Grrrr...why are some people aloud to own horses?? (Major grumble)

[vicky86]

Yesterday I went to go and watch one of my friends at a local show. When I was there I saw a girl that used to be on my old yard she was on her little native and I nearly died when I saw the size of him...he was HUGE! His crest was absolutley solid and would not have looked out of place on a 17hh horse. He had fat pockets and dimples and well I think you get the picture. I know the pony has suffered with laminitus in the past and when I commented on his weight the girl laughed and said "well I bring him in and starve him for most the day" (brill he's going to have laminitus, stomach ulcers and possibly colic). She then continued to tell me that she hadnt ridden him for over a month and had just dragged him out to the show. I just couldn't believe it. I did ask well why instead of starving the pony didnt she just exercise him more and she actually just came out with the fact that she couldn't be bothered.
I did voice my opinion fairly strongly at this point but she just really did not seem bothered at all.
I was fuming - the pony is a lovely pony - I just feel awful for him.
What would people do? I don't really have anything to do with the girl now. Is there anything people think I could do? I just feel terrible for the pony. I would have love to have known what the judges said to her.

 

[Nailed]

laminitis....

Lou x

 

[teddyt]

Heartbreaking isnt it? Not much you can do really, youve voiced your opinion though at least. Maybe you could get others to do the sae and she might get the hint? Or contact WHW and ask them to pay a visit to her yard

 

[vicky86]

thanks..sorry

 

[Ziggy_]

I don't know that there is a lot you can do....

I seem to recall one of the equine charities beginning to treat obese horses as a welfare issue. I have no idea how seriously they take it, or if you'd want to potentially call them away from a more urgent case, but perhaps a stern word from them might help knock some sense into her?

Poor pony

 

[Lippyx]

There is not much you can do!
I think rescue centres should start treating over weight horses as a welfare issue, as it is still bad for the horse!

I know its no help, but I'm afraid you will just have to accept what this girl is like, and get on with caring for your own! What goes around, comes around!!

 

[lauraandjack]

IMO ridiculously overweight horses are just as much of a welfare problem as underweight ones. They are definitely more likely to have ongoing health problems because of it (eg laminitis etc) which may continue to affect them even if the weight comes off.

I would also think they are harder to rehabilitate. Not so hard to get weight on a starved horse that doesn't have any underlying health issues, but difficult to get the lard off a real fattie.

 

[Ebenezer_Scrooge]

There is a welfare campaign called fathorseslim by the blue cross:

http://www.bluecross.org.uk/web/site/FHS/FHS_HOME.asp

who address the issue of obesity in horses.

 

[vicky86]

Thanks for comments...I suppose I knew really that there was nothing I can do but its just sooo frustrating. May have a look into contacting either the World Horse Welfare Right Weight team or a charity along those lines and seeing what they say. The only problem is im not even sure where she keeps him now as I know shes been chucked off a few yards but might be able to find out with a bit of digging.

 

[vicky86]

thanks Lavender

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

!

 

[PapaFrita]

[ QUOTE ]
laminitis....

Lou x

[/ QUOTE ]
How come you didn't correct 'aloud'?

 

[*hic*]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
laminitis....

Lou x

[/ QUOTE ]
How come you didn't correct 'aloud'?

[/ QUOTE ]

Perhaps that's what Lou thought the judge said to the pony's owner!

 

[the watcher]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
laminitis....

Lou x

[/ QUOTE ]
How come you didn't correct 'aloud'?

[/ QUOTE ]

You beat me to it!

Allowed.....

 

[eoe]

Totally agree, there are too many poeple out there that are overfeeding their horses and they should be more of a welfare case than those that are under weight. I had 4 overweight DIY liveries, the vets had told them, the farriers had told them I had told them and all they moaned about was not having enough grass and having to feed hay, these horses have intermittent exercise, more like field ornaments. Thankfully they will all be now be someone elses problem because I don't have grass in my fields that is two foot high they have moved. I had a new livery in 7 weeks ago, pony was really really overweight, owner had just got her back off loan, pony has grazing muzzle on when she is out in the field and when she is in the stable she has one section of very soaked hay and is being exercises once or twice a day every day the pony is now just over 400kg still a little over weight but is heading in the right direction. She still has plenty of energy when exercised so feeding ponies feed for energy is not always true. I have been told how cruel I am for keeping a muzzle on the pony and also my big horse who puts on weight very easily but all I remember is that my horses don't get colic, don't get lameness problems and don't look unsightly with fatty lumps all over their bodies, you cannot see their ribs and I think what annoyed them was that the vets always used my horses as an example of how their horses should look.

Its the old scenario a little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing and you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink, shorter grass has more nutrient in it than long grass.

Rant over!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[fatpiggy]

There is a 7 year old welsh cob out with my old girl. The grass is mega-rich and is totally unsuitable for that sort of build of horse. The mare is so fat her crest is huge and rock hard and you couldn't feel her ribs if you jumped up and down on them. She is GROSS. But then, what do you do with an owner who only comes down once or twice a week to even check the horse is still there, won't ride faster than a walk and obviously has issues about how to recognise obesity in herself?

 

[hairycob]

One of the reasons I left my old yard was because, out of 18 horses & ponies, only 4 weren't grossly obese. 3 of those were mine & I got fed up of being told they were too thin & would get ill & that I was cruel for using a grazing muzzle on the pony etc etc by someone who thought the appropriate regime for an obese laminitic was to bring it in for one or 2 days when it was particularly bad. She would then feed it barley rings & haylage & couldn't realise why it's feet were getting worse (never called the vet either).

 

[vicky86]

It is just frustrating isn't it? I think eoe is completely right about a little knowledge being dangerous. It is just so heart breaking to see.
Another problem is that it is often the case that the horses and ponies which are associated with having the temperament to stay sane doing limited exercise are your natives and cobby types. These types of horses are also often associated with being easy to keep and needing less management than your lighter stamp of horse (TB etc), when in reality they often need just as much - just in different ways. It’s been said above that really it can be a lot easier to feed one up than it is to get the weight off them.

I know recently a lot more is being made of obese horses and I do think in the majority of cases people are becoming more aware. I think now that more focus needs to be put on educating people into how to get the weight off and manage fat horses. I have met a fair amount of people who seem to think that just starving them is the answer when in reality it can cause more harm than good.

 

[gnubee]

How close are you to the girl? It seems like someone to ride the horse a couple of times a week would solve a lot of problems for her, and I can't imagine its too hard to find someone who wants some free rides (unless the horse is a nightmare).