Are my loanees losing interest? Also what to feed fatties?

floradora09

floradora09

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I used to have a 21yr old pony on permanent loan but outgrew him so he's now being loaned by a 11 year old girl and her (non horsey) mum. He shares a field with my new horse so I've been keeping an eye on him.

Firstly, a couple have things have happened which has made me wonder if they're not as committed as I first thought or maybe it's just lack of knowledge. I have to keep reminding them to get him shod regularly as if I don't they leave it a couple of weeks too late until his feet are really longer than they ought to be. Also he is fed morning and evening, and I received a text today asking if I could feed him (which I don't mind), and when I asked if they meant morning or evening, they said whenever suited me. I asked if he was still having two feeds a day and they said 'he still has two feeds a day but today is just having one'. I politely but firmly explained that I would feed am and pm as it wasn't fair to just feed once as he would still be expecting a feed. I know money can be a little tight I think, but it upsets me as I adored him (he was my first pony) and it's tricky to see someone looking after him not as I would have done. Do you think they just don't really understand the importance of regular shoeing/feeding or are they not as committed?

Which also leads me onto...

He's looking rather fat at the moment! He's not being ridden that much (probably about once or twice a week I should think, before the snow!). When I had him he was fully clipped and ridden lots, and he always looked fairly trim. I don't mind him looking porky in the middle of winter but would like him to lose some pounds before spring grass comes though! He's not particularly prone to Lami but it's always a risk with fat ponies! I advise them on feeding etc, and he's currently getting (AM and PM):

1/2 scoop Dengie Alfa A
1/2 scoop Dod+Horrel 16+ mix
1/2 soaked scoop speedi-beet

This was fine when I had him as he was being worked, but I think we should change his feed as he obviously doesn't need all of this! Was thinking happy hoof and a lo-cal balancer? :D

Thanks! :) xxx
 
Hiya,

What breed is your gelding? and how much hay or hayladge are they giving him?
Can you cut his feed in half so he still gets the two feeds he is expecting but half the calories?

ETA - I would also speak to the mother of the 11 year old as I would say the responsibility lies with her! And ask if there are any issues and whether her daughter wants to carry on? It's better to be upfront, than to be dumped on all the time

Chelle x
 
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Thats my thought... in the same breath, you've berated these poor loanees for not overfeeding a horse you consider fat and then asked how to keep the weight off?

Shouldn't be on speedibeet imo, too much sugar if he's only being ridden once or twice.

And I doubt they're bored - but you've effectively loaned it to the child, and children don't understand responsibility. Non-horsey mothers are often ignorant as to what horses need. She may not even know that his hooves grow!!!
 
He's a New Forest. Their field is getting a bale of quite rich hay a day, and there are four in their field in total. Due to the snow I don't want to cut his feed down much at the moment, but will be changing to a more low calorie feedstuff! I also want to try and make sure he's getting all the vits and mins he needs, so will be suggesting to maybe feed some very low calorie chaff and a balancer.

I think the girl is keen still, she's similar to me in that she's come from a non-horsey background and has finally got her first pony after reading books about them for years! :D Although it can be difficult to judge as she is fairly shy (like I was). To be fair when I was getting to grips with the responsibility of looking after my own horse I probably left his feet a week or two longer than they should've been, and maybe they don't quite understand the importance of regular feeding? Tbh, I think it's a bit of a case of them being a little ignorant, and me overreacting because of the whole 'if he was mine... blah blah!' ;)
 
^^ Agree with all the comments above. I doubt she's going off your little pony at all, otherwise her mother would be on the phone sending him back - especially being non-horsey!! This girl sounds how I used to be when I got my first loan horse aged 12. I'd read every book under the sun and it was my dream to have my own horse. Think I was probably a bit too big for my boots looking back, but it was a wonderful experience. She's only young so perhaps a little bit of guidance from your part as you both share the love for horses. My parents aren't particularly horsey, and used to sit in the car and wait for me to MO etc, occasionally do the water/haynet, but they didn't want to be hanging around waiting for me to ride in the week as they had things to do. Perhaps there is a similar situation with your loanee?

As it's been said, his tubby-ness isn't anything to worry about in this current weather, and when the weather starts to cheer up a bit, maybe the girl will ride more often?

I know this is the case for many other horsey-people!

Hope this has helped, don't loose heart in her, I'm sure she loves your pony very much.
 
I think you are being a tad overprotective, which is easily done when you care so much about the pony ;) Am I right in reading that he's not yours, but you used to loan him? if so you could voice any concerns to his owners to deal with his current loanees.

