Condition depreciation after loss of friend :(

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VixieTrix

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we lost out beautiful mare Misty on Sunday :(

Unfortunately she was Blue's best friend and field mate. He seems ... ok at the moment.Pretty normal just a tad down.

I've been spending lots of time just being with him and I think that's helping. In the stable and field next door he has Pogo, they get on just fine and have known eachother for years so he's got company. (we do plan to find another friend for him soon)

He is eating EVERYTHING i put in front of him, more than normal sometimes. But he seems to in three short days have lost so much condition! he's not fit, so he doesn't have much muscle, he just seems shrunken somehow :( it's hard to explain just that his head seems too big and he looks out of proportion!
. I'm hoping it's just grief and he'll get better. but anyone got any ideas on what I can do?

Going to keep taking him for short walks until he feels better for longer ones / riding, plus I'm still keeping him stabled overnight and rugged up warm as he's been a tad tucked up. He's 22 this year i REALLY don't want this to be the start of him going downhill!

Sorry this is all jumbled but anyone have any ideas on how i can help him?

thank you xxx
 
I'm sorry to hear about Misty :(
Blue sounds very much like my mare when she lost her lifelong friend and mentor - she went from hero to zero almost overnight. She carried on eating but was obviously utterly heartbroken. It was so sad to see and it didn't help that I was also heartbroken :(

The tucking up would be something I would keep an eye on, I would always think pain first if it was unexpected but it could well be stress. Seems like you are doing all the right things, keeping him occupied and active.
Poor chap though, it is horrible to see them like that isn't it.

My mare gradually pulled back, but I think a little bit of her went with her friend. I let her back in to the front field the other day, first time for a year (it was where my pony was pts) and she went straight to the spot.

Hopefully a bit of sunshine and spring grass will help him.
 
Thank you for your reply it's nice to have a bit of support :) you just worry you are doing the right things don't you !

I'm just going to try and keep going with gentle exercise, warm rugs and lots of time with him. Maybe take him for some nice grass in a few days. (if he's stressed don't want to risk upsetting his tummy)

He eats happy hoof, hi fibre chaff and dodson and horrell build up cubes twice a day (same diet for a few years now). He's always done well but i might get him a basic vit supplement at the weekend and possible some linseed - just a small amount.

xxx
 
Is it worth trying something herbal such as Rescue Remedy?

Hopefully he'll pick up soon, ours were 'off' for a couple of weeks after their herd boss was PTS :(
 
I know it sounds mad, but could you send him off somewhere for a little "holiday" and a change of scenery?

When I lost one of my ponies, the other one was going nuts. She wouldn't stop crying for him in her stable (and she pretended she didn't even like him most of the time!). We were going on holiday shortly after, and she went off to her holiday home (kept them at home). When we came back 3 weeks later, she was absolutely fine. I don't know whether she would have got over it anyway in that time, or whether sending her somewhere she didn't associate with him (they'd only been to that yard once or twice together before) did help.

Sorry for your loss :(
 
That's a really good idea thank you ! My friend has a field down the road with her two horses, I may ask if he can go there for a week when the weather gets a little better. I'll still get to see him twice a day but a change of scene and mooching around might do him good! x
 
VixieTrix said:
That's a really good idea thank you ! My friend has a field down the road with her two horses, I may ask if he can go there for a week when the weather gets a little better. I'll still get to see him twice a day but a change of scene and mooching around might do him good! x
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I think this is a really lovely idea. It will help take his mind off things and give you some time to look for a friend for him.
Hugs- its such a rough thing to deal with xx
 
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