Considering fostering pony with EMS

Showmum

Showmum

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Hi - we are looking into fostering a New Forest X gelding and he's got EMS (equine metabolic syndrome). The sanctuary have said he's not on any medication but needs a strict diet. He is perfect for us in every way, 1st horse for my 13 yo daughter, so I'm just trying to find out as much as we can about his condition. So if anybody has any experience of a pony with EMS, I would be grateful for your advice. Thanks.
 
Personally I will never ever have a metabolic pony again. Of all of my ponies (many) issues, this is the hardest to manage.
IF you can GUARANTEE effective management (soaked hay, no feed, limited/poor quality grazing and regular *hard* work) then I would consider it if the pony was perfect in all other ways and I could afford afford extra costs associated - possible blood tests, increased hay/forage bill, quality electric fencing and energiser, bedding costs all year round that are likely etc.
 
No, I wouldn't. I have an ems pony, he was borderline a few years ago and now positive. Even if the pony is ok now with no meds etc, things change as they did with my boy. All of mine live out but I don't think I will be able to do that anymore with ems pony. It's an extra stress and one I would not choose to have but obviously it's different when your own pony develops problems
 
I don't regret taking on my loan horse with Cushings, I absolutely adore him... however I wouldn't do it again. My personal circumstances have changed (new baby) and I've saved hard to be able to afford my horse through my maternity leave because I know I'm probably his last chance at life. He's easy enough to care for, luckily, and his owner pays on-going medication costs, but that's possibly another thing to consider...
 
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