Over/under weight horses (slight rant)

[WCCHIC]

Ok, I know how to condition score a horse but looking at some of the photos on here I wonder how people manage to judge someone elses horse to be fat/thin etc just by looking at a photograph?

Many people on here fail to realise that a happy hacker will have a different shape to a fit competition horse or that different breeds are built differently!

It concerns me that people may be taking the advice of 'knowledgable' people when the should be speaking to their vet.

There seems to be few horses around that 'look' in good condition most are either slighty over of under weight.

 

[Donkeymad]

I don't know about others, but I take (and sometimes give) opinions as no more than 'based on the photo' and bearing in mind that condition scoring will give a more informed answer. I only take/give these opinions as a 'general guide'

 

[JM07]

rant way, but i know a fat horse or a thin horse when i see one.....either in the flesh..or photo..its not rocket science.

why give money to a vet???

you sound like one of those people who would dismiss their own obesity by saying they are big-boned..

 

[EquestrianFairy]

Is this because of my post?

tbh in my case a call out charge of £40 to tell me my horse is/isnt fat when i think at times forums are useful for getting just some extra advice on certain matters like overweight/underweght horses.

In my case ive never owned a welshie before, i can see she has a bit of a belly but im getting used to the breed and obv worry about her weight more than i worry about my cob as shes young and new to me and my cob has never had *touches all the wood* laminitus etc and ive had her for 5 years so i know her very well.

 

[Mbronze]

I must admit i think it is easily understood whether a horse is fat or thin, it doesn't as much depend on what they do for a living just how much they eat!!

 

[Maisy]

sometimes surely you *can* tell from indications on the photo??

For example, the one posted earlier on here clearly had a small 'channel' on the top of its bum......which, in any horse, would indicate varying degrees of being overweight depending on the depth??

 

[EquestrianFairy]

[ QUOTE ]
sometimes surely you *can* tell from indications on the photo??

For example, the one posted earlier on here clearly had a small 'channel' on the top of its bum......which, in any horse, would indicate varying degrees of being overweight depending on the depth??

[/ QUOTE ]

That would be mine

 

[Maisy]

That wasnt meant as a critisism btw....I just assumed that your post must have sparked this one!

 

[Nailed]

My horse is thin and if anyone said otherwise from any pic i'd be worried about there eye sight..

I think alot can to told from a picture tbh. I also think if a horse is fit you cna tell and happy hackers should still not be fat and usually are uite fit...

Photos are a good way of getting peoples oppinions. And i would never EVER get the vet out to condition score my horse. I can do that myself.. no that i need too... he;'s always underweight.

Lou x

 

[WCCHIC]

I agree that you can 'see' to a certain extent if someones horse is thin/fat. However my horse had a gutter down his bum if he was resting a leg or working actively from behind. Also unless a horse is being schooled it's likely to have a 'belly'. Condition scoring is far better than going on peoples comments on a photograph.
Surely if you are concerned enough to be considering muzzling a horse or turning it out in a starvation paddock you should consult your vet?
What worries me is that people sometimes give advice on serious issues like laminitis and even go as far as saying that the advice someones vet has given them is wrong.

 

[EquestrianFairy]

[ QUOTE ]
I agree that you can 'see' to a certain extent if someones horse is thin/fat. However my horse had a gutter down his bum if he was resting a leg or working actively from behind. Also unless a horse is being schooled it's likely to have a 'belly'

[/ QUOTE ]

As it happens i havent been schooling her at all at the moment, just hacking- schooling starts this week

 

[EquestrianFairy]

[ QUOTE ]
That wasnt meant as a critisism btw....I just assumed that your post must have sparked this one!

[/ QUOTE ]

Not to worry, it wasnt taken as a critisism.

 

[Shilasdair]

[ QUOTE ]
Ok, I know how to condition score a horse but looking at some of the photos on here I wonder how people manage to judge someone elses horse to be fat/thin etc just by looking at a photograph?

Many people on here fail to realise that a happy hacker will have a different shape to a fit competition horse or that different breeds are built differently!

It concerns me that people may be taking the advice of 'knowledgable' people when the should be speaking to their vet.

There seems to be few horses around that 'look' in good condition most are either slighty over of under weight.

[/ QUOTE ]

Knowing whether a horse is fat or thin is not exactly rocket science for anyone who has experience.

I think the reason that people post pics and ask this, is because if it is your own animal, it is easy to become 'blind' to it - it shows a certain responsibility to be asking for a second opinion.
Are you seriously telling me that you can't tell from a decent photograph whether a horse is carrying too much weight, or whether it has muscle or fat?

And how much training do you think vets actually get in stable management/feed rationing?
S

 

[Nailed]

with comments to advise on laminitis and other ailmetns.. i wll be honest, i have given advise to people on treatment of laminitis a number of times.. bu i have also done half a farriery apprenticeship... and the first pbit of advise i always give is to ring the farrier. Vets are not as knowledgeable about lamintis as farriers...

If i was to stick a muzzle or put a pony in a starvation paddock i would not call the vet. I do not ask my vet for feeding advise i think his skills canbe put to beter use else where.

Condition scoring is possible from a picture.

Lou x

 

[dieseldog]

So Fat or Thin?

 

[Shilasdair]

[ QUOTE ]
So Fat or Thin?

[/ QUOTE ]

I think I can see more than one horse lurking in the halflight there....do you have a better photo?
S

 

[Nailed]

lmfao.. i'd say a nice weight diesel.. Looking very well hunnie

How are you?

Lou x
haha

 

[dieseldog]

[ QUOTE ]
lmfao.. i'd say a nice weight diesel.. Looking very well hunnie

How are you?

