Are they looking ok?

MrsElle

MrsElle

Well-Known Member
Joined
21 November 2008
Messages
6,183
Location
Back Where My Heart Is :)
Visit site
Otherwise titled 'Gratuitous photo's of my lads' :D :D :D

Seriously though, I do constantly worry about them being over/under weight and would like an objective opinion.

Blue:

Photo1270.jpg


Photo1263.jpg


Photo1235.jpg


Jack:

Photo1238.jpg


BH:

Photo1239-1.jpg


BH's gob. Don't know what he did, but it must have been very sore.

Photo1250.jpg


The three boys:

Photo1258.jpg
 
Last edited:
Blue looks allright, bit chunky but he can get away with it.
The Shetty's are looking chunky or is it just hair. Try feeling their ribs, if you can't feel them, then they are chunky.
 
The Shetty's have quite a good winter coat already so are looking chunkier than they are. You can feel their ribs (just!) if you have a good poke about into their coat.

Blue is still a bit bony around the hips but think that is more to do with lack of muscle, he is going to be introduced to lunging this week........ :)

He is on literally two handfuls of barley rings a day, the Shetts get absolutely nothing.

Thanks for your opinions :D
 
Crikey, BH's mouth looks sore :( What does your vet say? I'm also wondering when he was last wormed? It might be a good idea to dose him.

Jack looks quite porky. I would be a little worried about that. Maybe you should think about restricting the shetlands' grass? I don't let my 16hh warmblood on grass like that at the mo as I worry about her weight.

Blue looks fine though, IMO :)

What happened to Chad? Is he still with you?
 
The photo of BH's mouth was taken a few days ago and is healing nicely with the aid of menuka honey, which he really likes!

They were all wormed two weeks ago and your point about the grazing is a good one - they were moved to a paddock with less grass today but it still probably has more than they need so will tape them a smaller section off tomorrow :)

I have given up riding so sold chad earlier in the year. Blue is being broken to drive and when his mane and tail grow back he will be shown in hand
 
They do all look a bit on the podgy side to me, although it is difficult to tell in a photo of their winter coats. Do you regularly use a weight tape to monitor them? I don't think that they are particularly accurate but they do allow you to monitor weight gain/loss. I doubt that they really need hay with all that grass. In fact I think I'd probably strip graze. You really don't want laminitis - and it is possible at any time of year.
 
How old is the grey? If a youngster (3 years and under it looks fine) if older, then it needs more condition. The small ponies are plenty fat enough, and don't need to be on the same paddock as the grey. What is going on with the sores on the mouth? All of the ponies need worming.
 
Has the grey got sweet itch? Having had another look at your photos - his tail looks a bit rubbed and the mane looks slightly odd as well........In chunks and sticking up......
My post (and the one before) now sounds V negative - sorry, not meant to, but you did ask for a critique of the ponies........and those sores on the mouth of one, does not look good at all.......
Did you have the elderly horse, that was subject of 1,000's of posts a couple of months ago?
 
MrsElle said:
The photo of BH's mouth was taken a few days ago and is healing nicely with the aid of menuka honey, which he really likes!

They were all wormed two weeks ago and your point about the grazing is a good one - they were moved to a paddock with less grass today but it still probably has more than they need so will tape them a smaller section off tomorrow :)
Click to expand...

It's worth taking note of Mrs M's thread here:

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=412118

As that is some very rich looking grass for shetlands. I'm don't know if your new paddock is as green, but I personally wouldn't want little ponies on such good grass (In fact I'm currently not allowing my biggies on it!!)


I have given up riding so sold chad earlier in the year. Blue is being broken to drive and when his mane and tail grow back he will be shown in hand
Click to expand...

Oh, I didn't realise that you'd got rid of Chad. How sad. :o
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top