Still too skinny, yes?

lowiness · 06-17-2006, 09:22 PM

I recently become the owner of a horse again. Yippee! My SIL is a trainer (and breeder) here and she is selling Loyal Fleet to me. He's a sweet, gentle, old boy. He's a thoroughbred though (according to my SIL, 17h), and most of my experience has been with American Saddlebreds, and YEARS ago. I'm boarding him with my SIL, and I trust her judgement, but I want to learn on my own as well... KWIM?

From what I understand of his background, he used to be a champion (but I don't remember in what), but is now retired. My SIL owned him after he retired until she sold him a couple years ago. Unfortunately that owner neglected him, and now my SIL has him back, thankfully. He was grossly skinny, but has been putting on weight.

She says he's still too skinny, and I'm inclined to agree... but I want to ask, HOW much too skinny does he look? Like, does he still have a long way to go before he's a healthy weight again? He was allowed to get completely out of shape, so we're working him gently to recondition him.

I'm sorry this pictures are so bad... my camera sucks, as so my photography skills

I'm going to try and get better pictures tomorrow, I hope. But in the meantime... here's what I have (Oh, I should add, that's my SIL in the pictures):

BornToRide · 06-17-2006, 09:24 PM

still looks skinny... to me i dont really think you should be rider her.. but thats just my opinion.. i would ride untill she gains some more weight!

lowiness · 06-17-2006, 09:26 PM

My SIL was only riding him just to show me how he moves under saddle before I bought him.

BornToRide · 06-17-2006, 09:29 PM

ok... but personally i wouldnt ride him untill he has more weight on.. but he is on the skinny side! very nice looking tho!

kellidahorsegirl · 06-17-2006, 09:30 PM

Wow, he's a big boy

I would say there is quite a bit more weight to put on him, but also, the added muscle will help tons too. I might suggest doing ground driving or lunging with sidereins or whatever floats your boat to work on his topline muscling from the ground. This way, you can save his back (since he's that skinny, it could make him sore) and still be working his muscles slowly.

He's a very handsome boy. How old is he? (I didn't notice if you said)....big horses like that can be kinda hard to keep weight on, add to that, he's a TB, add to that, he could be older(don't know yet, but that would definately be a factor). Keep us posted

lowiness · 06-17-2006, 09:34 PM

I'll have to double check the exact age, but he is an older horse. Upper teens, I believe. Once he gains weight and gets back into shape he'll be perfect for our needs. A sweet, gentle horse for my daughter to learn on.

JBandRio · 06-18-2006, 06:53 AM

Yes, he is underweight. Not horribly, but could use a good.....75lb? 100lb for his bigger frame? Hard to say. Keep in mind also he's undermuscled as well.

If you are a small person, with a saddle that fits and padding that will protect his spine, I don't think he's underweight enough that you couldn't get on and start walking him 20 minutes a day or so. Many horses gain weight better when in some sort of work. TBs especially seem to be like this. No contact with his mouth, just march along at a brisk walk.

What are your plans for his diet? That will make a big difference in how fast and safely he will gain weight.

I wanted to add also that he looks like SUCH a sweet boy, and I hope you have years and years of fun with him!

lowiness · 06-25-2006, 02:43 PM

My SIL is the one working on his weight gain. She's a trainer and breeder and has been doing a good job so far. I haven't discussed his diet in depth with her yet since I do trust her to know what she's doing.

Here are a few pictures I took yesterday:

EquusRider91 · 06-25-2006, 02:52 PM

In the first set of pics it did look like he needed some more weight, but in this last set... he looks fine. He's got weight, but he needs muscle now. I read that your horse is a good weight when you can't see the ribs, but can feel them a little when you run your hand along their barrel. Personally, i <3 pudgy horses.. hahaa.

HorseObsession · 06-25-2006, 03:40 PM

I personally would put more on, because he is "skinny" not "fit". I would build more weight on him before you start to put him to work, then you can take it off while adding muscle. Imho.

