Henry the Handyman did make a pretty significant improvement over 90 days too, but he was less starving and more thin and under conditioned.
Bo does fit this comparison much better. Just plain skinny, now looking great.
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And each horse has his/her own personal metabolism. Honey will put weight on at her pace. Bo puts weight on at his. AND, he is a much heavier type to begin with. OP is doing fine. Honey will add weight at her own pace and faster isn’t necessarily better.
There is no “I Dream of Jeannie” blink or “Bewitched” nose wiggle that will magickly turn the horse into what you want, instantaneously.
Lighten up.
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Do you have a point where you think it is taking too long?
Just curious.
How long is too long to go up one BCS number?
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Yes each horse has its own personal metabolism. That we will agree. There it ends.
Honey is no better now in the weight department than she was when Honey’s Mom took her into her care. If anything Honey is worse in the weight department.
I am not being heavy. Lighten up yourself.
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Good grief. People can be infatuated with themselves.
I am not the horse’s vet and have only seen pictures, just like you. Your horse is very tall.
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Have you forgotten your opinion of the vets where you live, and that maybe that might apply in this situation too?
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Which is when most of us would start to consider looking deeper, seeking a specialist or university hospital referral… simple blood work to confirm we’re not missing an easy fix, etc.
Indeed, case in point, haul to Purdue.
🤦
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That’s why I haul to Purdue.
Next.
Does the OP haul to Purdue too?
The point is, there are lots of vets in the world that are no better than the vets near you that you think are not qualified.
So I am confused why here you are insisting that every ignore the photos that are shared which show no improvement and just believe the vet has it all under control.
You don’t like any of the vets near you, that quality of vet is just as likely what the OP has available to them.
You really can not have it both ways.
I personally think Honey looks like a lovely and very kind horse. I do hope the OP gets some further, in real life, hands on, help with her weight and condition issues. There should be a very noticeable improvement at this point if what they are doing is working, and there is not any improvement. Time to try something new, test for things, try a different feed, try more feed, check for ulcers…something.
I also think it is great that the OP took Honey to the show to look around and see life and be support for her friend.
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I’m not entirely disagreeing with needing to try a little of this and a little of that.
But I stand firm that walking this horse under saddle for short rides is NOT hurting her.
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Id argue that her mounting block aversion says otherwise.
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This horse will never, ever, ever look like a beefcake QH or TWH. It’s funny, there was just a post on the vets only FB group about this exact thing, amd that was the common theme. Stop trying to make your saddlebred look like a QH.
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Which has since been resolved, if you read the thread. She’s fine at the block now.
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Or she’s tolerating it because she likes OP. Id bet more money on that. Someone may have just swung up from the ground in the past and REALLY torqued on that back. The mounting block may be less discomfort for her, but I wouldn’t considered it fully resolved with all other current considerations.
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OP
Your mare is indeed a Honey.
A couple of things to consider.
Your mare might have dropped some pounds during the heat wave you had to endure.
On a horse at a good weight it probably wouldn’t be noticeable, but on a horse who still needs to gain some more weight it may standout.
I apologize if I didn’t see it, but have you had her teeth floated?
Teen horses especially need to have their teeth checked.
You may want to, if you haven’t already, had her checked for Cushings or other metabolic disorders. Muscle wasting can be a sign.
( I do not know if SB are prone to Cushings, but you can ask your vet.)
Not to scare you, or throw too much at you, but older horses can be difficult to put weight on correctly and safely .
testing can save you a lot of money and anxiety by pin-pointing what the real problem may be.
You are getting some good advice here. But I think you may be a bit overwhelmed by so many voices that are sometimes contradictory. How does one know who is right?
I am also going to invoke the name of @JB who is a most respected and knowledgeable person about feeding and horse nutrition.
I hope JB will chime in.
Good luck with your sweet mare.
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You think an inexperienced handler resolved PAIN related mounting block issues, because the horse LIKES HER?
I swear to gad, I couldn’t make this stuff up.
Another figment of the imagination. Now the horse is going better under saddle because of luff and cookies, even though she’s in pain. Good grief!!
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Just like her back is a fluffy cloud of comfort?
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Just like a horse will not walk calmly if the saddle is sitting on their spine.
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I see you have never met any stoic horses. Noted.
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