Horse shifting weight from one foot to the other

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Tangaroo

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Ok, this is not my horse! It belongs to a friend of mine. It is a welsh sec D and is living out 24/7 on very good grass. It is obesely fat and Only comes off the grass to come in to be ridden (lightly) and to get fed!!! (to have supplements apparently)
Someone rang me tonight to say they had noticed the horse stood in the field shifting her weight from one front foot to the other for about 10 minutes. (well, thats how long friend was stood there).
I am convinced this poor horse is going to get laminitis but owner is being ignorant and burying her head in the sand, is convinced we are all making a fuss about nothing!
Is this weight shifting a sign of the onset of laminitis? I wasnt sure. I know they normally stand with weight on their heels but wasnt sure about what she is doing.
Personally i would like to give the owner a good shake cos it breaks my heart to see the mare so fat. Even her farrier has had a word but to no avail
 
It is often an indication of discomfort, when they're shifting the balance like that, hope the horse is ok.
 
It could be the first signs of lammi, or it could be some other reason for discomfort, e.g. an abscess. Either way that horse needs a vet/farrier asap - and I'd bring it off the grass.
 
The horse already has laminitis. Whether it goes critical or not will depend on how soon she gets it off the grass.

You are absolutely right to be concerned.
 
As soon as I saw "Welsh D" and "grass" I cringed. Why people let their horses get like this is beyond me, it's so cruel. Sounds more a case of it already has Laminitis. Have you spoken to the owner directly about it?
 
I had a feeling you were all going to say this. I have spoken to her a couple of weeks ago about the size of the horse and she just said 'yeah i know!'
I have the farrier coming tomorrow who is also her farrier so will have another word with him.
Stupid thing is that she has gone on a sudden diet and fitness campaign herself (think totally obsessive) but cant seem to see what is happening to her poor horse!
 
If it was my horse he would be off the grass immediately. Even if it turns out not to be lammi it's not worth taking the risk !!
 
if it was a horse at the same place i kept mine it would be off the grass already cos i would have moved it if it was weight shifting
 
Have you rung her tonight - since the person has rung you to say the horse is displaying laminitis signs? Just tell her someone has rung you to say the horse looks to have laminitis and (improvise here) they will call a vet if someone doesn't do something...
 
I'd ring her & insist she takes it seriously, friend or not. If the horse was emaciated & stood in a bare paddock I wouldn't worry about offending anyone, & I think obese & on rich grazing is equally cruel.
 
Call welfare.
BHS are a good place to start.
There have been cases of owners prosecuted for allowing their animals to get obese, as its FINALLY seen that its just as cruel as starving the poor beggers.
 
Horse needs dealing with asap, this isn't the early stages - this is it!! It already has laminitis, early stages are taking a short step or not quite turning properly shifting weight like that needs immediate action.
 
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