I also think the horse needs substantially more weight before going to work. And I’m an expert on putting weight on horses with a fast metabolism. This isn’t a horse that should be ridden much at this point, in my opinion. she can get muscle from ground work and longeing, but she needs a topline and some wieght overall. Hopefully this is just early days, but I wouldn’t put a saddle on that back.
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While it’s not “expected” it’s not unexpected either. Breeds have a type. There are exceptions to the type, sure, but saying that saddlebreds aren’t [generally] ever going to be beefcakes isn’t inaccurate. Particularly when it comes to their necks.
Huh?
Typo, not enough coffee. Corrected, thanks!
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Nodding from the opposite end of the peanut gallery with a Fjord tanker.
Im sorry you are going through this, I went through one myself in 2018. I leased a horse in 2019 and got my fjord in 2020 (amazing what not having a dependent adult anymore does for ones finances), and that was the best decision I made. Both the divorce and the horse 
It sucks when your going through it, but you have Honey and a horse community and both will 100% help!
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We’re going to have to agree to disagree. When ASBs are worked correctly as sport horses, they bulk up along their entire toplines, including their necks. Show horses are expected to have “thinner” necks, because that’s the only way that they can put their heads where they have to for the show ring. Most people have only seen show horses, not correctly worked and fed sport horses.
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Maybe. I’ve seen both, and none of the ones I have personally seen would I call “built like a warmblood” or anything close.
The thin neck is actually part of the breed description from multiple websites FWIW.
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That’s why I did the comparison of ASBs to warmbloods.
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Which is provided by the show horse world.
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Which is, like it or not, applicable to nearly everything. The bloodlines are pervasive. You can’t make a naturally thick necked horse have a thin one, so it has to be bred for.
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Yes, they can. But they will never start looking like a heavy halter QH or Fjord.
Personally, I think the ASB neck makes it good for dressage, because the horse can put the head into position admired by the judges, without causing any decrease in airflow. In other words, the horse can still breath no matter where his head is.
My 2¢
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This is Frosted Gem. She’s 21. She arrived in April in poor condition. She was on the road for 10 years. You can refeed them and bring them back. The OP is doing what she can do in a boarding situation. It will take time.
Sorry for the hijack. My heart goes out to the OP. It’s never easy to go through parting ways.
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As long as the thread is already hijhacked, 
here’s a picture of my “little” yearling pudding, Onyx. (Yes, she makes a mess)
Who knows what the future holds for my little goodie-mooch-bum. Fates willing, nothing but good.
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Is this the Great Day filly?
Yes.
Good cross. I hope that you can get your mare back in foal next Spring!
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What a beauty!
Hehe!
Thank you. I think this is ultimately for the best
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They say that it is always ultimately for the best, but it still sucks at the time.
I feel like I’m the poster child for it being ultimately the best. To the point when people found out and said they were sorry to hear, I would tell them please don’t be. My ex husbands life decisions at the time expedited and frankly made it an easy call on my end to walk away faster from what would have undoubtedly ended in divorce a few more years down the road. Those years brought me financial freedom, my fjord, and my now husband of almost 3 full weeks.
For the “going through” try and stay positive, do things that bring you joy and surround yourself with good people. I’m a realist at heart and found that all to help me tremendously.
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