Am I Cruel? What Would You Do?

I am not on a yard but have 2 fat horses, lots of good grass and a problem, our 18yr old is arthritic and rugged up but my lad is unrugged and both are only on hay, 1 haynet overnight.
Last year my lad had breakfast and supper plus hay but poor grazing, since bringing them home I need to get tough, hence only the hay, this summer they were in through the day, out at night but didn't lose any weight, so I'm hoping they start spring a good weight.
I wouldn't stand for anyone interfereing with my horses
 
Seriously, I would be livid if others fed my horse fattening treats.

Could you tell the vet what is happening, and ask them to write a letter on headed paper, saying that the horse is overweight and on a diet suggested by themselves... Then laminate the letter and pin it on the door of the stable with a huge note saying do not feed for medical reasons.
 
I had one here that still put on weight despite a diet of 100% barley straw and no hard feed except a Red Rocky!

Try the Blue Cross. They produce some excellent leaflets and sent some to me free which we had great fun fixing on the pens of obese ponies at local shows when no one was looking!:D Some people just do not get it. Blue Cross is one charity I would support, they speak a lot of sense.

http://www.bluecross.org.uk/80161/fat-horse-slim.html
 
To shift weight on an overweight horse I would stable for part of the day/night and feed weighed out soaked hay in a small holed net and possible supplement with some straw if the horse was ok with this health wise. I would turnout for the other hay of the day/night on restricted grazing or in a muzzle - although I would not use one on my horse, he is better off strip grazed.
Possibly some chaff if the horse needs supplements and plenty of exercise.
Not overly keen on the clipping thing to loose weight but depends on their level of work they are in. I prefer to leave my lad in his own hair but not rug up at all, really helps him maintain his weight through the winter.
 
Agree with Cyprates.

My WB is a very good doer, she is in the very long process of being backed (has issues) but the one sure way of her keeping her weight down over winter is to clip her.

She is not cold under her rugs, a medium weight when its 3 degrees and above and one standard neck quilt on at nigth unless its in the minus then she has a cozy on under. Her body uses what fat it's got to keep her warm and her weight down.

OP you are being very kind, tho unless he needs it u wouldn't be feeding him the good doer.

Maybe say to the other liveries that if he gets lami because of they are 'helping him' by feeding him they can split the vets bill between them because obviously they know better!

I like the idea of getting vet to print a letter headed letter.
 
if you feed magnesium it helps the body regulate insulin and makes a big difference getting rid of the stubborn fat deposits that go hand in hand with really fat horses. my sec A was on loan and came back so fat i didnt even recognise him, hes been having mag ox heavy for the last 6 months and he now shifted all the fat that just wouldnt budge from the crest and shoulders:)
 
Mine only gets a morning bucket feed if she has been stabled over night, if she has been out at grass then grass is all she gets - you are not being cruel!

I agree with whoever said about putting a notice up warning people not to feed him, you could even put on the notice that it is such an important diet he is on that CCTV is in operation to catch culprits?! I have sign on my field gates (they go straight on to a road) saying I have CCTV and that horses are chipped and easily traceable (even though I have neither CCTV or microchips!) but it deters thieves, and I imagine something like that will deter all these idiots thinking they know best.

You could also add on your notice that if anyone is willing to foot the vet bills when he colics/gets laminitis then to go ahead...
 
Wow! i would not be happy with these other people feeding your horse. Obviosuly clueless & dangerous, horses dont need to be piled with food. What youre feeding him seems fine and clipping is not an issue either, he has a rug on so whats their issue???. Perhaps no feed, maybe some carrots in a bowl so he thinks he has had something if all the others are fed around the same time just so he doesnt feel left out ;)

Sounds like you are being very sensible...keep at it! hope she shifts it soon :)
 
The rugging depends on the horse, my lad is fully clipped and in a medium weight and is toasty, was actually a bit cross to find that someone had put a fleece on underneath it one night - one sweaty horse in the morning and one unhappy owner!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top