Show us your before and after pictures, and what was your secret?

[SWE]

Just been reading a lot of threads about feeds and i just thought it'd be interesting to see some before and after pictures of what actually worksfor people!

Whether it be feed, change in management, correct work, lunging aids, supplements, farriery etc.... Show me!

Lets see what works!

 

[Michen]

Haha well, before and after approx 14 months apart. Never was fed anything spectacular, just good quality haylage, Equimins balancer and some linseed.

 

[xDundryx]

6 months apart, ex racehorse. Green stuff and a scoop of Happy Hoof once a day topped up with hay when he's in a night during winter. Lots of hacking and a bit of schooling x

 

[Leo Walker]

It doesnt really show in photos which is a shame, as the results in person are dramatic! She went from not being fed to getting balancer and a handful of copra and salt. Restricted grazing. But the main thing was lunging her 3 times a week in a huge field with long grass and rough ground. Lots of tiny slopes and little ditches. The first time she went in there i thought she was gong to fall over her balance was that bad. No she happily canters round in balance.

 

[rosiesowner]

The after photo was actually at the start of this year. Sadly a few weeks after that she ripped her leg open and was off for two months. Then I broke mine and have only been back in the saddle for a few weeks! So she's been off most of this year and as a result has lost a lot of muscle tone. But, to get her to this point was mainly about her being settled at the yard and not being stressed which took a while. Feed wise, she was on Alpha A Oil, Bailey's No4 and Topspec Senior Balancer. This took me over a year to crack the feeding and consistent work. But the main thing was her not being stressed and so keeping the weight on. Before that she was all pointy and triangular and ribby, now she is satisfyingly round and although a little squidgy I know the muscle lost over this year will come back.

She's a 17yo TB

 

[scats]

Good grass, hacking and long reining.

 

[HufflyPuffly]

2 year old ^ to 6 year old now:

Mind this is a touch unfair as it was her winter woolies to her summer coat too which always helps, but I do always chuckle at what was I thinking bringing that 2 year old home lol! Good grass and forage and letting her grow up were what made this transformation, very little to do with me .

 

[timbobs]

2 year old ^ to 6 year old now:

Mind this is a touch unfair as it was her winter woolies to her summer coat too which always helps, but I do always chuckle at what was I thinking bringing that 2 year old home lol! Good grass and forage and letting her grow up were what made this transformation, very little to do with me .

Such a change!

 

[Charla]

There is a year between these two photos. First one is just backed. She was turned away from October to March. Best thing for her was being on good grass, along with balancer, linseed, alpha oil and tumeric.

 

[elliejhb]

Bottom 29th April, top 24th September.
Lots of lunging with side reins, light schooling and turnout.
Gets fed admin haylage, dengie healthy tummy and topspec ulcer cubes.

 

[timbobs]

Quite a change in Ed in the year or so I've had him!

Top picture Feb- fat and unfit vs. August. He’s gone from doing Walk and trot in June to our first Novice test last week.

He had ulcers last summer and he ended up having 6 months off for a broken splint.

Started off skinny


After 6 months off got a bit too fat 🙈


To I think looking good now!

 

[ApolloStorm]

Dr Green, and some time off with physio and dentistry!

Pictures don't do how thin he was justice, you can see his ribs under his full winter coat! This was January this year.





And Last week, needs some muscle laying down but no longer looks like a welfare case!

 

[Dave's Mam]

3 years old.

6 years old.

No fancy feeds, just grass, hay, Dengie Healthy Hooves, Speedibeet & some salt.
Slow work, no rushing.

 

[Dave's Mam]

PS All your horses & ponies are beautiful.

 

[conniegirl]

Before and 4 months later.
Good food, proper and consistent work and Good grass
And the final photo is a year after he arrived

 

[Pinkvboots]

There is a year between these two photos. First one is just backed. She was turned away from October to March. Best thing for her was being on good grass, along with balancer, linseed, alpha oil and tumeric.
View attachment 26535

Lovely horse and an amazing difference in a year

 

[Tihamandturkey]

Having issues with phone 🙃

 

[only_me]

My very gorgeous boy (not biased at all )

As a 4 year old


And cos he’s so beautiful this is 6 I think

 

[Surbie]

Tiny Dave is just so cute. Though grown up Dave is also lush.

 

[SadKen]

Some remarkable changes on this thread.

My girl's previous owner sent me some pics of her before I had her. She looks amazing on them - fit, muscled, no plumpness in sight, jumping big jumps... She does not look like that now. It's the reverse of these photos. Shame on me.

 

[ponies4ever]

This photo doesn’t actually do her justice of how undermuscled she was here she’s a little chubby and her feet need doing but I think she looked a lot better. No secret just the right food (nothing fizzy!) and listening to her whenever she felt the tiniest bit off

 

[ponies4ever]

The chestnut was a two year gap by the way. Cob is a long story of me selling her then buying her back so it took longer than it should have. Three years between these two nothing particularly special done she’s just a wonderful little horse who inspired my love of projects!

 

[DabDab]

Well since AH has already cheated by using a fugly baby photo....😜

My little micro mare when I bought her almost 2 years ago:


When my friend picked her up for me her only comment was "where's the rest of it". "She'll grow" I replied not entirely confidently. At the time she was just shy of 14hh, now she measures at 16.1hh. This is her in July age 4, just backed (well, rebacked, as I did sit on her the autumn before):

 

[mandyroberts]

2 year old ^ to 6 year old now:

Mind this is a touch unfair as it was her winter woolies to her summer coat too which always helps, but I do always chuckle at what was I thinking bringing that 2 year old home lol! Good grass and forage and letting her grow up were what made this transformation, very little to do with me .

I think you win this at the moment!

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Haha Skylla is a very satisfying transformation, though I accept it is a bit cheaty , but hope to anyone who go'es 'OMG' what on earth is that at the two year old phase .

A bit more in theme with the thread then, this is Topaz as a six year old in 2009 when we first got her (sorry I've not got many pictures that show all of her from this time!).

In 2013 as a 10 year old, just starting our dressage adventure:

To this year as a 15 year old, working advanced:

She finally grew that bum in lol! To get to this point was all down to training, she is fed nothing but grass/ hay for the main, but dressage work does build that bum in well .

 

[Horsekaren]

Picture one - The day i brought him home

Picture two - My first ride at home... the moment i realized i didnt know how to school a horse properly what so ever i was kidding myself i knew how to ride!

Picture three - Last month, when we get it we get it

Picture four - From washing lines to a sort of contact in canter

17 months between 1 and 4


My secret - the blind leading the blind a green and green combo that hasnt yet ended in black a blue, lessons every week, not giving up despite wanting to many many times and always trying to see the best in this beast of mine

 

[Ossy2]

Here’s mine top picture is 3 years on from getting her as a green 8 yr old, this was taken last year and below it is her when I got her.

And then this one was taken this year

No magic formula just hard work in training.

 

[Cortez]

This was a rescue horse I took on.....
....and this is him 2 years later. Just lots of feeding - emergency rations to begin with of course (pictures don't do justice to the level of emaciation) - and steady work. The bottom pic was at the RDS, and only his 2nd time under a sidesaddle.

 

[Sussexbythesea]

Transformation of both of us over 12/ 13years from young and slim to old and fat😂. No secret - we both eat too much!

Age 10


Age 22 last year.

 

[Denbob]

Denzel as a freshly backed 3yo (potentially just under) before I got him!

To this Summer just gone as a very patient and forgiving 5yo! I don't have any nice pictures that aren't from this fancy dress but this is a Summer to grow (and a bit of box rest for a field injury) steady, easy work and good quality forage.