Would you take offence at this?

Wishfilly

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 March 2016
Messages
2,715
Visit site
It is tough. I have had a few people tell me at various points that my pony is looking too lean/thin. He's lacking muscle in places, but adding more fat isn't the answer to that, and I feel that he is the sort who could be prone to laminitis/EMS etc if allowed to get fat. (You can't see a single rib, and have to poke to feel most of them, so I'm very much convinced he shouldn't be gaining more weight, and he'd be miserable if I had to restrict his grazing).

I can't work him as much as I would like to, so he is probably hungry at times, but that's not the same thing.

I believe I'm doing the best I can, and that allows me to ignore comments I don't feel are valid!
 

Cinnamontoast

Fais pas chier!
Joined
6 July 2010
Messages
35,361
Visit site
I would grit my teeth and ignore, whilst dreaming about laughing snarkily and saying ‘You’re new to ownership, aren’t you? You’ll learn’ whilst walking off jauntily.
 

maggiestar

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 June 2009
Messages
513
Location
Planet Earth
Visit site
I wouldn't take offence, it takes a village to raise a child as they say haha! A comment like that would make me double check she didn't have a point then say something like 'thanks for that, but my horse is fine'
 

Caol Ila

Well-Known Member
Joined
23 January 2012
Messages
7,518
Location
Glasgow
Visit site
It happens.

I moved my horse from one yard to another because her fencewalking had gotten out of control, and the only solution was to find a yard where she fencewalked less. She's a poor doer no matter what, and she can fencewalk herself into looking like an RSPCA case overnight when it escalates out of hand. She was a lot better at the new yard and slowly starting to put on weight, which was a win.

Not too long after that move (so horse still looked a bit sh*t), a lady showed up at said yard, looking for livery. She was wandering around the place, searching for the YO, and my horse happened to be tied in front of her stable. Lady asked me where YO was and then she commented, "Oh, dear, she's a bit skinny, isn't she?"

I thought, "Oh, f%ck the f%ck off," but mumbled something along the lines of , "We just moved here and we're working on it." Luckily, she wanted pure DIY and the yard only offered full and assisted, so I never saw her again.
 

Gingerwitch

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 May 2009
Messages
6,029
Location
My own planet
Visit site
Well that is the funny thing, I found out today that the 'nutritionist' is actually from a feed company. So more what I would call a sales person than a nutritionist! But in line with many suggestions here I think I will go and meet them, and I will specifically ask if my horses are too thin. For sure I will be hanging about to see what she gets told about her horse, because I am quite sure that she will be told that he needs to be dieted ASAP.
Don't count on that. The feed rep needs to sell feed.
 

Spirit2021

Well-Known Member
Joined
9 April 2021
Messages
179
Visit site
Nope I won’t take offense you don’t want to fall out with someone just being uneducated about horse weight. I wish I had your problem my horse is a ID and is extremely difficult to control his weight . He would still be considered fat . I have had the opposite problem in my old yard people keep telling me my horse was fat turned out someone was feeding him behind my back.
 

Winters100

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 April 2015
Messages
2,519
Visit site
Nope I won’t take offense you don’t want to fall out with someone just being uneducated about horse weight. I wish I had your problem my horse is a ID and is extremely difficult to control his weight . He would still be considered fat . I have had the opposite problem in my old yard people keep telling me my horse was fat turned out someone was feeding him behind my back.

Someone feeding him without your permission - wow. People are insane sometimes.
 

brighteyes

Pooh-Bah
Joined
13 August 2006
Messages
13,013
Location
Well north of Watford
Visit site
Rigsby has to be slim, nay thin, to be healthy. I have vets backing. I can see 7 ribs. The vet insists that this is necessary for his metabolism to function. We work really hard to keep him this slim. I must admit, I would not feel as comfortable with him at this weight if the vet hadn't insisted. If anyone comments, I will direct them to the vet! 7 ribs is a lot for a not particularly fit cob but his bloods have come back clear of EMS and cushings, so it is working. His coat is good, he has rump muscle.



I have found the same about human weight. I was just into the 'obese' category on BMI. Really not healthy, although, TBH, because I was also fit and toned, I didn't look obese, but defo looked overweight. No one commented. I was big enough that my joints were suffering, I had belly fat and I snored! I am now an ideal weight (4 1/2 stone lighter) and feel fabulous. I have great muscle tone, can cycle/run further, have more energy but... there are ribs! To my amazement, 4 people have told me I am too skinny. One said I wasn't healthy. One said I looked awful! I am bang slap in the middle of my BMI range.

I think people are used to seeing overweight people too.

