Skinny horse and eventing?

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RoyalSNova

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I recently bought a new horse, who has competed at a higher level than I have at eventing.
However, that was last year - when I tried him, I don't think I realized just how skinny he was in the shade of the barn.
He's still perfectly capable of working in a beautiful outline, but he is obviously skinny. We've got him on a vitamin supplement, and something for gastric ulcers that is natural as a precautionary, as well as conditioning feed.
He has the ability to be a hot head, and is pretty strong. He seems raring to go, and locks on to ever xc jump we walk past...
I'm giving him a month of no competitions; just building up his top line more, by lots of walking up hills and the occasional swim in the pool.
However, I'm planning to do an event in mid June. If he's put on weight by then, and seems ready, then do you think I should go, even if I pull out before xc?
I'm just looking for someone to tell me really! Have so many people telling me their own views, and they're all biased, so it'd be nice to hear more to make a more educated decision.
Thanks!
 
Definitely skinny - his ribs are seen, and his hips are sharp. However, he does have a fair bit of muscle on either side of his tail on the back end of his hindquarters, and his shoulders are huge; its his topline that is suffering the main bit. I will be taking photos tomorrow so as to keep a progress report, so will post them up ASAP.
 
What is his current routine? Is he generally relaxed at home? When you say conditioning feed, what does this entail and ehat forage does he get?
 
He's turned out for about 6 hours (he hadn't been turned out for 8 weeks before coming here) a day, and wrapped up just warm enough but not so warm he's sweating. He's fed haylage ad lib, and it is a high quality one. So far he's seemed pretty relaxed; he's been pretty one sided, but I blame the saddle (it doesn't fit but until saddle fitter can get out next week I'm just doing light hacking in the best fitting saddle with as much padding as is sensible), so physio is coming tomorrow. He's being fed basic chop, mash in the evenings, and a mix, plus the vitamins and gastric ulcer remedy - been discussing feed with the yard owner and we decided to just let him settle and let me get a feel before we start packing him with too much energy!
 
You should be able to see a couple of ribs in a healthy horse, there is a tendency by many to have horses too heavy.
A friend of mine events her horse up to 2* and whilst out on a hack last summer a passer-by informed her her horse was "a skeleton"... the week before it sailed round Kelsall INT double clear inside the time.

As said, there is very fit and thin...
 
Some horses are just that shape, same as some people are tall and thin. My horse is a big angular horse with really sprung ribs, they show all the time and always looks lean and fit (even now he is practically retired), his topline increases with hard work but he never looks covered. Ever! If he feels good just crack on and don't worry, and especially don't try to fill him up with corn!
 
If he's older and knows his job he is probably getting himself in eventing shape! You say he's done high level, so probably a large amount of TB in him, which always perform better lean and fit. As others have said fit and skinny can often be confused. Has he got a shiney coat? Is he happy and bright in himself? If yes, then I wouldn't worry so much.

My old semi-retired chap still does this! Get to Feb time and he will start eating less and working harder without any input from me! He drops weight of his ribs and belly very easily. You can see/feel most of his ribs for the majority of the eventing season (and off season). He will drop his topline from his bum as well, which is where I will watch most to keep him in good condition. He has massive muscley shoulders and bum and is always shiney and looks happy. He was also a stressy type at comps and a complete (fast) xc machine so couldn't feed him up! He was always better being out field as much as possible.
 
Vinnie was definitely lean at his first event this year- he looked fine with tack on but when untacked we all thought he looked pretty awful.

He is just a big, rangy horse who naturally will never be fat and by dropping a bit of weight with moving yard and extra work, you could see every rib and his hips were very pronounced.

However, he was brighteyed and obviously coped fine with the work so we just carried on as normal and over the next few weeks his weight caught back up with the extra food and work he was having.
 
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