Lou x
haha

[/ QUOTE ]

That just goes to prove that black really is slimming.

I am good how about you?

This was taken about 9 months ago - but she probably looks similar. 1 starvation paddock + loads of fresh air less any hard food + no riding as lame = 1 fat horse.

 

[Shilasdair]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
lmfao.. i'd say a nice weight diesel.. Looking very well hunnie

How are you?

Lou x
haha

[/ QUOTE ]

That just goes to prove that black really is slimming.

I am good how about you?

This was taken about 9 months ago - but she probably looks similar. 1 starvation paddock + loads of fresh air less any hard food + no riding as lame = 1 fat horse.

[/ QUOTE ]

I love the way you've tried to camouflage her against a black wall. She has lots of that 'dormant muscle' hanging below her....that I am sure will migrate upwards to become topline.
So my mare tells me....
S

 

[Nailed]

Im goo ta Diesel... got ma little man off lame at themin, done either his suspensory or his superficial.. great. Been in a field for a month and had a stupid nght last nigth so ive had to stable him =o(

She does look well...
Lou c

 

[blackfeet]

this argument over horses' weight hangs over evrybody and its a horrible issue, i totally agree that if the vet and farrier for that says your horse is fine trhan he's fine. my friend is obsessed with her horses weight and it hangs over the rest ofr us as we think theyre thin and people are always teeling her from photos theyre overweight to see them in reality you'd be suprised what they look like. it annoys me more when she makes digs about my horses weight and his "belly" when both my vet and farrier say hes the correct weight for his size!

 

[Shilasdair]

I see where you're coming from, Blackfeet, but as someone who has taught apprentice farriers how to put headcollars on, and to catch horses, I probably wouldn't be asking them for nutritional/condition advice, aside from asking about laminitic changes in the feet, perhaps.
S

 

[dieseldog]

[ QUOTE ]
I see where you're coming from, Blackfeet, but as someone who has taught apprentice farriers how to put headcollars on, and to catch horses, I probably wouldn't be asking them for nutritional/condition advice, aside from asking about laminitic changes in the feet, perhaps.
S

[/ QUOTE ]

But did you also teach them how to wear sunglasses really coolly and what the perfect colour tan is?

 

[Shilasdair]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I see where you're coming from, Blackfeet, but as someone who has taught apprentice farriers how to put headcollars on, and to catch horses, I probably wouldn't be asking them for nutritional/condition advice, aside from asking about laminitic changes in the feet, perhaps.
S

[/ QUOTE ]

But did you also teach them how to wear sunglasses really coolly and what the perfect colour tan is?

[/ QUOTE ]

Of course. I also personally applied their suncream....
S

 

[trendybraincell]

[ QUOTE ]
Knowing whether a horse is fat or thin is not exactly rocket science for anyone who has experience.

I think the reason that people post pics and ask this, is because if it is your own animal, it is easy to become 'blind' to it - it shows a certain responsibility to be asking for a second opinion.
Are you seriously telling me that you can't tell from a decent photograph whether a horse is carrying too much weight, or whether it has muscle or fat?

And how much training do you think vets actually get in stable management/feed rationing?
S

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd agree with that, I have a Welsh cob at a competition yard full of warmbloods and TB's, so naturally he looks bigger than most things. I find that because I no longer have other Welshies to compare with I find I need other peoples opinions too. It is all to easy to look at your beastie everyday and not really SEE their true shape.

If photos are taken in good light, with horse stood sqaure, and from all angles you can condition score rather accurately, however, I feel its best done in the flesh so you can get your hands on the animals too!

 

[YorksG]

It is possible to overlook gradual changes to your horses shape and weight. Our once good doer old lady gradually lost weight aand we did not notice. It took someone who only saw her every few months to tell us. We had had her for twenty years at that point and knew her inside out, but missed the weight loss as we saw her all day every day.

 

[PapaFrita]

I can tell from a good photo if a horse is too fat or too thin. I also accept though that there can be leeway; some horses just HAVE a gutter on their bottoms and that tummy might be a grass belly, etc...

 

[FinellaGlen]

A small child and her mother loudly criticised my Highland for being obese when we were at a show a few weeks back. The little girl had a very fine show pony with twiglet legs so my mare must have looked like a right hippo in comparison. The thing is though, my mare is bred to carry a large, heavy stag down from a steep mountainside whilst show pony's spindleshanks would snap under the burden

My mare also came second in her showing class and I felt like going and waving my rosette under the rude people's noses.

 

[merlinsquest]

So just out of interest then..... as I agree in some ways with what everyone has been saying.......

Would you say merlin was overweight in the 1st Pic...

And a better weight in the second...

I certainly would

Would you then believe they were taken only 24 hours apart

A photo can tell anything but the truth.

 

[lilym]

[ QUOTE ]
I agree that you can 'see' to a certain extent if someones horse is thin/fat. However my horse had a gutter down his bum if he was resting a leg or working actively from behind. Also unless a horse is being schooled it's likely to have a 'belly'. Condition scoring is far better than going on peoples comments on a photograph.
Surely if you are concerned enough to be considering muzzling a horse or turning it out in a starvation paddock you should consult your vet?
What worries me is that people sometimes give advice on serious issues like laminitis and even go as far as saying that the advice someones vet has given them is wrong.

[/ QUOTE ]

and why the F***ING HELL would i want to pay a vet £60 odd quid for them to tell me that my horse is getting fat - i know it is - that i should muzzle/starvation paddock put on diet - i already am - don't try to patronise people please, there is alot of good advise/knowlegable people on hers, and if you haven't the common sense to work out good advise from bad should you actually own and equine???