In your opinion what do you think?

I don't think he looks neglected- I think he looks good for a 3 year old. What breed is he?? Is she used to stocky type QH's and he's a TB?? It could be she's used to seeing a different look to horses and she thinks he's a little thiner than those breeds she's used to seeing. If he were 10 and looked like this I would suggest having the vet look at him because of his lack of muscling but as a 3YO, I think he's fine. You may want to look into putting him on a daily wormer- I use it for all my guys - it just keeps them from getting worms built up in their system between wormings. I have found it very, very good to use with hard to keep horses (I don't know if this guy is or not) and for youngsters. I use Strongid C2X along with a paste wormer every six months.

I don't think he looks neglected or that he needs a lot of extra feed. What he does need to look better is a lot of topline strengthening and muscling up to get rid of the big belly. He doesn't look starved, maybe a little underweight, but nothing horrid. He looks like he's built more slender than a hulking stock horse.

I would pull a fecal on him though if you can't get rid of the big belly.. Even if you have a horse on a good rotational wormer program they can still have worms.

If you feel like he needs some extra weight I would start by feeding him good quality grass hay free choice before adding any extra feed to his program. Free choice hay will also help prevent sand colic since it looks like he's in a dirt pen.

I would say he's just about perfect - for a 3 year old. When he's older and in work, he'll muscle up and look completely different - I bet he'll be a beaut. Lucky you.

Your friend is probably comparing him to older ponies that are in work and have developed muscles and rounded bums ! His neck will gradually build up as well.

Yes I think he looks on the thin side. You said he is 3? How fast is he growing? I would definitely take the advice about the fecal sample to double check on the worms.

He looks like a growing baby. He has probably just had a growth spurt.. He doesn't want to loose any weight. Keep a eye on him. If your vet is happy with him tell her that. as he has seen him in the flesh. (we could also be commenting on a photo taken a while ago and he could have lost weight since then)

It's not that he's thin, he's just a bit under-muscled but that's just because he hasn't started working yet. Fat-wise, he's fine. Muscle-wise he could use some bulking up but that will come with work after you start him.

He's certainly not neglected but none of my 3year olds are that skinny. Try feeding him more high quality hay

He IS thin- your friend is right. He looks like a Thoroughbred type that's hard to keep weight on.

He's for sure not neglected.

He could use a couple more pounds of feed though.