Apparently I'm a cruel owner

Unfortunately, some people are just idiots. It's such a shame that there's so many idiots out there. I don't think you're starving your horse at all - you are being a very responsible owner for monitoring their weight and health in the way you do. I think not monitoring the weight of your horse could be considered as cruel. Obviously you have the best intentions of your horses' well-being. Don't listen to these idiots :p
 
mmmmmm early this yr in january was rumours of me being cruel on yard as my well sized sec d did not get rugged even in minus 8 weather - all changed when had a talk at yard -temp minus 8 - from WHW REP & a vet who basically slapped me on back for regime of no rugs and extra slice hay if below minus or snow on ground mmmmm suddenly lots of horses out next day with no rugs ummmm these were horses that had been smothered by rugs all winter grrrr.WHW reps words "if you have a native esp a good doer DO NOT rug them " this winter she is naked for the boys again and fluffy and healthy x x
 
babymare said:
mmmmmm early this yr in january was rumours of me being cruel on yard as my well sized sec d did not get rugged even in minus 8 weather - all changed when had a talk at yard -temp minus 8 - from WHW REP & a vet who basically slapped me on back for regime of no rugs and extra slice hay if below minus or snow on ground mmmmm suddenly lots of horses out next day with no rugs ummmm these were horses that had been smothered by rugs all winter grrrr.WHW reps words "if you have a native esp a good doer DO NOT rug them " this winter she is naked for the boys again and fluffy and healthy x x
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I had a shetland type which for my sins and my little daughter's pink vanity I put a little cuddly ponies turnout rug on and it buggered his weatherproofing - not a smart idea to mess with nature. If they don't need it, don't rug em.
My daughter's Welshie is out in the lowest of minuses with just his thin one layer t/o so he is dry/clean enough to ride, he is trace clipped and doesn't seem to be losing any of his plentiful FAT!
 
Just ignore the busy bodies!

They are your horses, you know what you are doing and they sound healthy.

Yes a horse who loves his food is going to want to come in when he hears the others getting breakfast but that doesnt mean he is starved!

I hate interfering know it alls!
 
I've been told I'm cruel too :(

My mare has had laminitis and is such a good doer I have to watch her weight like a hawk. She has 1 scoop of Happy Hoof with magnesium morning and night and her hay is weighed and soaked and double netted. I turn her out for 4-5hours with a muzzle, this is why people are calling me cruel. I weigh her every 2weeks and she is just the right weight so I must be doing things right.
 
That's the problem sometimes with livery yards, you get people who can't keep their opinions to theirselves!

If you horses were skin and bone, wasting away and shivering I could understand the concern. But by the sounds of it they are clearly in good condition...maybe too good!

Cobby horses can fair so much better in these winter climates. I used to occasionally "weekend-sit" a shire cross who was turned out for about 12 or just under hours a day and his owners would only rug if it was 2 out of: really wet, really windy or really cold. He grew a lovely long coat (not so much when he started malting) in the winter and was fine.

The horses i look after now live out 24/7 and have a field shelter now but before it was just natural shelter from trees. All the non-horsey people at work ask me "do your horses mind the snow", "your poor horses out in the cold, isn't that mean". I reply "No. THEY ARE LIVING LIKE HORSES SHOULD!". Even our old TB lived out in this manner...he just needed some extra warmth in the winter!
 
Ignore them, what a bunch of numpties, your doing the best for your horses and that`s all that matters!

Hate to think what they`d say about one of mine, i fully clipped her to kick start her weight loss, cut out too much hard feed and the bitch has put on 30kg`s in just over a month :D
 
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