Jade&Syrah
Well-Known Member
We had a horse at work, similar age that started to look like this, it ended up being a high worm burden which wormers didnt touch, we had the vet out and was being wormed tested weekly and wormed every few weeks until.
Is my pony terribly underweight?
- Thread starter cw191
- Start date
amandap
Well-Known Member
I agree YO should be more supportive and a vet visit is in order for a native pony at that weight even on poor grazing. I'd also get a poo worm count done, google Westgate labs or similar. Has he been wormed for tapes too?
Pretty pony btw. x
Pretty pony btw. x
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What did you worm him with?? I have known ponies to drop weight like this after a mass emergence of encysted small redworm causing damage to the gut lining and therefore food is not being absorbed properly. Please get a vets opinion.
JFTDWS
+++ Out of Cheese Error +++
fwiw, for a 2 year old, I actually don't think he looks tooo bad... (better not put any of mine up, he's not that different 
)
)daydreambeliever
Well-Known Member
My concern for you and him is that you don't feel panicked into suddenly over feeding him, especially with plans to move to a larger ungrazed field soon, and then end up with lami problems.
As others have said get him vet checked and ask for feeding up advice.
As others have said get him vet checked and ask for feeding up advice.
NeverSayNever
Well-Known Member
fwiw, for a 2 year old, I actually don't think he looks tooo bad... (better not put any of mine up, he's not that different
jftd, i was actually thinking the very same. yes he is on the poor side and if it was going into winter id be concerned but given the spring grass is just around the corner Id be very careful about pumping more feed into him. I would make sure he is properly wormed and get him on a broad spectrum vitamin supplement and pop a lw rug on if you still have this awful rain. There is no way Id be looking to put him on better grazing at this time of year. i also think its ridiculous your YO has asked you to leave the yard!
zaminda
Well-Known Member
He could do with a bit more weight on, but I have seen much worse. I would get a worm count done, plus a blood test for tapeworm, which I seem to remember is not covered by normal worm counts.
I would also say he could be having a growth spurt, and that the fact he has had 1/2 an acre all winter isn't really enough.
Be VERY careful when you move him to a bigger field, personally I would stop feeding him for a few days at that point, as you could very well overload his system otherwise.
Out of interest is YO also asking everyone whose horses are slightly overweight to leave too? For me that is so much more of an issue!
I would also say he could be having a growth spurt, and that the fact he has had 1/2 an acre all winter isn't really enough.
Be VERY careful when you move him to a bigger field, personally I would stop feeding him for a few days at that point, as you could very well overload his system otherwise.
Out of interest is YO also asking everyone whose horses are slightly overweight to leave too? For me that is so much more of an issue!
Equilibrium Ireland
Well-Known Member
I agree with others not to overdo it with feed and such. I'd much rather one looked like that after the winter and with the investigation you are doing instead of habitually overweight. Yes the grazing is poor. However, for my horses it would be too much!
Get his teeth checked, fecals, and blood tests done when your vet comes. Don't waste the call out. Make sure you try every avenue. I hate when a vet comes out and says, well give him a worm dose and we will see. Next thing you know it's another call out and then things start to get done. I believe in value for money the first go round!
Terri
Get his teeth checked, fecals, and blood tests done when your vet comes. Don't waste the call out. Make sure you try every avenue. I hate when a vet comes out and says, well give him a worm dose and we will see. Next thing you know it's another call out and then things start to get done. I believe in value for money the first go round!
Terri
AmyMay
Situation normal
Yep, he looks pretty rubbish. And I would be concerned if my 2 year old looked like that.
You don't say how much hay he's getting, and what quantities of feed you're giving him.
But you need to get him on some really good grazing if you want him to pick up.
Also, when was the photo taken - the grazing is awful.
You don't say how much hay he's getting, and what quantities of feed you're giving him.
But you need to get him on some really good grazing if you want him to pick up.
Also, when was the photo taken - the grazing is awful.
stencilface
High upon a hillside
He looks a bit poor, but not horrendous imho, it could just be the rubbish weather combined with a spring growth spurt. My sister's youngster caught us out with one of those last year, I swear one week he was fine - the next he looked a bit like yours.
More grass and more hay - I wouldn't be shoving lots of concentrates down his neck, just lots more forage.
ETA - the YO sounds nice, maybe she should provide some more grazing?
