ester
Not slacking multitasking
well he is a maxi on height alone, whether he is a cob or not I think is the question. He is an ID, I've certainly seen more of them as hunters..
Obese horses in showing
- Thread starter Tiddlypom
- Start date
iknowmyvalue
Well-Known Member
As a 4yo, hogged and advertised as a maxi cob
As a 6yo, second photo is not great, but it was a ridden hunter class where the judge loved him and we would have won (had he not refused to trot in hand
)
ester
Not slacking multitasking
I think advertising him as a maxicob was somewhat wishful thinking!
only_me
Well-Known Member
True, I’d also see ID as hunters, but the head looks more cobbish imo.
He is very like the Cappa stud RIDs, which are proper traditional RID, and they are very deep in body. But they have less bone than the one in this pic? The cappa RIDs are stunning!
Not sure he’d fit into a HW hunter class either, my guess is that he was between classes and they thought let’s fatten him up to make him more Cobby
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iknowmyvalue
Well-Known Member
So do I! Especially considering he was only 15.3hh at 4! But the seller has ridden at HOYS and sells/produces a lot of show cobs so you'd think he'd know what he was doing...
Rowreach
Adjusting my sails
Exactly.
ester
Not slacking multitasking
Yes I suspect he was between too onlyme,
iknowmyvalue, maybe, but they also know where the money is.
iknowmyvalue, maybe, but they also know where the money is.
Rowreach
Adjusting my sails
If you look at those pics of Hallmark and Starry Night that EKW posted, and imagine them with a lot more blubber on them, they would still look like they had enough bone imo
Mrs B
Well-Known Member
Hands up: I know nothing about showing except what I have observed over the years.
I know there are good folk on here who show with their animals' best interests and health at heart and I have no problem with that BUT ....
... but ...
... it seems to me that overall, the nature of it is that a 'desirable trait' is seized upon and in too many cases is taken to the extreme in order to win. And damn the life of the poor animals bred to conform to the latest idea of 'perfection'. Which are then used to 'breed the misery in' when they win a bit of ribbon and silver.
So, you get obese, under-boned horses, sloped-backed Alsatians, spindly-legged Siamese, brachycephalic dogs and cats who can't take a deep breath or live a normal life but Hell! do they look cute ...
'Did you see that gorgeous pug, Frank, in 'Men in Black'? I want one!' That film started a whole cycle of misery in many areas for puppy-farmed Franks.
Although, it's not really the film's fault: you can't cure the wilfully stupid.
It gets exacerbated by anthropomorphism when it filters down to the 'accessory' pet-owners ... so tiny dogs appear dressed up and carried around in handbags. They can be bought as cheaply and carelessly as the handbags they're carried in, then are often abandoned as if they were just another unwanted thing to be recycled.
You get cats bred with genetic disabilities who can't walk properly, but hey! It's fine if their breed certificate says 'Munchkin'.
I have no problem at all in breeding for desirable health, strength, job-worthiness and longevity of species but simply to conform to a written manmade 'beauty-pageant' list which compromises an animal's health and lifespan can be as cruel as neglect.
End of rant
I know there are good folk on here who show with their animals' best interests and health at heart and I have no problem with that BUT ....
... but ...
... it seems to me that overall, the nature of it is that a 'desirable trait' is seized upon and in too many cases is taken to the extreme in order to win. And damn the life of the poor animals bred to conform to the latest idea of 'perfection'. Which are then used to 'breed the misery in' when they win a bit of ribbon and silver.
So, you get obese, under-boned horses, sloped-backed Alsatians, spindly-legged Siamese, brachycephalic dogs and cats who can't take a deep breath or live a normal life but Hell! do they look cute ...
'Did you see that gorgeous pug, Frank, in 'Men in Black'? I want one!' That film started a whole cycle of misery in many areas for puppy-farmed Franks.
Although, it's not really the film's fault: you can't cure the wilfully stupid.
It gets exacerbated by anthropomorphism when it filters down to the 'accessory' pet-owners ... so tiny dogs appear dressed up and carried around in handbags. They can be bought as cheaply and carelessly as the handbags they're carried in, then are often abandoned as if they were just another unwanted thing to be recycled.
You get cats bred with genetic disabilities who can't walk properly, but hey! It's fine if their breed certificate says 'Munchkin'.
I have no problem at all in breeding for desirable health, strength, job-worthiness and longevity of species but simply to conform to a written manmade 'beauty-pageant' list which compromises an animal's health and lifespan can be as cruel as neglect.
End of rant
Goldenstar
Well-Known Member
I think he's like Fatty ( who was a maxi cob in his youth ) he's a Irish draught hunter with an unfortunate large head we got 200 kilos off fatty
conniegirl
Well-Known Member
The minimum height for a maxi cob is 15.1hh. Some of the best maxi cobs are not much over 15.2hh. Certainly when they start getting to 16.2hh you tend to lose type significantly
only_me
Well-Known Member
Hands up: I know nothing about showing except what I have observed over the years.
I know there are good folk on here who show with their animals' best interests and health at heart and I have no problem with that BUT ....
... but ...
... it seems to me that overall, the nature of it is that a 'desirable trait' is seized upon and in too many cases is taken to the extreme in order to win. And damn the life of the poor animals bred to conform to the latest idea of 'perfection'. Which are then used to 'breed the misery in' when they win a bit of ribbon and silver.
So, you get obese, under-boned horses, sloped-backed Alsatians, spindly-legged Siamese, brachycephalic dogs and cats who can't take a deep breath or live a normal life but Hell! do they look cute ...