Rigsby and I are showing solidarity!
I feel your pain in most of this (never had to drop weight) and the struggles with the metabolic problems are serious. She'll soon find out, will the yard newbie-expert...
 

brighteyes

Pooh-Bah
Joined
13 August 2006
Messages
13,013
Location
Well north of Watford
Visit site
Nope I won’t take offense you don’t want to fall out with someone just being uneducated about horse weight. I wish I had your problem my horse is a ID and is extremely difficult to control his weight . He would still be considered fat . I have had the opposite problem in my old yard people keep telling me my horse was fat turned out someone was feeding him behind my back.
I would have gone berserk!
 

brighteyes

Pooh-Bah
Joined
13 August 2006
Messages
13,013
Location
Well north of Watford
Visit site
Well done you - and I bet that Rigsby also feels great! You are helping him no end in following the vet's advice, and it must be great to see the good results in the tests.

That is a really good point about people. I am by nature a good doer, I gain weight easily, and despite doing a lot of exercise I have to be super careful with what I eat. Sometimes I really feel hungry, but since a bad back injury I know that the only way to keep well is to keep my BMI towards the lower end of the 'healthy' range. Also my horses are definitely not 'weight carriers' (whatever that is), so if I want to ride I have to manage my weight. It drives me nuts when people try to get me to join them in eating cakes and sweets, because sometimes it is really hard to say no. And they always tell me 'but you are lucky, you don't have to worry about your weight' with NO idea that I am only not overweight because I DO worry and deprive myself (I know 'deprive' sounds a bit dramatic, but I really feel that way sometimes). People think nothing of telling me that I am skinny and would look better if I gained a little, but I am sure that they would never tell someone at the other end of the scale that they would benefit from losing a few pounds!

Kudos for honesty and effort!
 

brighteyes

Pooh-Bah
Joined
13 August 2006
Messages
13,013
Location
Well north of Watford
Visit site
It is tough. I have had a few people tell me at various points that my pony is looking too lean/thin. He's lacking muscle in places, but adding more fat isn't the answer to that, and I feel that he is the sort who could be prone to laminitis/EMS etc if allowed to get fat. (You can't see a single rib, and have to poke to feel most of them, so I'm very much convinced he shouldn't be gaining more weight, and he'd be miserable if I had to restrict his grazing).

I can't work him as much as I would like to, so he is probably hungry at times, but that's not the same thing.

I believe I'm doing the best I can, and that allows me to ignore comments I don't feel are valid!
You absolutely are. The alternative would be terminal. I am where you are, except mine is also old and positive for PPID
 

Honey08

Waffled a lot!
Joined
7 June 2010
Messages
19,005
Location
north west
Visit site
People aren’t used to seeing fit, slim animals nowadays. Someone sniffed to their friend that my Labrador clearly hadn’t seen much feed lately when walking past me. In reality he’s the perfect weight and four separate vets have commented how lovely it is to see a pet Labrador at the correct body weight. Let it go over your head. You know your horses are well. We’ve all seen pictures of them.
 

LadyGascoyne

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 May 2013
Messages
6,767
Location
Oxfordshire
Visit site
'I'm having a nutritionist come next week, maybe she should look at your horses'.

If she mentions it again...

“What a great idea for you to engage a nutritionist. I think it’s great when new owners take the initiative to educate themselves. You and your nutritionist are welcome to take a wander over to my horses. My vet and physio are happy to recommend them as positive examples.”
 

Winters100

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 April 2015
Messages
2,519
Visit site
People aren’t used to seeing fit, slim animals nowadays. Someone sniffed to their friend that my Labrador clearly hadn’t seen much feed lately when walking past me. In reality he’s the perfect weight and four separate vets have commented how lovely it is to see a pet Labrador at the correct body weight. Let it go over your head. You know your horses are well. We’ve all seen pictures of them.

So true about dogs, and with dogs it really confuses me. I can see how owners struggle with the weight of horses because they need a certain amount of forage, and they need turn out, which usually means access to grass, so it is a big effort to keep a good-doer slim and healthy. But dogs? It is so easy, if they are too fat just cut the feed and give a slice of carrot instead of a high calorie treat.

One of our dogs had to have both hips replaced due to genetic abnormalities. We were advised to keep him slim and we do that. I love him too much to cause him pain just for the pleasure of feeding treats. We also get comments, even though our vet is really happy with his condition. And like you Honey08 our other dog is a fit and slim lab.

Amazing how fat dogs seem to have become the norm, and are now almost more acceptable than slim ones.
 

little_critter

Well-Known Member
Joined
20 June 2009
Messages
5,758
Visit site
I suppose the difference between horses and dogs is that you generally live under the same roof as your dog. You can reduce your horses grazing or give a smaller hay net and walk away. If you cut down your dogs food you have to live with those “feed me” eyes.
Also I guess people are generally busier nowadays and don’t have time to take their dogs on regular long walks to keep them fit.
 

