Too fat?

[Winters100]

Hi All,

I would appreciate some advice on this. I will be looking after this horse for some months for a friend who has to return to the UK to care for her sick Father. He was moved to the yard where mine are today and she has asked me to treat him as my own and do as I think best.

To me the horse is too fat, but she says that her vet tells her that he is OK. I can feel his ribs, but lets say only just. I keep my own a bit leaner than this, but then they are super fit and in hard training. He has been on ad lib hay plus 2 meals a day (1 scoop oats and half muesli).

Am I being too harsh as he is just a recreational horse? To me he doesn't look healthy, but now I am wondering if I am right.

Thanks in advance!

 

[CanteringCarrot]

I think he looks fine.

I wouldn't want him to gain, nor lose. That could upset the owner. If he seems healthy (doesn't look overly fatty to me) and happy, keep him as is.

 

[Scotsbadboy]

I'd be happy with that, wouldnt want him any bigger though. I judge this pic on him being a similar weight/ shape to mine and im happy with her at the moment.

 

[Polygon]

The pony looks in ideal body condition though I agree it's fatter than most playing polo ponies (is that what yours are?)

 

[Circe2]

Personally, I think he’s a bit round (as is mine, so I can empathise!). How much exercise would he normally get/do you intend to give him? If not a lot, I would almost consider putting him on maintenance, ie forage (grass/hay/haylage) only - but it depends on his age and if he’s a good doer etc. Might be a bit too much of a good doer!

Of course, otherwise you could ramp up his exercise in line with your horse’s.. but your friend might find herself a bit uneasy coming back to a fitter and more demanding horse! ?

 

[9tails]

Weird angle, he's scrunched up so his belly looks big. You can see he's a leisure horse from the lack of topline but he's not particularly overweight. He looks similar to mine, though mine is slightly herring gutted so she can get away with a touch more covering without looking a podge.

 

[meleeka]

Agree. A photo with him stood up properly would be better. From this pic I’d say a bit over weight.

 

[ihatework]

Obviously the picture isn’t ideal for assessing but from what I can tell, upper level of ok, especially for a leisure horse and he has a nice shiny coat.

Nothing that would make me urgently change his management, but if he is going from some work to no work I’d cut down the hard feed.

 

[Winters100]

Thanks all - good to know Yes mine are for (woefully low level) polo, so I keep them a bit leaner (although not by any means skinny like some). He is usually ridden about 4/5 times a week, but I think quite gentle work. She is very keen for him to be fitter, and is a good rider who can handle a fit horse, so we will increase this over the coming weeks. He is 11 and is a super kind nice lad, so very happy to help out with him.

As a comparison this is one of mine - as you can see not skinny but less belly and ribs are easy to feel. Hopefully harder work will shift a bit of the belly, but it is great to know that no one thinks he is obese, so I will proceed with caution!

 

[criso]

He's not obese but looks a bit soft to me. I'd like more of that to be muscle and overall to be thinner in places and more developed in others. Could be tbe picture but the lack of muscle on the topline seems to emphasise the belly.
Hopefully upping the work will have the desired effect.

Winters100 yours looks spot on to me and I'd be really pleased if i was given back a horse in that condition.

 

[Winters100]

He's not obese but looks a bit soft to me. I'd like more of that to be muscle and overall to be thinner in places and more developed in others. Could be tbe picture but the lack of muscle on the topline seems to emphasise the belly.
Hopefully upping the work will have the desired effect.

Winters100 yours looks spot on to me and I'd be really pleased if i was given back a horse in that condition.

Thank you - that is a really kind thing to say.

 

[Goldenstar]

To me he looks well and if he was on holiday or just doing very light hacking I would not be worrying however I would not be feeding a horse in that condition hard food .
I would be concerned if he was galloping or jumping in his work plan .

 

[splashgirl45]

he looks ok to me, a little overweight but if he is a leisure horse i would expect that at this time of year, his coat looks good as well...

 

[Cortez]

He looks like most UK leisure horses - i.e: fat. If you fittened him up and cut the hard food you could hand him back to the owner in better condition that he is now.

 

[Aperchristmas]

Well I wouldn't be feeding a horse in that condition on light work hard food, but I don't think he is drastically fat. Personally, I would keep hard food to a minimum and then not worry too much.

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

To be honest he does look fat to me but not drastically so x

 

[Lois Lame]

Yes, he looks a little podgy, but he's standing a little scrunched up as has been mentioned AND he probably didn't realise the photographer was going to ask about his weight on a forum, so he didn't hold it in.

Is there any chance of you giving him some exercise during your friend's absence so he can keep enjoying his meals?

He looks a sweet thing.

 

[Winters100]

Yes, he looks a little podgy, but he's standing a little scrunched up as has been mentioned AND he probably didn't realise the photographer was going to ask about his weight on a forum, so he didn't hold it in.

Is there any chance of you giving him some exercise during your friend's absence so he can keep enjoying his meals?

He looks a sweet thing.

Haha - that made me laugh! Yes, he will be getting regular work now, I will increase gradually to get him into the same routine as mine and he will work 9 out of every 10 days. My vet is coming this morning to one of mine so I will ask for a once over, but I don't think he has any problems other than a slightly too leisurely life To be honest when I look at his meals they are small compared to what I feed, so I think it is just the exercise that is missing, plus he is probably a good doer. I also prefer the idea of more work rather than no hard food - and I think he will too because when I had a sit on him a few months ago I felt him very willing and happy to work.

