Does he look pregnant?

[horseless]

Slightly miffed today as you may guess from the title.

Hoover has been out of work since about September beause of my bad back, but I decided that as it was half-term and I was off work, I would start to slowly get back into riding.

He is an absolute mud monster at the moment, so I spent ages brushing him before tacking up and we set off. We only went around the block and then spent 5/10 mins in the outdoor school to find out how (un)supple he was

Got back and one of the women who sometimes helps out with her friends horses came over and asked how he had gone. She then said he was looking well, quite pregnant but well. I was and . I know Hoover is heavier at the moment than I would like him to be but seeing as he hasn't been ridden in 5 months I wasn't too worried. Hes spent the winter rugless and on a sensible amount of haylage.

I weigh his every week or so and the weight tape has been between 450kg and 470kg all winter.

Just wondered if anyone had any comments? Its sometimes hard to tell when you see them everyday. I know he is heavier now than in the first set of photos but I didn't think he was that bad. Hoping to start riding more regularly now, cutting down the haylage and replacing some of it with hay and might start adding cinnamon to his feed as I know others have used it.

Here are some photos of Hoover in October. He'd just been out for a walk and is sporting his trainers!







And here he is today, fresh from rolling in the field. Please excuse the mess, I brush him every morning and every night he comes in looking like this or worse







Oh, and I read somewhere (can't remember where) that horses don't store fat on their stomachs. Is this true or just wishful thinking on my part?

Thanks for looking.

[Squid]

Hello,

I think he definetly has put on weight, but Im sure with more work he'll easily lose it and go back to as he was before.

No idea about the stomach thing!

[CityLights]

a little proky but not pregnant looking at all, at least you can be pretty much 100% sure he isnt!

[fairyfeet]

He's ok for one that has had no work for a few months.
He will look fatter because he'll have lost muscle tone.
Just think, if we do exercise to tone up although we might not lose weight we look thinner.

[lil_legs]

Ignore the silly woman, once back in work his muscles will suck all that back up into place.

[horseless]

Thanks for the replies, I just take it quite personally when someone criticises my boy. He's always going to look chunky and have an apple bum, but we both work hard with his weight. He tolerates the muzzle, the restricted rations and soaked hay in the spring/summer. I'm the one who gets called quite regularly for not rugging him this winter which will then turn into the ' how can you muzzle him?' I'm sure most of it it's said in fun but it's hard to take when it's all the time.

Anyway, thank you again. The oh doesn't listen when I complain lol

[Pie_x]

'Porky' is what you would say slightly on the belly but nothing major! Not anything to worry about, especially as you are controlling his weight as it is and he is coming back into work, it should drop off! He is looking mighty fine as ever!

Hope you continue to have more fun once you get back into riding fully x

[horseless]

Thanks
I only rode for about 15/20 mins the other day and only at a walk. When I got back was
I'd forgotton how much I enjoy spending time with Hoover, rather than just doing all of the jobs.