EMS - would you?

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humph

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We are considering taking a pony on loan who is perfect in every possible way apart from the fact she has been diagnosed with EMS. She isn't on any medication and hasn't had a bout of laminitis for a year but she has heart bar shoes on and is on a very restricted diet, in all day and turned out in the tiniest patch with very little grass on.

The tricky thing is that my horse that she would live with is an ex racehorse who needs to be in in the winter an out during spring/summer to keep him fat enough. So obviously their regimes would be totally the opposite to one another.

Would you consider taking on a pony with EMS or not? My experience of it is non-existent.
 
Sorry to be down about it, but no I wouldn't. Dealing with lamanitis can be heartbreaking at times and difficult and I can only imagine EMS would make it all the more difficult.
 
Yes i would.
My gelding has it, he had severe lami last year. He is (to me anyway) the most amazing horse.
Yes, lami is heartbreaking but it should be a managed condition. They need alot of exercise and a strict diet but its not impossible. Make sure you speak through the routine that the owner does currently and continue to do the same.
If you like the pony then i dont see why you shouldnt take her..
 
I have been in the same situation and taken on an EMS pony on loan. She was a fab pony and it was really hard work. I used to feed her soaked hay 3x a day and split feeds into 2x a day so that she was never without food for long. We also exercised her as much as possible, so I used to take her for walks like the dog and long rein as well as ridden work. Exercise is the key really.
Whilst you might manage all this OK, try to think of the long term and what would happen if you couldn't get to feed/hay at least twice a day, especially in winter.
 
I have one with EMS and tbh probably wouldn't have another, as it's such hard work to keep his weight perfect. He needs constant exercise and has an incredibly strict diet to try and keep him a "normal" size, and lives off soaked hay and a dust paddock - but it is manageable. He is also on medication so worse than your potential pony.
If it's perfect in every other way then I would consider it, but you need to be sure that you can keep up the exercise/diet regime it has now as they can balloon very quickly x
 
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