The Apple Bum Debate

Flipo's Mum

Flipo's Mum

Heavy owner of a Heavy
Aug 17, 2009
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Perthshire, Scotland
Ok, Flip has now lost 100kgs or thereabouts. The following is evidence of such. My question to you is, being aware of his breeding (Belgian Draft Heavy Horse), should he lose the apple bum, or is that part of his breeding?

March 2011 (or thereabouts). Lets not comment on the handler.....I've not lost any weight sadly :cry:


Today over two years later.


Winter 2010-2011


Today over two years later.
 
Part of the breeding means his quarters will always be more muscled, they drive from behind. Mine has a shaped bottom, but I can't roll a ball down the gutter because she hasn't got one.
People mistake muscle for fat and my physio was pleased with our toned muscle.

The highest part of his back end to me looks like the hips, to me he doesnt look too bad. A bigger umbrella would be nice for both of you. :tongue:

Nice comfortable saddle you have there.
 
He's looking great,well done for all your hard work.
For me been a cob and heavies fan I do think the breed tyoe and apple bum often go hand in hand and some will and should imo always have it.
I used to have a heavy cob on loan,he was fit and healthy,but always had an apple bum,vet always commented how well he looked and what a good weight he was and he said shoulders was an area he tended to check on this type for weight as the bottoms are often always apple shaped even when weight is fine so I tend to remember that.
By the way flipo is just sooooooo gorgeous :D
 
I have been asking myself the same question. Ben has lost 120kg but still has an apple bum. He does still need to shed some weight but I can't ever imagine him losing enough weight to reduce that bum. And, to be honest, I love his bum!!!
 
newforest said:
A bigger umbrella would be nice for both of you. :tongue:

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Click to expand...

This made me laugh too much. He looks great, my horse (haflinger) has an apple bum that I don't think he will ever loose, it may be muscle or fat not too sure, but the rest of him is slim.
 
I think, and I'm not an expert on this so could well be wrong, that there are certain breeds where an apple bum is how the hindquarters are supposed to be, but this a conformational thing rather than a result of carrying fat.

You can see that Bella has a very slight apple bum and she wasn't fat at all when this pic was taken

 
Well firstly thank you again for sharing pictures of the stunningly yummy Flipo, he's just gorgeous.
Vet came out on Wednesday to do Belle's jabs, she though Belle looked super and was very pleased with her weight/condition, said she doesn't need to lose any more weight but not to let her gain again, all of which I know, now she still has an apple bottom but isn't overweight, no cresty neck (just a lot of mane) a full set of ribs (honestly Haffy's do have them) no fat pads front or behind shoulder, nice muscly backend, but still the apple bottom persists, I don't think she ever would lose it unless she was seriously underweight so probably a breed thing.
I suppose it's a bit like people as in some are apple shaped and some are pears, I'm an apple as in the ratio of waist to hip measurement and always will be, but I am not overweight, same difference with breeds of horse I guess.
 
A brilliant thread for ogling bottoms, well done FM! x

I think all we can do is look at the shape and confirm with our hands. We're after minimal fat, not minimal muscle to produce the desired shape. If we are happy the apple is muscle then all's well and good.
 
Do think some horses are just made that way - this is Tess's bottom currently, there's not a scrap of fat on her anywhere but she's still got a minimal apple and channel going on. A bit more condition and it becomes very obvious :)

 
Some breeds of horse ought to have an apple bottom. They are not all goose rumped TBs.

There's a fat Shetland and then there's a well muscled Shetland fit for a days work. The fit one will still have a barrell and a backside and look rounded.
 
Tobes has a big back end - but he is an appaloosa and there is quarter horse stock in him, so I wouldn't expect him to have a weak bottom.

My own bottom is quite large as well - as you can see in this pic!!
 

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