
22/12/2024
"Omg! The horse on the bottom is ribby, he needs more weight "
Guess what...
These two photos were taken on the same day, same time, the horse barely moved between them, but I changed where I was standing when I took it.
There is nothing wrong with this horses weight. But at the right/wrong angle you'll notice different shapes and shadows accentuate different physical features.
Which also means photos taken at the right/wrong angle can make horses for sale look better, or skinny horses look worse, hmm.
So,
Would this horse have to be obese to get full rib cover? Potentially.
Am I going to worry about it? No.
Ribs are not the devil. Some ribs showing are the sign of a healthy horse. Every rib, as well as other bony landmarks sticking out like glittery dogs balls, there is definitely a problem. Even if a horse is rugged and it still looks like a coat hanger under the rug, there is definitely a problem. You get the picture.
A few ribs = good.
Skeleton with a hide on it = bad.
Other things that contribute to ribs showing are time of year and coat thickness and length, you'll be more likely to see ribs in the hotter months as the coats are much shorter and sleeker. If the horse is wet or sweaty etc. The age of the horse and the breed also contribute to what you see as they grow or get older.
I repeat. Ribs are not the devil đ