Pictures Weight loss - what a difference a year makes.

[SDMabel]

To cut a long story short I moved Mabel to a new yard over winter last year , this yard is fab they understand the need to restrict a good-doers grazing and have a lami prone pony themselves so are really clued up on it .

I was allowed to stay in my winter paddock meaning mabels on a very bare paddock, she has a fast fibre mash once a day with her supplements and one net of last years hay in the evening.

This is the first time i've had total control over her grazing routine and the weights dropping off of her ! I also lost the girl who was loaning her with the yard move which massively worried me as I've got a one year old little boy and partner is a farmer so I dont always have the means of riding as have a wild toddler with me . But actually I've found that now shes being worked consistently and productively each time she is ridden , rather than being allowed to bumble along on hacks (started planting with loaner too, which is because she was allowing her to slob along) .

We've gone from having a cresty neck, fat pads behind her back, a duvet of fat covering ribs and a belly, to having a sheet of cover over her ribs - can easily feel them without pressing too hard, also visible when side on, lost the fat pads on her back, neck is reducing in size and tapers in at the waist.

We still have a work to do , but it's so refreshing to be going into summer and not totally stressed by the ponies weight !

We've got lots of fun things planned this summer and she's going to find it all so much easier without carrying all that timber.

Photos from last year:


Photos taken this last week:

 

[southerncomfort]

That's an amazing difference!

 

[GrassChop]

She looks lovely, well done.

However, I hate to be that person because I know you didn't ask but I'm not sure that saddle is the right fit for the rider and might not have helped with the planting (sorry, not sure if it's yourself or the loaner) as it looks like it's pushing them out of balance as they're sat quite far back. The stirrups may be slightly too short. I could be wrong, I'm no saddle fitter but just a thought if she's being ridden a lot, you don't want back issues to set you back with your amazing progress! If it's different from last year then just ignore me! You both look lovely though!

 

[millikins]

Looks so much better, well done

 

[SDMabel]

Looks so much better, well done

Thank you

She looks lovely, well done.

However, I hate to be that person because I know you didn't ask but I'm not sure that saddle is the right fit for the rider and might not have helped with the planting (sorry, not sure if it's yourself or the loaner) as it looks like it's pushing them out of balance as they're sat quite far back. The stirrups may be slightly too short. I could be wrong, I'm no saddle fitter but just a thought if she's being ridden a lot, you don't want back issues to set you back with your amazing progress! If it's different from last year then just ignore me! You both look lovely though!

Thank you ! No quite rightly pointed out , this was myself last year post baby so packed on the pounds , have lost a fair bit now . The saddle was checked twice and reflocked, we also had the physio, vet, dentist out to give the all clear. She wasn't planting with me, just the loaner ( she was also doing this on the ground for her) but my rather large backside wasn't helping the saddle situation. Im also nearly a stone lighter with another stone to go

 

[scats]

What a fantastic transformation! Well done!

 

[GrassChop]

Thank you


Thank you ! No quite rightly pointed out , this was myself last year post baby so packed on the pounds , have lost a fair bit now . The saddle was checked twice and reflocked, we also had the physio, vet, dentist out to give the all clear. She wasn't planting with me, just the loaner ( she was also doing this on the ground for her) but my rather large backside wasn't helping the saddle situation. Im also nearly a stone lighter with another stone to go

Oh I'm so sorry if you think it was about your weight, it absolutely wasn't, you look amazing! Would not have thought that was post baby! I'd kill to look like that It just looked like the thigh length from bum to knee was making you sit far back if the stirrups were too short or saddle too straight cut etc! Well done on your weight loss though, looks like you're both progressing!! Will need your tips!

 

[IrishMilo]

Amazing transformation! What a nice looking horse.

 

[SDMabel]

Oh I'm so sorry if you think it was about your weight, it absolutely wasn't, you look amazing! Would not have thought that was post baby! I'd kill to look like that It just looked like the thigh length from bum to knee was making you sit far back if the stirrups were too short or saddle too straight cut etc! Well done on your weight loss though, looks like you're both progressing!! Will need your tips!

My weight certainly didn't help , thighs of thunder don't worry im not offended , it would be cruel to thin the pony down without doing the same myself. Stirrups were way too short, which doesn't help the overall picture . Ive started a low sugar diet , so only consume natural occurring sugars such as honey etc. I'm a carb lover so its working really well at the moment as i don't feel like im on restricted grazing

 

[SDMabel]

Amazing transformation! What a nice looking horse.

Thank you , she's a sweetheart

 

[ycbm]

Well done the pair of you!
.

 

[equinerebel]

Wow!!!! Massive well done! She looks so much better now!

 

[SantaVera]

Brilliant, must be such a relief to you too, she looks fabulous

 

[GrassChop]

My weight certainly didn't help , thighs of thunder don't worry im not offended , it would be cruel to thin the pony down without doing the same myself. Stirrups were way too short, which doesn't help the overall picture . Ive started a low sugar diet , so only consume natural occurring sugars such as honey etc. I'm a carb lover so its working really well at the moment as i don't feel like im on restricted grazing

I can honestly say you didn't look like you needed to lose weight in the first place! It's a lovely picture. Thank you for the tip, sounds like a good idea!