Too thin?

[jsr]

Arrggg I've worked really hard to get my cob's weight down. I know he was very over-weight and even moved yards so I could be somewhere with bad grazing (although it does have a great indoor and FAB hacking so not all bad!!) but now I'm concerned he's gone too thin!!! I know it's hard to tell from a photo, but I can feel all his ribs and hip bones. He's a 15.3hh cob and obviously should have some weight on him, but I'm getting in a flap!!
This photo was taken September, he did drop some more since then but after the last couple of months on haylage and bigger feds he's now maybe a couple of pounds bigger than the picture.

Also now he's getting ridden 6 days a week as I have an indoor where as at my previous place he was only hacked out at weekends. I have been working on improving his topline and muscle tone.

Honest opinions wanted please! I'll give you a before and after!!

Before:



After:

[DavidH]

Certainly not too thin. Looks about perfect to me. It is a sad misconception that cobs should carry more weight.

[BIrish]

Hi

I think he looks better now in all honesty.. Bit too well covered in the first pic.

[celicababe1986]

he looks lovely to me.
He's gorgeous

[Serendipity]

He looks great, so refreshing to see, there are far too many rolypoly cobs about(Don't jump on me...I know it can be difficult to control, I have a section a who sniffs grass and gets fat!)

[jsr]

I find it very hard to retrain my eye to not see him as too thin. Wish I could get the weight off myself now!

[martini55]

He looks fine, you should be able to easily feel his ribs.

[horsy]

He looks bloody fantastic!! I struggle to see the difference with my cob, its hard when you see them every day you need a fresh eye. Remember when spring comes up he will likely put some weight on with the fresh grass, so better to be as good as he is now or even a little thin ready for the spring grass. You've now inspired me about how my cob should be looking! So thanks!

[chickyd444]

he looks fit and healthy, not too thin at all

[BabyBear]

Agree he's not too thin - my HW cob went into Spring last year looking very slim - his ribs were easy to feel and see but he still had a crest and a bum - some people commented that he looked to thin and that he should be carrying more weight etc but because of his weight at the end of winter we managed to get through summer without him getting fat.

He's not as slim as I'd like this winter as he's not being exercised as much so I'll need to work harder to keep his weigh down in the Spring/Summer.

[jsr]

Originally Posted by BabyBear

Agree he's not too thin - my HW cob went into Spring last year looking very slim - his ribs were easy to feel and see but he still had a crest and a bum - some people commented that he looked to thin and that he should be carrying more weight etc but because of his weight at the end of winter we managed to get through summer without him getting fat.

He's not as slim as I'd like this winter as he's not being exercised as much so I'll need to work harder to keep his weigh down in the Spring/Summer.

I think that's what worried me, I've had comments from 2 people who knew him before! 1 asked if I'd got a new horse, then was shocked it was him. And the other quiet bluntly told me he was emiciated and I was cruel because he's a heavy cob who should be much bigger!! (Then again her cob is crippled with athritis at 14 because of her weight!!)

[trieste]

That's exactly how our heavy cob looks at the moment and as our RI says she's spot on and so's he.

[trieste]

Our RI is also a judge and she once had to tell somebody who entered her cob in a heavyweight class that he wasn't a heavyweight he was overweight, the reply 'I know he's put on a bit of weight so I thought he was now a heavyweight'

[Joyscarer]

He looks ideal to me but you may need to start struggling to hold him there when spring comes.

[BabyBear]

Originally Posted by jsr

I think that's what worried me, I've had comments from 2 people who knew him before! 1 asked if I'd got a new horse, then was shocked it was him. And the other quiet bluntly told me he was emiciated and I was cruel because he's a heavy cob who should be much bigger!! (Then again her cob is crippled with athritis at 14 because of her weight!!)

I will try and post some pictures later of Casper at his thinnest and what he was like before I got him - He was 575kg when I bought him and very over weight. His lowest weight was about 475kg - he did look a bit out of proportion but only because all the weight shifted from his tummy and he still had a massive bum and crest - he was never starved - got all the vits and minerals he needed and was very fit. People are so used to seeing fat cobs that they don't realise that carrying so much weight can be unhealthy.

My saddle fitter recently commented on C's condition saying he was in incredible conditon for a horse of his type - ribs were just visible with a good covering of muscle and you could easily feel them by runing your hand along although he has put on weight which I'm working on.

Winter is natures way of helping sort their weight in preparation for summer - they're supposed to be slimmer at this time of year! Don't worry about it and don't listen to anyone but if you're really concerned a quick check over from your vet will confirm how his weight is looking!

[Joyscarer]

I remember when I lost a lot of weight.

People were telling me when I was still classed a overweight by 2 stone (and that would have only taken me to the top end of the 'normal' weight range for my height) that I'd lost too much and should stop now

People get used to seeing you how you have always been. The key is having the confidence to recognise that and ignore their well intentioned comments

[NoviceNic]

I understand how you feel JSR. Since ive had Captain at home Ive been able to monitor his intake and weight, loads better than before. However last Winter someone told me he has lost loads of condition. Which had me worried. Because I couldnt feel ribs and know full well that in the Spring and Summer he piles on the pounds...I have no school at home and couldnt hack out on the roads because of slipping badly.

Other peoples opinions are sometimes very worrying unneccessarily arent they..

[posie]

i think he's looking spot on just now! be proud that you don't have an obese cob but one that looks perfect weight and very well - lovely ned!

[capalldubh]

I think he's absolutely lovely (and looks a good weight too ). Do you condition score him? I find that if I've done that, I'm more able to answer people who comment on weight, and I can keep a log of any changes - so I measure his girth with a tape measure, note it down, and then go through all the points on the condition scoring and note them down. That way it's easy to keep track of any changes, and you know what ideal you're aiming for. And you don't get so sidetracked by things like changes in muscle tone (having said that, at the moment my horse's condition score is "far too fat given spring is about to start..."

[jsr]

Originally Posted by capalldubh

I think he's absolutely lovely (and looks a good weight too ). Do you condition score him? I find that if I've done that, I'm more able to answer people who comment on weight, and I can keep a log of any changes - so I measure his girth with a tape measure, note it down, and then go through all the points on the condition scoring and note them down. That way it's easy to keep track of any changes, and you know what ideal you're aiming for. And you don't get so sidetracked by things like changes in muscle tone (having said that, at the moment my horse's condition score is "far too fat given spring is about to start..."

Thank you everyone you've made me feel so much better.

I do keep a note of his weight but only for his worming. I like the sound of a condition score though, will have a search and see if I can find something on line. Thanks. Shockingly his weight was 575 when he was 3 and not working...it's now 458 (wormed him yesterday!!) Now that's scarey!!!