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Post by Podge on Jun 6, 2010 14:55:28 GMT
Is it true judges are going to penalise fat ponies this year?
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Post by diane on Jun 6, 2010 15:06:57 GMT
Well we are half way through the Show season so has anyone seen evidence of this?
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Post by mcw on Jun 6, 2010 15:37:37 GMT
yes, i have seen in FR M&M classes, a little girl on her pony was marked because her pony was tubby x
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Post by sophieandcallum on Jun 6, 2010 15:45:20 GMT
I think some judges will and some won't.....I hope it changes this 'show condition' rubbish.
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Post by diane on Jun 6, 2010 16:21:13 GMT
Are we talking Ridden or In Hand here...or both?
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kk
Full Member
Posts: 280
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Post by kk on Jun 6, 2010 16:41:32 GMT
Apparently a coloured got asked to leave the ring Bath and West for being completely obese...
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Post by sophieandcallum on Jun 6, 2010 16:51:29 GMT
Both diane, I don't think it's acceptable for any animal to be obese whether they are shown in hand or ridden.
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Post by somearenot on Jun 6, 2010 16:59:47 GMT
Some judges are definitley not placing them down, totally obese highland and sec A under same judge last weekend, covered in fat pads, only youngsters too, top of line. Poor animals will be crippled in time, no doubt.
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Post by diane on Jun 6, 2010 17:13:51 GMT
Think this topic and similar threads will run and run! I must admit my show stock carry more weight than the field stock (and condition) but I do not consider them to be obese. A lot of my youngstock show in hand for 3 years then go on to do the ridden work and have had no problems in doing that transition.
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Post by bumblebeexx on Jun 6, 2010 17:58:43 GMT
lots of fat ponies at top of line today (verging on obese) they looked like bulls x
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Post by ella88 on Jun 6, 2010 18:27:10 GMT
We have been marked down and even had comments from judges caus weight spoilt the picture, so yes it is taking place!!
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Post by sageandonion on Jun 6, 2010 19:04:25 GMT
I don't wish to be mean ella guest, but thank goodness for that. Good luck with your pony's diet.
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Post by cg on Jun 6, 2010 19:35:52 GMT
defo taking place! my conf makrs been down cuz mine slighty tubby!!
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Post by cuddles on Jun 6, 2010 19:56:27 GMT
i havent noticed it happening!
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Post by ella88 on Jun 6, 2010 20:13:23 GMT
No offence taken, gutted though as all last year couldn't get weight on - then this year too much..on the ryvita now!!
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Post by loulou25 on Jun 6, 2010 20:23:53 GMT
I have noticed this happening too! I think there is a big change on the horizon!
Im with you Diane, my mare is in 'show condition' However she is not fat.
I also think there is a difference between being fat and fit and being fat and unfit. I know my mare has an hour of hard work pretty much everyday!
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Post by Barb on Jun 6, 2010 20:45:56 GMT
Saw lots of saggy tummies at the top of the lead rein at East Angliia yesterday and in the Olympia classes there and at uttoxeter.
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Post by sophieandcallum on Jun 6, 2010 20:54:55 GMT
I'm not saying 'show condition' should be fat, but that was the impression people would take and I have had judges say my pony could do with a little more condition...when he has a nice topline, well muscled and looks spot on to me so I ignore it
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Post by Guestless on Jun 7, 2010 8:50:38 GMT
I was warned not to let one of mine get any fatter at the weekend - I couldn't agree more, but he is already in his stable 16 hours a day.....I'm going to lessen his time out but he's not going to be a happy bunny!
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Post by sageandonion on Jun 7, 2010 9:12:09 GMT
It is an absolute battle with the natives. My chap is about right, but it has taken me a year and a half to get him that way. this involves treating them like laminitics all year round and restricting even in the depths of winter. A year and a half to get it off, I imagine one week would put it all back on, but he looks great with a figure and his movement is fabulous without the lard.
Can we stop using this term 'show condition', it basically means fat not fit. If anyone says mine look 'well' I am worried, but 'show condition' is a no no.
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Post by heathers on Jun 7, 2010 9:30:06 GMT
two judges told me to put more weight on my section a yearling colt. NO CHANCE, i think he is a bit podgy as it is.
