Sophstar
Well-Known Member
I have been the owner of a fat pony and like every one learn as you go through ownership of any horse and pony. My fat cob is no longer fat. In fact from the 600kg+ he used to be nearly 3 years ago he is now looking amazing with a trim waistline of around 518kg for his 15hh frame and along with my other pony, I can proudly say they are some of the slimmest at my yard. My little pony is slightly underweight but I am happy to keep him slightly below his desired weight until I need to put some meat on for winter. Cushings and proving to be lami prone, his waistline is watched daily. Both are reaping the benefits of their svelte figures especially with the old joints and they aren't struggling with the respiratory allergies quite as much this year. No they don't LOVE their routine of living in muzzles apart from an hour twice daily to nibble and roam round a bare paddock but it's working. Tough love has been the only option with muzzles being put on from late March.
What concerns me is the relaxed attitude people have with their fat and in 1 livery's case, grossly obese ponies. The youngster I have helped back is fat, but the owner continually says 'I know your fat but here have a tub load of carrots.' One livery 'yeh, the vet said she was fat but that's just her.' Another woman on our yard has 3 ponies on a lush 3 acre paddock, 2 of them muzzled on the odd occasion but her mare who is unmuzzled because 'she's her baby' can't canter she's so fat. How her pedal bone hasn't gone through her sole or her heart hasn't given in yet I'll never know. Yet this woman says daily 'They just don't have enough land. They are going to run out by winter.'
I don't mind my ponies having a healthy covering in the winter as they live out 24/7 but what makes people think it's ok to ignore a dangerous sized waistline?! On their ponies obviously!
What concerns me is the relaxed attitude people have with their fat and in 1 livery's case, grossly obese ponies. The youngster I have helped back is fat, but the owner continually says 'I know your fat but here have a tub load of carrots.' One livery 'yeh, the vet said she was fat but that's just her.' Another woman on our yard has 3 ponies on a lush 3 acre paddock, 2 of them muzzled on the odd occasion but her mare who is unmuzzled because 'she's her baby' can't canter she's so fat. How her pedal bone hasn't gone through her sole or her heart hasn't given in yet I'll never know. Yet this woman says daily 'They just don't have enough land. They are going to run out by winter.'
I don't mind my ponies having a healthy covering in the winter as they live out 24/7 but what makes people think it's ok to ignore a dangerous sized waistline?! On their ponies obviously!