How are they looking? (Please be nice!)

RubysGold

RubysGold

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I think they're both carrying a bit too much weight at the moment, but what do you think?? Be honest but be nice about it :)
I took quite a lot of pictures to make sure they showed the true picture

Roo first.
Bear in mind that she is 20 this year, and has always been an odd shape, I think her back has dropped a bit more recently as well :S :S
she also cant do any proper work to help with weight loss, she gets a 20-30minute ridden walk about once a week currently.







These may look quite swollen to anyone that doesn't know Roo but Im so so pleased with how her fetlocks are looking currently :D (they are the reason for the lack of work)


And just cos shes proper cute



So Jimmy, hes going to be 6 this summer, hes starting to work harder now so that should help over summer :) His bum seems to have gone a strange shape (sort of triangular from the side) :S :S






And a picture that I just like :)
 
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Jimmy is fine but sure bum high got some growing there. Roo is lovely, can you cut off her fetlock thingys that hang behind, farriers do it with their nippers.
 
They both have very cute faces!
I think Roo is carrying a little too much condition given that her exercise is restricted. I feel a muzzle might be your best friend in the coming months!
Jimmy looks a bit bum high in a couple of those pictures? I would say again he is on the good side of good condition, but nothing dire that cannot be sorted with exercise :-)
 
buddylove said:
They both have very cute faces!
I think Roo is carrying a little too much condition given that her exercise is restricted. I feel a muzzle might be your best friend in the coming months!
Jimmy looks a bit bum high in a couple of those pictures? I would say again he is on the good side of good condition, but nothing dire that cannot be sorted with exercise :-)
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This :)
 
Thanks everyone :)
I do use muzzles, had to order new ones this year as they were broken, so they're here now. They also come in through the day to a small net (which I am going to start soaking)

postputasocinit said:
Jimmy is fine but sure bum high got some growing there. Roo is lovely, can you cut off her fetlock thingys that hang behind, farriers do it with their nippers.
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The farrier normally does cut them, but I hadn't realised how big they had got, I only cut the feather off today. And the blades I have at the yard aren't sharp enough :(
 
Jimmy looks ok (but definitely doesn't need any more), Roo could do with a trip to weight watchers or two though. I sympathise - so could I ;)
 
postputasocinit said:
Jimmy is fine but sure bum high got some growing there. Roo is lovely, can you cut off her fetlock thingys that hang behind, farriers do it with their nippers.
Click to expand...

You mean the ergots??? :)

I cut them with my farriers tools its easy peasy




Soften with a warm bath might help depending on how long they are. Or with some kind of oil (maybe coat with mineral oil overnight?). I've taken them off with hoof nippers on several occasions as long as the horse wasn't trying to kill me (some object to this). Once I get 'em short I'll use the fine side of the rasp on them if they aren't into peeling well...most peel nicely once they are down to skin level

or

Rub a little vaseline into them to soften them. It might take a few applications over a few days. Then you can either peel them off, or use hoof nippers to nip them off. Nippers are quicker but don't try to take off the whole chestnut with one nip. Cut a little at a time the same way the nippers are used to trim hoof wall.

FYI, chestnuts are sensitive the deeper in you go, and they can bleed.
 
Just looks like she is loosing her winter coat to me. Both look great Not too fat ,not too thin, I like Roo the most, (Jimmey has plenty of years to worm his way into my affections).I am no expert on cushings so if thereis a simple test ,I would be guided by those that Know. A great deal can be done if it is identified.
 
Think Roo looks fatter than she really is because of the droppage. She is lovely.

Jimmy is very obviously still growing, he definitely doesn't look fat to me but I wouldn't want him carrying much more.
 
Thanks for all the replies :)
Jimmy seems to always be bum high lol, starting to wonder whether he will ever level out
Why would you test for cushings :S she doesn't look ill to me :S
 
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I agree with what everyone else has already said: Roo is lovely but a little portly and Jimmy is def bum high. Both are very nice looking beasties. For what its worth, Roo's fets dont look that bad at all to me, you should have seen the legs on my old pony, they would have made hers look like those of a super model. I have no opinion on the cushings point. Hope you have a lovely summer with them.
 
Thanks fun times, they take a lot of management. She had surgery a few years back and now she needs bandages when in and i have to be so careful with the ground she goes out on, mud is not good with her.
 
She has the look of a cushings/metabolic pony RG, - crest, and belly (although I do know she has always had the latter from old pics) and often just a certain look of their face.

It would only be a simple blood test to check ACTH levels in the first instance. It doesn't necessarily mean she would need any treatment right now but it would give you then heads up that you need to be super careful with regards to lami etc. Some people think it is a good idea to test them as they get older anyway (how old is she now?) I tested Frank when he was 19 although he didn't have any super clear signs he does always keep his neck and doesn't have the thinnest of coats - he was negative.
 
Thanks Ester, she will be 20 at some point this year
I have only just had their vaccinations done but I will see if anyone else is having the vet soon, I don't want to pay out for a full vet visit just for a blood test, but I will get it done next time she comes

I really hope she isn't :-S
 
I'm pretty sure Cushing tests are free at the moment so if you can tie it in with the vet visiting the yard you won't have to fork out much money.
 
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