I showed my friend the replies here and she was pleased that no one sees him as a terrible fatty, but agrees that he is too close to, or just over, the high end of OK. We have agreed a plan and she is very happy that he will have some extra work and hopefully come back to her in good shape. He is a really sweet horse so I won't be too tough on him, just a slight decrease in the hard food, hay in a net overnight to encourage him to eat a bit slower and a good level of work. Fitness starts today

 

[pansymouse]

I'm in the he's a bit tubby camp but then to me most horses are a bit/lot tubby these days. Mine is carrying more weight than I think is ideal but she's 27 and I don't want to get her as lean as I would a younger horse as I think she needs go into the autumn bettered covered to get her through the winter well.

 

[Winters100]

As an update I have to say what a wonderful horse! I rode him today, and I must have forgotten how nice he is, because he is super comfortable - like a sofa! Very polite and calm, yet willing. Does exactly what is asked of him, not at all spooky in a new place, really I think horses like this are one in a million. He tires easily as he is not very fit, but we will soon sort that out. He went to the paddock with mine and no problems there, and my kind YO has juggled stables so that I can have 3 boxes next to one another. I feel very glad to have such a nice boy to care for and I will give him first class treatment while he is here!

On a less good note 2 hours after the vet left from visiting my gelding I brought my mare inside. Some sort of reaction to bites and huge lumps on her neck, poor thing! So I had to ask him to come back and see to her. 2 visits in one day seems excessive, so mental note to always check all horses while he is there!

 

[Winters100]

In case anyone is still interested here he is as a 'work in progress' two and a half weeks into his fitness plan. To me he looks better, although still needs to replace some of the fat with muscle. I can feel his ribs now, but it is not as easy as on my own horses, so I would like him to lose more. In the end I reduced his food only slightly, he was previously getting 1 scoop or oats and half muesli, so I just give the scoop of oats at about 2/3 full and keep the muesli unchanged. He still has constant access to hay, but at night this is in a small holed net. Main change has been exercise twice a day, and apart from when he is working he in in the paddock from dawn to dusk. I am actually really happy with the progress, I know that it could have been more if I had cut food drastically or worked him super hard, but he is a nice boy and I would prefer to do it in a gentle way.

I would be interested to know your thoughts - better, or am I looking at him through rose coloured glasses?

 

[Goldenstar]

He does look better he’s a lovely colour btw.

 

[Winters100]

He does look better he’s a lovely colour btw.

Thank you! Yes his colour is lovely - he looks like a liver chestnut when I see him in the box, but in sunlight he is really golden. I am secretly hoping that my friend might decide to sell, and if so I am first in line!

 

[Odyssey]

It's hard to really tell from the photo, but I'd say he looks a bit overweight. That sounds a lot of hard feed for a leisure horse in good condition in summer to me. Muesli is high in starch and sugar so obviously increases the risk of laminitis. I'd cut that and the oats out and just feed him forage, unless there's a good reason why he needs some hard feed.

I just realised that you've updated the thread, I'd only read your first post. He's looking really good, you've done a great job on him. He sounds an amazing horse, I can understand why you'd like to own him!

 

[CanteringCarrot]

It's hard to really tell from the photo, but I'd say he looks a bit overweight. That sounds a lot of hard feed for a leisure horse in good condition in summer to me. Muesli is high in starch and sugar so obviously increases the risk of laminitis. I'd cut that and the oats out and just feed him forage, unless there's a good reason why he needs some hard feed.

I just realised that you've updated the thread, I'd only read your first post. He's looking really good, you've done a great job on him. He sounds an amazing horse, I can understand why you'd like to own him!

Totally depends on the Muesli. Not all of it is high in starch and/or sugar.


I really don't think this horse is fat. I think he's fine for a leisure horse. I wouldn't want him any heavier though.

 

[Odyssey]

Totally depends on the Muesli. Not all of it is high in starch and/or sugar.


I really don't think this horse is fat. I think he's fine for a leisure horse. I wouldn't want him any heavier though.

I didn't say the horse was fat; that he looked a bit overweight but it was hard to tell from the photo. I also said that I'd ETA that he's looking great now.

Coarse mixes are generally higher in sugar and starch than nuts and fibre based feeds, which are recommended now more I believe, but I take your point that they vary according to the brand/ingredients. It was a generalisation.

 

[criso]

I didn't say the horse was fat; that he looked a bit overweight but it was hard to tell from the photo. I also said that I'd ETA that he's looking great now.

Coarse mixes are generally higher in sugar and starch than nuts and fibre based feeds, which are recommended now more I believe, but I take your point that they vary according to the brand/ingredients. It was a generalisation.

These days what is called Muesli for horses tends to be a fibre/grass based feed with some herbs, oil and veg added, totally grain free unlike human muesli. As opposed to something called pasture mix which someone on my yard fed which includes maize, barley and wheat. Don't you love how they name horse feeds.

 

[Beachbabe]

It's hard to really tell from the photo, but I'd say he looks a bit overweight. That sounds a lot of hard feed for a leisure horse in good condition in summer to me. Muesli is high in starch and sugar so obviously increases the risk of laminitis. I'd cut that and the oats out and just feed him forage, unless there's a good reason why he needs some hard feed.

I just realised that you've updated the thread, I'd only read your first post. He's looking really good, you've done a great job on him. He sounds an amazing horse, I can understand why you'd like to own him!

I was going to say exactly the same. Definitely cut out all the hard feed. He has enough fat to convert to muscle, he doesn't need more protein

 

[Ceriann]

He looks better and I think he looks ok now, but will improve with the work you are doing. He sounds a very nice type.

 

[DabDab]

Hard to tell from the photos but I think he looks better now. To me now he just looks a bit 'soft' in that he needs to tone up rather than lose weight. But he already looks like he's coming up through his abdomen a bit, so keep doing what you're doing I'd say