06-17-2006, 09:22 PM	#1
lowiness Full Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pueblo, CO Posts: 31 Images: 8	Still too skinny, yes? I recently become the owner of a horse again. Yippee! My SIL is a trainer (and breeder) here and she is selling Loyal Fleet to me. He's a sweet, gentle, old boy. He's a thoroughbred though (according to my SIL, 17h), and most of my experience has been with American Saddlebreds, and YEARS ago. I'm boarding him with my SIL, and I trust her judgement, but I want to learn on my own as well... KWIM? From what I understand of his background, he used to be a champion (but I don't remember in what), but is now retired. My SIL owned him after he retired until she sold him a couple years ago. Unfortunately that owner neglected him, and now my SIL has him back, thankfully. He was grossly skinny, but has been putting on weight. She says he's still too skinny, and I'm inclined to agree... but I want to ask, HOW much too skinny does he look? Like, does he still have a long way to go before he's a healthy weight again? He was allowed to get completely out of shape, so we're working him gently to recondition him. I'm sorry this pictures are so bad... my camera sucks, as so my photography skills I'm going to try and get better pictures tomorrow, I hope. But in the meantime... here's what I have (Oh, I should add, that's my SIL in the pictures): __________________

06-17-2006, 09:24 PM	#2
BornToRide Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 4,009 Images: 192	still looks skinny... to me i dont really think you should be rider her.. but thats just my opinion.. i would ride untill she gains some more weight! __________________ There are times when you can trust a horse, times when you can't and times when you have to. got to get the bagel with the cream cheeze oh the creamy creamy cheeze eh Blistering Winds? lmao

06-17-2006, 09:26 PM	#3
lowiness Full Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pueblo, CO Posts: 31 Images: 8	My SIL was only riding him just to show me how he moves under saddle before I bought him. __________________

06-17-2006, 09:29 PM	#4
BornToRide Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 4,009 Images: 192	ok... but personally i wouldnt ride him untill he has more weight on.. but he is on the skinny side! very nice looking tho! __________________ There are times when you can trust a horse, times when you can't and times when you have to. got to get the bagel with the cream cheeze oh the creamy creamy cheeze eh Blistering Winds? lmao

06-17-2006, 09:30 PM	#5
kellidahorsegirl Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Nebraska Posts: 5,205 Images: 5 Blog Entries: 18	Wow, he's a big boy I would say there is quite a bit more weight to put on him, but also, the added muscle will help tons too. I might suggest doing ground driving or lunging with sidereins or whatever floats your boat to work on his topline muscling from the ground. This way, you can save his back (since he's that skinny, it could make him sore) and still be working his muscles slowly. He's a very handsome boy. How old is he? (I didn't notice if you said)....big horses like that can be kinda hard to keep weight on, add to that, he's a TB, add to that, he could be older(don't know yet, but that would definately be a factor). Keep us posted __________________ Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds. I Love the Backyardigans www.sporthorseartconnection.com

06-17-2006, 09:34 PM	#6
lowiness Full Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pueblo, CO Posts: 31 Images: 8	I'll have to double check the exact age, but he is an older horse. Upper teens, I believe. Once he gains weight and gets back into shape he'll be perfect for our needs. A sweet, gentle horse for my daughter to learn on. __________________

06-18-2006, 06:53 AM	#7
JBandRio Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NC Posts: 23,699 Images: 145 Blog Entries: 12	Yes, he is underweight. Not horribly, but could use a good.....75lb? 100lb for his bigger frame? Hard to say. Keep in mind also he's undermuscled as well. If you are a small person, with a saddle that fits and padding that will protect his spine, I don't think he's underweight enough that you couldn't get on and start walking him 20 minutes a day or so. Many horses gain weight better when in some sort of work. TBs especially seem to be like this. No contact with his mouth, just march along at a brisk walk. What are your plans for his diet? That will make a big difference in how fast and safely he will gain weight. I wanted to add also that he looks like SUCH a sweet boy, and I hope you have years and years of fun with him! __________________ - JB Acres, owned and operated by Dynamite animals. - It's a wonder horses as a whole don't just kill us all and be done with their misery. - Keep your voice soothing and low - even when things get western (buck1173) - You can't hit me with all those snowballs!

06-25-2006, 02:43 PM	#8
lowiness Full Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pueblo, CO Posts: 31 Images: 8	My SIL is the one working on his weight gain. She's a trainer and breeder and has been doing a good job so far. I haven't discussed his diet in depth with her yet since I do trust her to know what she's doing. Here are a few pictures I took yesterday: __________________

06-25-2006, 02:52 PM	#9
EquusRider91 Full Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 213 Images: 12	In the first set of pics it did look like he needed some more weight, but in this last set... he looks fine. He's got weight, but he needs muscle now. I read that your horse is a good weight when you can't see the ribs, but can feel them a little when you run your hand along their barrel. Personally, i <3 pudgy horses.. hahaa.

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