Weight qu - what would people rather see?

Cop-Pop

Cop-Pop

Well-Known Member
Joined
26 October 2007
Messages
8,666
Location
Glos, UK
Visit site
My Section A mare is a little light atm. Her body fat amount is about right but she has very little muscle. I'm working her gently 3 - 4 times a week (long reining in the school and hill walking) to build her up slowly. She's 10 and has never been worked until I got her and tbh I've had other issues to work with first like her dislike of being caught
smile.gif


Whenever we go out people talk about the skinny pony
mad.gif
Would people rather see a fat pony than a pony who looks a little light because of a lack of muscle rather than fat?
confused.gif
It's starting to wind me up - I'm now walking ehr up the hill at 6am to avoid people
frown.gif
mad.gif
 
A lot depends on the time of year. In the middle/end of summer I'd expect to see a pony carrying a little more weight, and looking a little slim when coming out of winter. How skinny is she? From a health perspective there is no doubt that being a little underweight is far better than being hugely overweight.
 
In the summer, I'd be slightly concerned to see a "skinny pony" - ponies near me are erring on the chubby side of life at the moment. But perhaps these people just don't recognise that your pony isn't skinny, just that she's not well muscled?
 
Got to be honest, I do like to see horses well covered. But I suspect I'm in a minority.

Thumper is rather porky at the moment - but looks glorious. Also he's not a pony, so accept people's concerns about 'fat' ponies and lami etc.
 
How horrible for you and very unfair that you now feel you have to go out at rediculous times just to avoid people.

and you just know the same people would be saying about the little fat pony if she was a bit overwieght.

Ignore them they obviously have nothing else in their lives or you could always get a t-shirt made that says something like don't comment until you know the full history.
 
i feel for you. I have to say i would rather like to see a "well covered" pony than a skinny one... for some weird reason more people seem to frown upon skinnies but nothing ever gets said about the fatties. IMO i would be more concerned with a fattie.
 
She isn't skinny as in bones showing etc - the vet is quite happy with her weight (well he was last month and she hasn't changed much). It's just where with a fit horse/pony you would see muscle along the topline etc she hasn't got much muscle at all. Personally I'm happier that it looks a little thin until the muscle develops rather than it being fat...
 
sorry i misread your post. I wouldnt let it affect you - you know and your vet knows that shes in perfect shape.. who gives a t*ss what idiots think?
im sure given time the muscle build up will come and she will look fab.. then who will be laughing!
grin.gif
 
I was told when I first started learning horsey things, it is beter for a horse to be slightly underweight than slightly overweight.

As you've said, she's not boney as in pones poking out so wouldn't worry, it's just people can be a bit narrow minded. And fat/or a well covered horse obviously looks "well fed" but too much extra fat puts more strain on limbs etc etc.

So overall, without seeing a pic I wouldn't worry, especially as you say its just lack of muscle!
 
talking of weight...i`ve never understood why people say they are letting their horses put on weight for winter and want them thinner before spring.

i think the skill comes in keeping them at their best weight all year around.

if you get you pony to an ideal weight and it looses weight them it isn`t getting enough,if it puts on weight then it is eating too much.

going back to op,i would rather see a pony on the lean side than fat.i would not worry if i was you.
 
I think if your vet has confirmed that your pony is healthy, bloods have been taken etc and ruled out any viruses etc then I wouldn't worry.

Its not healthy for horses and ponies to be over weight I agree, however it is perfectly normal for mountain and moorland breeds to store fat, that is what there bodies are designed to do which have enabled them to survive to this very day.

Personally I prefer a happy medium which is by the sounds of it is what you are aiming for, maybe in with work your horse may increase his appetite, metabolism may also change and with muscle condition will also develop with the help of some feed of some kind.

I think some people are under the impression that horses in the show ring have to be of a certain weight...which is not always true or healthy.
smile.gif
 
I would much rather see a pony or indeed horse on the lean side rather than fat... lack of muscle is completely different to lack of weight and for that very reason my filly looks incredibly poor at the moment. Hold your head high and ignore the comments.
 
I've not read the rest of the posts so sorry if I'm repeating but its much better for a pony to be slightly lightweight than overweight- like any animal too much weight is detrimental. I also think people are so used to seeing fat horses and ponies these days that a 'normal' horse seems skinny.
As long as the vet say's she's a healthy weight then don't worry (and she's been wormed/teeth etc)!
 
Yep teeth done, worm count negative
smile.gif
I still show her - at the moment in her 'education' I don't care what the judges think it's about getting her out and about and seeing things
smile.gif
The last show I took her to the others did seem to be very fat so bless her she did look very skinny next to them all
crazy.gif
I'll get a pic this weekend and people can tell me what they think
smile.gif
 
i think people are becoming conditioned to accepting fat as the norm these days, even judges seem to be happy to place an obese pony above one in correct condition
crazy.gif
if you and your vet are happy than thats all that matters.
it's not so odd that people are happy for a horse to go into winter carrying a bit of weight, thats how it would be in the wild, they gorge over the summer to prepare for the lean times over winter, of course our mollycoddled lot don't have to worry about lack of food but i know because mine get worked a lot less in winter and are out 24/7 that come september i stop worrying about their grass intake and let them put on a bit of weight.
 
She isn't rugged and lives out for most of the winter so I let her 'get fat' in autumn
smile.gif
The pony placed 4th at the last show was so fat it's neck wobbled during the trot
crazy.gif
 
I've never been a fan of fat ponies tbh. I think it largely depends upon the pony/horse as to how much weight they will/should be carrying. It sounds to me that yours is not starving by any means so I would not worry too much. Once you have worked her for a few weeks as you mentioned you will see a difference pretty quickly!!
 
Much rather see an equine lean than porky any day.
Unfortunately, I think we are so used to seeing them with weight on that when we see a lean animal, people think it's skinny. Goes for all animals and humans too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top