How does my horse look?

Ya, I'd go so far as saying a lack of it in horses started so young & hard appears to be a rarity. I don't think it's fixable & you're right that it doesn't *appear* to cause them any major problems, assuming you're not wanting to turn one into an elite athlete or such, but a chiro or other bodyworker can potentially help with any other issues that may help him get fitter & stronger as a riding horse.

Yes, due to only being able to feed a couple of times daily, that would be one consideration that would cause me to avoid grain/starchy stuff. And I personally respect your attitude about learning very much - think that's one of the most important factors of responsible animal ownership - you can't know you're doing the best for your horse if you just take anyone's advice blindly.

Thanks, loosie! You rock!

I second having his teeth looked at. Hay is good for the nutrition, the silica in pasture grass is what helps to keep their teeth in better condition. Even one bur rubbing in the right spot in their mouth can make it harder for them to really grind their food so that their body can pull all the nutrients out.
Fecal counts are better for worming so that you can get the right wormer for the job, also rotating your wormers so that the parasites don't develop a resistance to the wormers is important.
All hay is not equal, a lot of people sell hay from fields that if you drive by before haying season begins, is filled with weeds.
Your horse looks like a sweetie pie

Photo of the standardbred taken yesterday after a workout

Not the best pic to evaluate, but he looks fine. Those hips are probably another thing that may not change(out of interest, is he worse on one side more than the other & do you know which direction he raced in??) & people might take as him being 'skinny' because they stick out.

Yeah he definitely has those hips. Its typical. When they jog, they go both ways but when they race, they go counter clockwise. Maine tracks are either (I believe) 1/2 mile or mile. 1/2 mile tracks have sharper turns. Here are some pics of all 3 horses taken yesterday

They don't look that bad, they look pretty good to me.

Thanks! I just HATE ribs!

Nothing *necessarily* wrong with seeing ribs(wish I could still see mine!) - doesn't *necessarily* mean a horse is underweight. It's also OK for a horse to get 'a bit light' sometimes too. Far more healthy than staying overweight long term. As with us, horses can generally afford to get fat or thin without suffering health issues, but it's long term overweight, or obesity without regular 'hard seasons' to use up those fat stores, that causes permanent metabolic & other issues.

Step six does miracles! I have a 23 yr old thourghbred we couldnt keep weight on but no he's so plump!
Posted via Mobile Device