Toby_Zaphod

Well-Known Member
Joined
8 August 2005
Messages
9,259
Location
Midlands
Visit site
Don't take any offence from this know nothing, no idea, I've read a book about horses so I'm an expert idiot. Most vets would agree that a high proportion of horse owners have obese animals. You should be able to run your fingers down the ribcage and feel the ribs with a little padding over them. Unfortunately show judges over the years have preferred horses to be obese hopefully they are changing their ways now. That livery needs to mind her own business & not offer an opinion when it is not asked for. I would think that with her knowledge or lack of it she will not be long on your yard & will ned to move on soon.
 

dogatemysalad

Well-Known Member
Joined
22 July 2013
Messages
6,118
Visit site
People aren’t used to seeing fit, slim animals nowadays. Someone sniffed to their friend that my Labrador clearly hadn’t seen much feed lately when walking past me. In reality he’s the perfect weight and four separate vets have commented how lovely it is to see a pet Labrador at the correct body weight. Let it go over your head. You know your horses are well. We’ve all seen pictures of them.

Growing up in the pre- internet era, I was 40 years old and saw a young boy from a farm, training a slim black dog. I didn't recognise the breed at first glance, but on closer inspection, I worked out that it was a lab. It seems incredible now, that I thought obese labradors were normal.
 

Abi90

Well-Known Member
Joined
20 February 2007
Messages
2,111
Visit site
So true about dogs, and with dogs it really confuses me. I can see how owners struggle with the weight of horses because they need a certain amount of forage, and they need turn out, which usually means access to grass, so it is a big effort to keep a good-doer slim and healthy. But dogs? It is so easy, if they are too fat just cut the feed and give a slice of carrot instead of a high calorie treat.

One of our dogs had to have both hips replaced due to genetic abnormalities. We were advised to keep him slim and we do that. I love him too much to cause him pain just for the pleasure of feeding treats. We also get comments, even though our vet is really happy with his condition. And like you Honey08 our other dog is a fit and slim lab.

Amazing how fat dogs seem to have become the norm, and are now almost more acceptable than slim ones.

I have two dogs. One is a working ESS and the vet always comments how lovely and slim he is, like he’s supposed to be.

Then I have a cross breed who is a bit fat, not horrifically, you can see his waist but he’s nowhere near the lovely slim dog the other one is.

Neither get fed much, they both get carrots for treats and they get walked a lot. The only difference is the cross breed is neutered and the springer isn’t, and he just piles the weight on despite what I do to keep it off. It’s a source of eternal frustration for me!
 

Palindrome

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 July 2012
Messages
1,717
Visit site
I think you did well with the weight condition scoring. I would have just said that my horses are athletes and it's better for them to be fit as extra weight will cause extra wear and tear on their joints, bones and tendons.
I wouldn't engage with the nutritionist as I think it could make people think that you have a doubt about your horses weight. The vet opinion is more important, he is the relevant qualified specialist. You don't know what qualifications/training the nutritionist has.
 

scats

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 September 2007
Messages
10,432
Location
Wherever it is I’ll be limping
Visit site
People aren’t used to seeing fit, slim animals nowadays. Someone sniffed to their friend that my Labrador clearly hadn’t seen much feed lately when walking past me. In reality he’s the perfect weight and four separate vets have commented how lovely it is to see a pet Labrador at the correct body weight. Let it go over your head. You know your horses are well. We’ve all seen pictures of them.

Agreed. I see far more overweight dogs in my salon than I do healthy weight.
 

Winters100

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 April 2015
Messages
2,519
Visit site
So I don't think I will have any more trouble from this lady! This morning YO told me that she had asked him to speak to me about the 'state' of my horses, which of course he said were fine. I had the vet today doing teeth and told him about it, so when we saw her he asked me to call her over, said that he understood that she has concerns, and could she tell him what they are.

She proceeded to go into a lengthy explanation about how hard my horses work, and how good-doer has his hay in "one of those nets with holes that are far too small, he can't even get a proper mouthful". Vet was very polite and professional, showed her each of my horses one by one and explained how to look for good condition in a horse. Told her that all are healthy weight, poor doer could gain a bit now Spring is here but is certainly not underweight, good doer and other about right but that he advises me to continue to be vigilant, especially with good doer. Explained reasons behind soaking hay and using small holed haynets etc. I know I should not feel smug, but I could not help but be pleased when he said that in his opinion they were all great and that he wishes all his clients would be so diligent.

The lady then said that she does not understand it because "everyone says what good condition my horse is in and he is much rounder". So of course he asked her to bring the horse. He was not unkind, but he is quite a direct man. Told her that the horse is obese, that she has to stop listening to friends who say everything is fine, and gave her a long list of illnesses and injuries that she is risking by not managing his weight. Also told her that seeing a nutritionist sent by a food company is pointless as the horse just needs less food and more work.

So I hope that she is now happy, and maybe she will even do something about her own horse. Maybe buy him 'one of those nets with holes that are far too small' for a start!
 
Top