Bc you posted about why are “we” discounting certain opinions stated here in favor of the vet. So I clarified that I’m discounting the opinion that it’s cruelty to putz around at the walk on this horse
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Can see both sides of not getting on at all or just walking, up to OP and her vet. IMO. IIWM, probably work out some type of round pen, lunge or ground driving routine…she needs some controlled exercise. IMO. Too bad there is no access to a treadmill, that would be perfect.
Do feel strongly Honey is gaining weight at an appropriate rate, based on personal experience and observation. Bringing back starved horses can lead to impaction colic at the 3-4 month point in many. Got a 3k vet bill ( in 1998) to prove that. Vets at a top rated KY vet clinic told me about the time they start to really put weight on, their gut can’t handle the increased intake after years of malnourishment. Since spoken to folks at several good rescues and retirement/ lay up facilities and they echoed that 3-4 month period being a danger zone.
More food is not the answer, supervised diet and gradual weight gain is. IMO the “field trip” to the show was a good choice to brighten up her routine, give her something different to do.
Horses like Honey, IME, are victims of ignorance and often economics. They get thrown out by people who think grass is enough. OP is in an area that has Winter, probably got by on a moldy round bale in icy mud 4-5 months a year, erratic or non existent worming program and bottom rung herd status. Shes
doing great just 90 days into a better life.
OP, know your personal life has been a challenge but…did the former owner ever do her part in getting the ownership transfer through?
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Ok, what about all the other ones.
I gotta go back and read, but I didn’t think this horse was actually starved?
I’m thinking not since OP shared this:
"I’m excited to get to work with riding. So far I’ve had two short rides in the week she’s been home. "
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Pointing out I did not say “cruel” either.
Anyways, I’ve had a vet tell me that my horse was fine and “just a TB”. Turns out he had ulcers and a racehorse metabolism, but I had to find that out for myself. Same with a previous horse, and sometimes I wonder about another. If my vet had been better, what could we have “fixed”? Now, I know how to ask more questions and better ones, partially due to this board and partially due to experience.
The weight tape idea above is fantastic - don’t trust it for exact numbers but it’ll give you an idea of progress. And keep taking conformation photos (with head more level maybe) to compare over time!
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The horse is putting on weight nicely so I’m sure the feed regimen is fine. Horses can take a while to rebuild topline as muscle.
It’s true what’s said upthread about a high head set causing the back to drop. Show saddlebreds can end up being ridden in a “swan neck” which is functionally upside down, and the rack or other 4 best gait can be accentuated by getting the horse to drop and tense the back. Also some saddlebred lines have a congenital tendency to lordosis. I got to see one who looked absolutely freaky but was still sound for trail riding with the right gear.
With a horse like Honey I would want to start teaching her to stretch down and out actively to the bit which will start her lifting her back a bit. And I would want to start doing lateral work in hand at the walk. Partial turn on the forehand building into leg yield and then shoulder in on a circle and straight line, with her head about wither height. Getting her to step under herself will build the stomach muscles that will help raise the back. It’s easy to teach in a rope halter on the ground, and eventually you can transition to under saddle.
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My opinion, based upon experience with re-feeds, is that you want to get weight on, especially if you are heading into winter in a part of the country where it can be brutal. Fitness/muscle, experiences, etc. are all secondary. A horse in pasture, no matter how many blankets, will not have a great winter when underweight. Turnout during the day is one thing, living outside is another.
OP you may view some of these comments as brutal. However, there is so much knowledge here and people do want to see you and Honey succeed.
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Oh…while we are at it, OP? Have you had a fecal done on her ( examining a poop sample for worms, segments or eggs)? Its not expensive and should be done at 8-12 week intervals after acquiring a horse with little or no vet history. Shes joining a herd soon too, be good to see what she may be hosting before moving in.
Some vets will let owners collect their own samples and drop them by the office. Cant hurt to ask.
Parasites are not always obvious to the eye but they sure don’t help
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What, other opinions stated here? I didn’t challenge any statements other than it’s cruelty to ride this horse about at the walk / trot as done under OP’s vet’s guidance.
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I didn’t say you did. I said I disagreed that it was cruel to ride this horse and then in conversation pointed out some differences between your present situation and that of OP.
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Ah, I misunderstood your response. Sorry about that!
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No worries, nothing to be sorry about. It’s a discussion board and we are discussing! Sometimes quite rapidly and in multiple directions!
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No, not in the way Bo and Matilda were, far as we know anyway. But ribs don’t have to be sticking out for long term malnourishment to take its toll. She was pretty dull all the way around and definitely underweight…yet the seller told OP if she didn’t take her, seller was going to show her the next weekend 
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Every single one of the photos in this post feature that shelf, including those where she’s no doing the upheaded ASB thing. I have TWHs, I know upheaded 
I think I’d be pouring the feed and hay to her (as you are), doing body work and carrot stretches (we already chatted about that) and working her over cavaletti on the longe line to get her using herself. I would not personally feel it’s FAIR to be sitting on a shelf of ribs, no matter how padded up.
I’m not the only one recalling the mounting block wiggles and rearing, right?
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Ah here’s me and my then baby TWH since @endlessclimb is confident that no one on the planet knows any upheaded horses
everyone say hi to baby Magpie.
I redacted the word “Cruel” and I wish I hadn’t put it that way, as it took on a life of its own. I do wish I’d said “UNKIND” to an obviously much loved and sweet horse. I apologize for using the word cruel.
Carry on.
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Yes, I think most of us saw that and recognized it was eye roll worthy.
The previous owner was clearly out there in terms of what she thought was fair to the horse.
That was pretty far at one end of the spectrum.
That doesn’t mean that now, with very little improvement, it may be time to consider what’s missing that’s limiting her.
Again a weight tape would give us a better idea of progress rather than relying on pictures.
But we’ve seen many angles in those pics, and to me they don’t show the progress I’d hope to see.
Not from too thin to fat, which obviously would be unreasonable.
Rather, after three months improvement, as a latecomer to the story… progress that wouldn’t make me question all the things I personally question about this horses situation; what and how much feed, how thoroughly the vet has looked for underlying issues, and the wisdom of riding her even lightly.
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TWH and saddlebreds are not built even REMOTELY the same. Might as well compare Honey to a halter QH.
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Thank you for editing / redacting and posting again graciously towards the OP
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Are you going to contribute or just troll?
But you’re just a horse of course. Hardy har har.
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