'Did you see that gorgeous pug, Frank, in 'Men in Black'? I want one!' That film started a whole cycle of misery in many areas for puppy-farmed Franks.
Although, it's not really the film's fault: you can't cure the wilfully stupid.
It gets exacerbated by anthropomorphism when it filters down to the 'accessory' pet-owners ... so tiny dogs appear dressed up and carried around in handbags. They can be bought as cheaply and carelessly as the handbags they're carried in, then are often abandoned as if they were just another unwanted thing to be recycled.
You get cats bred with genetic disabilities who can't walk properly, but hey! It's fine if their breed certificate says 'Munchkin'.
I have no problem at all in breeding for desirable health, strength, job-worthiness and longevity of species but simply to conform to a written manmade 'beauty-pageant' list which compromises an animal's health and lifespan can be as cruel as neglect.
End of rant
Huh?
This horse is no doubt well bred and probably has good confo, but we are talking about the fact that this horse is seriously overweight (obese), not about poor breeding.
It’s the obesity not the breeding we’re annoyed at! The horse is probably very well bred and well built, just far far too fat, but still purposeful.
Nativelover
Well-Known Member
This is a long term trend in all aspects of showing, my experience is with natives and I'm sure like cobs there is a difficulty in keeping them fit and not fat. Sadly with showing, people try to imitate winners to attain success themselves. If fat ponies win, people will emulate that in order to win themselves. Indeed some judges are guilty of encouraging obesity, I've been told a number of times my horse needed more 'condition'. Those same judges placing obese animals at the top of the line.
The only way to change this, is to penalise obesity as a conformation fault, place them down the line.
Funny really how we comment on fat/obese humans but talk of obese horses as in show condition. Though if an emaciated horse was shown in the ring, it would be a welfare scandal, obesity is as much of a welfare issue but widely accepted.
The only way to change this, is to penalise obesity as a conformation fault, place them down the line.
Funny really how we comment on fat/obese humans but talk of obese horses as in show condition. Though if an emaciated horse was shown in the ring, it would be a welfare scandal, obesity is as much of a welfare issue but widely accepted.
Mrs B
Well-Known Member
Umm .. I realise that. That's why I mentioned obese. But to me it also has legs too thin to take that excess weight. My point is that people continue to use winners to breed more of the same. And even if the winner's neutered, they will look to replicate what won to the detriment of the animals they subsequently breed.
only_me
Well-Known Member
But the weight is a modifiable factor, whereas bone isn’t. So if the weight was off the chances are the legs will match to the body!
You can’t breed a fat horse!
ester
Not slacking multitasking
While I am thankful that we do at least not show like the US does I think my main concern that while they might get away with it in the short term I wonder how much consideration is being give to the long term health of these usually young horses or whether they are just setting them up to be metabolic in the future.
but of the shows I have been to this year with HOYS qualifiers etc I have seen very few beasts including cobs that I would be concerned about, which surprised me as I was prepared to be concerned!
but of the shows I have been to this year with HOYS qualifiers etc I have seen very few beasts including cobs that I would be concerned about, which surprised me as I was prepared to be concerned!
JFTDWS
+++ Out of Cheese Error +++
You can breed animals which are more efficient at converting energy to body mass though... And being chronically overweight throughout life will cause epigenetic changes which may affect obesity in subsequent generations.
I'm not sure it's a huge concern for horse showing really, but I do agree with MrsB's sentiments about pedigree dogs.
Widgeon
Well-Known Member
OH says "How did it win - did it eat all the other horses?"
Dave's Mam
Well-Known Member
Hahahahahahaha!
cobgoblin
Bugrit! Millennium hand and shrimp.
I just showed the pic of the grey to OH....who has zero interest in horse showing.
He said..what's that?
Winner of HOYS maxi cob.
He said....but that's not a cob!
He said..what's that?
Winner of HOYS maxi cob.
He said....but that's not a cob!
Bernster
Well-Known Member
Astonishing. The only good thing that might come out of this is the backlash in response! Lovely horse under that blubber, what a shame.
holeymoley
Well-Known Member
Ive just asked non horsey husband too and he says 'fat' .
Shame really, I'm surprised the poor soul made it round the arena
Shame really, I'm surprised the poor soul made it round the arena
dominobrown
Well-Known Member
Mrs b- your comments could refer to Arab showimg though.
One top arab stallion had a nose job....
One top arab stallion had a nose job....
scats
Well-Known Member
I can't help but feel that if it shed a rather significant amount of weight, it would make a very smart hunter.
tristar
Well-Known Member
steroids?
Llanveynoe'sLast
Member
Just had a look at the top few. Most pretty fat. Must say I do like the 4th placed horse though, Brookdale Limited Edition. Too fat maybe, but so broad through the chest and proper leg in each corner. Lovely model.
Elf On A Shelf
...
Nah just feed. Too much of a risk if you get caught with steroids.
AShetlandBitMeOnce
Well-Known Member
A nose job?!?! Wow... To make a more pronounced dished appearance I assume?
Meowy Catkin
Meow!
Which horse? The only plastic surgery scandal I know of is the David Boggs one. That did not include a nose job. Specifics below.
Merrymoles
Well-Known Member
Ready to be shot down by those more knowledgeable than me but I've just looked at the H&H gallery of winners and the Percheron which won the heavy horse title looks the picture of fitness for a big heavy lad. Not everyone's cup of tea I am sure but fits much more with my idea of what a winner should be.
ETA link http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/feat...1_XHH-X_NWL_EO&utm_medium=email&utm_source=ET
ETA link http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/feat...1_XHH-X_NWL_EO&utm_medium=email&utm_source=ET