HELP don't know what to do

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dafthoss

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really want some advice please I'm really not sure what to do
I'm looking after a friends 2 horses for a few days while they go away, not a problem I do it quite often. I always get a list of instructions ect. Looked at the instructions today and saw that the little welsh pony was geting loads of feed, they had already been made for tonight. When I got her in she had a heavy weight rug on, when I took it off she was almost sweating under it as she still has a full coat. I was so shocked at what I saw when I took her rug off I have never seen a pony this fat her back has a huge fat pad all the way along it and her back is starting to drop. I gave her the smallest amount of feed possible and left her rug off. Now the bit I am unsure of what do I say to her owner? I know she has a lot going on but I am really worried about it as last year when she was half the size she is now she got a bit laminitic in the spring and this year she is HUGE!! Her owner is a bit funny about admitting she was wrong or needs help so how do I approach the subject? Just to add the horses are at home so no one else to comment.
I was thinking of suggesting that she is left un rugged or clipped if she wants her to be rugged so she stays clean and possibly offer to help exercise her aswell (I am small enough and have done in the past but with her back like it is at the moment I dont want to put any extra stress on her back or joints) and I am going to soak her hay for tomorrow. I own a native my self so know about the whole weight being an issue thing but this little one has a thicker rug than mine who is clipped and is getting more hay and feed.

Thanks for reading and any help or ideas welcome.
 
Could the pony have had some heat in its feet when you picked them out?? You may have very sensitive hands. Just the mere suggestion of heat could set alarm bells ringing in the owners head.
I don't envy you this one, a little white lie could do the trick, or you could just clip it out completly as a surprise, just kidding!!
 
Heck, what a difficult dilemma! If it were me then I would probably make a jokey comment such as 'Wow, isn't *insert name* a gannet? How did she con you into giving her so much food? I couldn't believe she had got so fat!'

Or something more serious such as 'Is there a particular reason why *insert name* is getting so much food?' and take it from there.
 
jrp204 said:
Could the pony have had some heat in its feet when you picked them out?? You may have very sensitive hands. Just the mere suggestion of heat could set alarm bells ringing in the owners head.
I don't envy you this one, a little white lie could do the trick, or you could just clip it out completly as a surprise, just kidding!!
Click to expand...

Excellent suggestion. You could add 'I'm afraid I panicked that she was coming down with laminitis and so I cut her feed to be safe. I hope that's okay.'
 
jrp - I did that last year and it only lasted for a few days when I was looking after the food as I was riding her every day and then as soon as the heat had gone it was back to normal but may try again thanks for the suggestion may play it out to have been really bad. Dont tempt me on the clipping I am very tempted.
 
I think in a situation like this where the horse could be at risk the best thing is to say it straight that the pony is over-rugged and over-weight and not only at risk from laminitis but other conditions which are a result of the weight of the pony.
Best of luck, its a tough situation
 
I had a similar experience when looking after my neighbours horses, an elderly mare with arthritis was stabled with the top door shut and rugged with a heavy rug and unclipped with heaps of feed. She was under vet care for another issue at the time. She was in 24/7 with no turnout and the poor thing was so seized up (and hot!) that I rang the vet - who advised to turn out instead and give bute, had I just said I thought she'd be better off out at least for a few hours it would have probably been ignored. When the vet next visited he impressed on her the importance of turnout too.

It might be worth trying to ring her vet for a chat, explaining exactly his weight and management and say that you are worried about him going down with laminitis while the owner is away, that way any changes are on the vets recommendation and it shouldn't cost anything!
 
ive got a fell pony whos a bit plump at the min, hes been clipped, gets minimum feed, two med size soaked haynets everynight, a medium weight rug and plenty of excersise and is still i bit fat but i suppose they all need something on them to keep them warm in the winter. suggest a thinner rug and a little less feed. dont clip it cos if it doesnt get worked its pretty pointless ( esp if it lives out). maybe a bit of excersise too.
 
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