There is your answer. These horses are lacking condition - I.e topline and muscle but in NO WAY are they "thin" They are horses that have come out of winter as nature intended and can now spend the summer enjoying the grass putting on a little weight!! Once you start working the bay it's going to muscle up - it will not do that on feed alone, unless you want a wobbly, bullock like creature that is the fashion in the show ring. Tell her to feck off and mind her own - or send her to me and I will tell her straight!!!!
 
Good luck with it all don't let it get you down , if these people where able to seeone of my horses they might have a kitten he's a raising six year TB in pretty hard work and I keep him so you can see a rib it's very easy to influence his wieght luckily but he's due a busy few months and I don't what one extra ounce of fat I don't need adding to the strain on his legs.
There's a real gulf developing In what people think is acceptable wieght wise I go to a lot of dressage clinics and see some horses who are so fat I think it must be about impossible for them to move to their full potential and they struggle to do 45 mins hard work but their owners seem in unconcerned .
It's like we see different things.
 
Not much wrong with either of them. They are covered, shinny and are what they are - horses out of work coming out of winter.
 
And don't take it personally, I recently got involved in when some idiots near me were all slating a rising 3 tbs owner cos it was starved. Apparently if the owner was any good she'd feed it enough for it to have a wobbly fat crest & Apple bum like theirs do! I despair sometimes.
 
Don't what it is about some horse people sometimes - desperate to tell someone that they're doing it all wrong (and the less they know themselves, the more keen they are to offer "advice")

I agree with the comments about lack of muscle and topline, but to my eye they look just about right coming into spring (and will benefit from a bit of a diet).

They both look lovely types, and you are obviously a very responsible horse-owner. Ignore the others on the yard :p
 
Imo, they definitely are not thin. There isn't a rib in sight for a start and it's good to see good shoulder definition. Fat and muscle are different things. :D
 
Thanks everyone I have printed off some body condition scores and I'm going to get them laminated and pinned up it's just so hard to stand your ground when everyone is having a go! I explained that you should be able to feel the ribs easily without seeing them this is the case with the chesnut but the bay needs a bit more of a prod to feel ribs! Really wish I could overtly take a picture of what they think is acceptable so you can see the size of the horse it's literally gigantic but don't feel comfortable posting pictures of other peoples horses on an interenet site! The fat is literally dripping off this poor horse and it just waddles round! I feel so sorry for it! Most the yard looks like the horses belong in
one of those fat farms in France it's really sad!
 
Good god I would probably have them slimmer than they are now :eek: obviously more muscle would be better but they are in no way thin at the moment. People never fail to astound me.
 
Goldenstar said:
Sam72431 are you sure it best to enage with them would it not be best ignore it ?
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If their horses are obese, they should be educated in the error of their ways - whether or not they choose to do anything about it. Just the same as if their horses were emaciated - you wouldn't ignore it if they were hatracks, would you?
 
The trouble is the person who is saying it all has a sort of share in the yard it's a really weird set up, too long to explain but basically the owner of the yard although he has a horse isn't really horsey she looks after his horse, I will add at this point his tb had laminitis in I think november! But if I don't engage in it all I will be made to put mine on lush grass, I did actually get told the other day if I didn't move I could either keep mine in 24/7 or get off the yard! It's a horrible situation but I can't move until my boy is sold, they said this because the untreated fence posts were being chewed no one notice until last weekend and a substantial amount of damage had been done I my field and the field next door (which mine had been in previously) I did however point out there was some damage (not as bas) in the field opposite which mine haven't been in. I suspected deer as it had happened so quickly but they insisted it's because I'm starving my horses they are thin etc. So I decided to put electric fencing all round field so mine can't physically get to the fence posts, i did this on Tuesday night and when I went yesterday evening there was more damage! Though obviously it can't be my horses! I think it's monk jack deer as the chewing is at the bottom of the posts not the top! I have taken pics but internet connection is too slow to upload them! They are refusing to believe it's anything but my horses that's why I fenced the field off to prove and I've taken photo evidence! Really can't wait to get out this yard it's horrible it really makes me feel like a bad horse owner!
 
JFTD said:
If their horses are obese, they should be educated in the error of their ways - whether or not they choose to do anything about it. Just the same as if their horses were emaciated - you wouldn't ignore it if they were hatracks, would you?
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Yes I might if I was going to get into trouble on the yard and put myself in an impossible position when I was having a difficult time at work and having to sell one much loved horse .
If there where emaciated horses on the yard Inwould call BHS ,WHW or the RSPCA.
I was a welfare officer and went to loads of horses where people on DIY yards repoted rather than took it up directly because bad things can happen on DIY yards and you cant be there 24/7.
In this case the only person I would be discussing this with would be the YO or YM .
 
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