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Post by hollycane on Jun 7, 2010 9:43:33 GMT
I have been telling lots of people with fat horses to do something about it. I never stop and a horse I have met twice this season was put down specifically because of it. The rider agreed and apologised. But folks, don't starve them, work them. Starving equals fat storage/famine mode. Fat needs to be used up by using it as energy. It's cruel to constantly starve them when good, sensible work should be creating the muscled condition judges want to see.
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Post by lips36 on Jun 7, 2010 10:21:02 GMT
My mare gained loads last yr and she was being worked quiet hard she won her classes but a couple of judges did say i need to get weight off her which i agreed but was harder than i thought to get it off this yr i have purchased a grazing muzzle of which she is turned out in and stabled at night 5 days before a show and fed hay and she is looking OK , but i haven't won any classes this year :~(( just keep trying hey . and she not a pony she a warmblood/TB so thought she would be naturally slim
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Post by sophieandcallum on Jun 7, 2010 10:34:30 GMT
Agree completely hollycane my lad is out 24/7 and worked 1-2 hours a day (hacking) to keep him looking well, it's definately not easy but keeping him in would cause him to go insane!
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Post by cg on Jun 7, 2010 13:00:49 GMT
I have a 15hh non native coloured pony who gains weight like anything!! But trying to keep his coat well and giving ihm enough energy with not a lot of weight is so difficult!! he is in a lot of work! and although judges havent said he is fat in the last few shows he still needs to get some off to get higher conformation marks!! because at equifest last year he was awarded a 47 mark for conf and we have scored above 30 so far!!! any tips? x
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Post by brt on Jun 7, 2010 13:07:56 GMT
Yes i was told by a judge last week that although he really liked my Section A he couldn't place her as judges were under so much pressure and it set a trend for fat ponies. i was suprised when he pulled me in 5th as i thought we would be unplaced. Yes she is fat and yes he is right. But i will keep taking her as i would prefer her to be getting her out rather than sitting in the starvation paddock day after day. She has no feed and gets minimal grazing through her muzzle, don't know what else to do.
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Post by bowditchblobs on Jun 7, 2010 14:34:28 GMT
I sympathise i had a fat fat shp who is now out on loan, she lives on nothing, my fell lives on fresh air to, i wont even mention my shetland!!!!! My fell is worked hard to, no judge yet has said he is to fat but im waiting, i have no grazing at all as well, he has a handful of happy hoof which has his top spec calmer in. Natives are a night mare!!!! But i wouldnt want to feed up a thinny either!!!!
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Post by sageandonion on Jun 7, 2010 14:34:32 GMT
cg I would have a blood test next time your vet visits.
I don't know whether this is coincidence, but I struggled big time with my lump of lard, he is(was) the type that you have to almost stretch out the folds to clip. Careful rationing almost to the ounce for hay and feed combined with work. I do make sure a balancer is fed to the recommended levels. It came off, but sort of stuck at a plateau and I could not get rid of the love handles behind the shoulder. And he was a lazy lard as well, so he had oats and spurs.
Then started having him professionally schooled once a week, only for half an hour. Within two sessions he was totally off the leg (no oats, no spurs) and that was when his shape began to change. With the different, more technical type of dressage work as well as learning to jump, it was as if his metabolism changed and fired up. He is up to elementary dressage movements at home and jumps on his lite chop and balancer so I am delighted having despaired.
So maybe a change in activity might suit your ponies.
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Post by Enlargened on Jun 7, 2010 16:38:15 GMT
At a show up in Scotland at the weekend the judges were most certainly not placing fat ponies down the line! The large M&M winner looked fab, the 2nd place was so obese you couldn't tell it's head from its neck, its neck from its shoulders, its shoulders from is body and its body from its bum - it was rather disgusting! Some of the Highlands up here are far too large and don't get me started on the Hunters! Though I did notice that most of the kids first ridden, WHP and small open ridden ponies looked good - the kids obviously do far more work with their ponies than the adults do!
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Post by 4emms on Jun 7, 2010 17:41:31 GMT
I saw a judge verbally attacked by one mum a few weeks ago purely because she told the child that she had to mark her pony down in a veteran IH class because it was carrying far too much weight for its frame and joints. It got so bad that the judge ended up being substituted for the rest of the day as was so upset. So it seems that some judges are trying but not all competitors are taking it on board.
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