She's a Gotland - not a lot of natural muscling. This spring while I was conditioning the 12yo mare for distance riding, all us Gotland riders would gather around the mare, poking at the strange hard lumps on her shoulders and haunches and saying "What is that?.... Is that what they call a "muscle"?!" While Gotlands are very strong for their size, unless they are in daily work - farm work, they are... well padded and you cannot see the muscle. They also lack in the large second thigh you are used to seeing with your stock horses. And they have a small butt. Luckily Narra has a much more significant motor and muscling than most young Gotlands. Scary thought, eh?

She is on mineral - a ration balencer. Has been since 4 months old. But she was also on mostly hay back then, so that is some of the belly. Thanks for the info on the poor grazing = hay belly. I am working on my fences right now (presently unsafe) so I can bring her home to better grazing. Right now we I am going over and spending 1-2 hours; working with her and hand grazing. On the bright side, her manners have improved lately. She also got her first bath last night. Now she is even lighter coloured! She also has a metallic sheen to her brown points, very cool. Only ever seen that colouring, except on a Teke, before.

She does not have a galloping buddy. Her buddy in the herd is actually my 12yo mare. Who is pretty playful, but not exactly a yearling anymore. I hope to begin ponying the filly once the sloughs out back dry up. We have trails winding through the back 120 acres that are easy to pony a horse in. I've done it before, and they are both good with it. Thanks for the kick-in-the-butt to do it!

She has now been double wormed. I'll start the probios in 3 days, so she will be able to better digest her food.

Maybe I'll try for better photos to see confo.