obese ponies

[frazzled]

I'm sure this topic has been covered before but i am just a bit in shock at the number of very overweight ponies we have seen in the course of our pony hunting. I'm not talking here about a bit of extra cover going into the winter but of ponies with "table backs". These aren't show ponies either but ponies that are supposed to be fit to do ode, show jumping ,pc etc.

 

[MerryMaker]

Ewww yes I was shocked by this when I took my little man to his first ever show (wheeehehehe) I'd seen pictures obviously but to see them in the flesh (no pun intended) was terrible. They had huge love handles and rippled as they walked, fatties were first and fitties placed last, couldn't beleive it!!

 

[u04elw2]

I know the feeling, I lost out at several shows with my extremely handsome and (at that time) very fit welsh cob and we lost to many horses that were OBESE. Like the same as you described, rippling with fat. It's ridiculous

 

[frazzled]

It almost is as if what is considered a healthy weight has changed, maybe we are getting so used to seeing overweight animals that it has now become the norm and what is seen in the show ring is filtering down to other disciplines. Personaly I would much rather be shown a fit healthy pony than an overweight one.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

Vets have arguements with people who show & judge ponies for years over the obesity that appears to be requirement by the judges to win any class.

 

[Cop-Pop]

Well the last show I took my Section A to the judge told me she needed to lose weight. As she was underweight at the time I laughed thinking he was joking before I realised he was serious

He did place a lame horse first though so what did he know

 

[amandaco2]

i know
its awful really.i had a lovely boy on loan ages ago but he was so so fat it affected his movement and feet.goodness knows what it was doing to his tendons and heart.
my mare who is a good doer has a muzzle on(she got lami last year) as i would rather she was in a slight mood with me for 20mins by the gate than getting over weight or lami.
same with my 2yo ive always kept her so i can just see her ribs-took her as a yearling to a county show to do a hunter class and she was by far the skinniest there!(she isnt really a hunter as she has too much movement)
i think now evertyone is abit more aware the horses are slimming down abit now.(from what ive seen out and about)

 

[Donkeymad]

The amount of obesity in horses and ponies these days is shocking

 

[brighteyes]

Don't get me started - my blood pressure is off the scale and fists balling up as I write................

I think instant removal for deliberate over-weightness unless vet ref supports new ownership/strict diet in place.

And a fine. And a good thrashing. And another fine.

Makes me furious.

 

[Moggy in Manolos]

its a real shame, a real danger, and all to frequent to see in the horsey world, its terrible that horses lose out in the show ring because of this stupid idea of fat being good! grrr