RE the feeding, why don't you see if your local feed rep will come out to pay 'you' a visit to advise you, and then get them in on it for their horse - lead by example? If not a visit then maybe you could stage it as if you are ringing a feed company anyway, and did they want you to ask about their pony at the same time? Email conformation afterwards would be idea, something you can print off and show them :)
 
Thanks everyone! :) I'm more than ready to admit I'm probably a little overprotective (although have been trying hard not to be! :p). I'm not worried about his weight at the moment because it's winter, and there have been winters when we've struggled to keep weight on so not complaining at all! But I might contact a feed advice company and ask what they suggest. By no means is he overly fat, and I haven't said anything to them about his feed, but was just thinking ahead (wishfully!) about what I might need to do come spring.

Yuletide_Gal, the beet he is on is very high fibre/low sugar, as it's unmolassed and 95% sugar free (and approved by lami trust). He just has a little in the winter to bulk and warm his feed a bit.
 
no advice on the loanees but regading the feed... If he is fat you do need to do something about it now. There are only two months til the grass starts coming through.

personally I would have him on:

Hi-fi lite
speedi-beet
and a broad spec vit and min supp.

You don't say how big he is but baring in mind my 17hh 3 year old CB is on similar quantities to your pony (albeit with more hay), I think you can afford to cut down a bit! actually by removing the mix and changing to a 'lite' chaff, I'd say you'll be cutting quantity enough.
 
Ok, was reading up a little about lami and was wondering whether I ought to take action now!! Thinking about Happy Hoof or Dengie Healthy Hooves? Will chat to them when I see them soon. :) xx

Edit, sorry he's 14.1h
 
Yuletide_Gal said:
but you've effectively loaned it to the child, and children don't understand responsibility!!!
Click to expand...

i don't agree with this i am 14 and have kept my horse on diy livery for 2 years, I feed him myself every day, take full responsibility of him and pay most of the bills myself. so i wouldn't say that all children don't understamd responsibility but agree that some don't!!
 
horsey mad matt said:
i don't agree with this i am 14 and have kept my horse on diy livery for 2 years, I feed him myself every day, take full responsibility of him and pay most of the bills myself. so i wouldn't say that all children don't understamd responsibility but agree that some don't!!
Click to expand...

Can you pop over & speak to the 14yr old who professes to 'love' my pony that she has on loan in my yard?
She's been down twice in the past 2 weeks despite school being closed 4 of the final 6 days of term. Mother has been some of the time to her horse & was last up on the 23rd (see another thread where I've groaned about doing it over this xmas weekend).

I've already made up my mind about finishing the loan but didn't want to 'spoil' xmas (for myself really, as didn't want them whinging on the phone) so the news will be given at the end of the month (this week).

Back to the OP - I'd drop the beet & carry on with the rest - maybe 'up' the hi-fi & drop some of the mix a bit if he isn't being ridden? Good luck missus :) (and sorry for ranty-whinge on your thread xx)
 
Could you please clarifity if you own this pony before I respond as I'm a little confused, you say you had him on loan yourself and now they have him on loan?????? x
 
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Personally, id take him off alfa a and cut down his mix. i dont see a problem with feeing a handful (dry weight) of speedibeet. You might see a difference without having to swap to happy hoof or healthy hooves. Though if you really are adamant, i prefer happy hoof!

x
 
I'm also a bit confused, he used to be your loan horse whom you are now loaning out? If is the case then I would contact his owner.

If he is your horse, might I suggest that if you have the time, ask the mother if the daughter could spend a day with you where you give her the confidence and advice to do it herself.
 
I had him for nearly four years on a permanent loan agreement, as we hardly saw his owner and it was left pretty much as if we owned him. When I got my horse and could no longer afford or have time for two ponies we called owner to let her know, but told her we knew of someone who'd like to loan him out. She said that was fine and that she'd give them a call to chat to mother. It's really been left that they're loaning him from her (obviously), but I'm to keep an eye on him and suggest feeds/rugs and prompt them about farrier and generally making sure everything is Ok.

I've come to the decision that I don't think they're losing interest, but maybe my over-protectiveness combined with their lack of knowledge! I'll keep an eye on him and if I have any major concerns will talk to owner.

Thanks for the advice everyone, I'm thinking I'll cut down mix (and eventually take it out entirely if he's not being ridden much), carry on with beet as it's just fibre really, and change his chop to a 'lighter' alternative and feed a vit/min suppplement.
 
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