More grass and more hay - I wouldn't be shoving lots of concentrates down his neck, just lots more forage.
ETA - the YO sounds nice, maybe she should provide some more grazing?
joeanne
Well-Known Member
I think the biggest concern is if we are reading it right, he has lost all this weight in a month. Not over the whole of winter, but in one month.fwiw, for a 2 year old, I actually don't think he looks tooo bad... (better not put any of mine up, he's not that different
That rings alarm bells for me.
Wagtail
Horse servant
I don't think you can blame the yard owner. If I had DIY people on my yard and any of their horses looked like this, I would firstly insist they fed it ad lib haylage, and if they didn't, I would ask them to leave. The YO has a duty of care for all animals on her yard. I find it hard to believe that any YO would ask someone to leave though if they WERE adequately feeding their horse and that perhaps it had a medical condition.
OP, you need to get lots of forage into your youngster. Good quality haylage is best for this as they tend to eat more of it than hay.
OP, you need to get lots of forage into your youngster. Good quality haylage is best for this as they tend to eat more of it than hay.
Goldenstar
Well-Known Member
TBH I would rather a youngster looked like that than a tick on legs like many do I would do a worm egg count ASAP speak to the vet . The vet may want to do a blood test to see if anything is going on,before you move him I would get some haylage and feed him that abb lib I would not fill him with mixes and conditioning cubes I hate the things horsey macdonalds in my book. Make sure he gets a feed daily with a good quality age apporiate supplement if add LIb haylage does not make a visible difference you need to get the vet to look at him.
You should worm him as you move him anyway .
You should worm him as you move him anyway .
horsemadelsie
Well-Known Member
When I bought my 2yo welsh cob he looked very similar. He had been out all winter, no rugs, with a shelter and a field buddy. Don't think previous owner had been giving him enough to eat. As soon as I gave him ad-lib hay he started looking a little better, although he still shivered when it got really cold (he would not tolerate a stable or rugs so I had no choice) He was also getting a couple of handfuls of h&p mix to help him bond with me as he hadn't been handled as much as I was lead to believe.
If feeding him up and still not gaining weight then I would get a worm count done (you'd be amazed how quickly they can get a huge worm burden, even when regularly wormed). I personally wouldn't worry too much about him looking like that, but would be worried if good feed couldn't change his condition. Hopefully decent grass will do the trick- I noticed a huge change in my boy when the grass started growing (although no matter what I feed him he never gets fat, even now he's almost 5)
If feeding him up and still not gaining weight then I would get a worm count done (you'd be amazed how quickly they can get a huge worm burden, even when regularly wormed). I personally wouldn't worry too much about him looking like that, but would be worried if good feed couldn't change his condition. Hopefully decent grass will do the trick- I noticed a huge change in my boy when the grass started growing (although no matter what I feed him he never gets fat, even now he's almost 5)
ihatework
Well-Known Member
Yes he is poor and yes you need (and should have done) something about it.
But I think your YO kicking you off is a bit harsh, unless they have been urging you for a while to do something and have been ignored (there are always 2 sides to every story).
If this was my horse I wouldn't be rushing to pump hard feed and fresh grass into him I'm afraid, you have a native and a youngster possibly going through a growth spurt.
My priorities would be to get him access to adlib hay, and a small quantity of something like suregrow (I wouldn't be stuffing conditiong cubes into a 2yo native). I'd pop a rug on in the bad weather as he doesn't have the body fat to help keep warm. I'd also get the vet to quickly check him over and run a fecal and blood worm test.
But I think your YO kicking you off is a bit harsh, unless they have been urging you for a while to do something and have been ignored (there are always 2 sides to every story).
If this was my horse I wouldn't be rushing to pump hard feed and fresh grass into him I'm afraid, you have a native and a youngster possibly going through a growth spurt.
My priorities would be to get him access to adlib hay, and a small quantity of something like suregrow (I wouldn't be stuffing conditiong cubes into a 2yo native). I'd pop a rug on in the bad weather as he doesn't have the body fat to help keep warm. I'd also get the vet to quickly check him over and run a fecal and blood worm test.
susieQ99
New User
I much rather see a poor 2yr old than a fat one but do agree he is a little too thin. Please be careful of filling him up with rich build up cubes and mixes as even skinny natives can get laminitis, give him adlib hay until you move to the new field and then watch the waistline carefully! All youngsters go through growth spurts and phases, one minute all thin and gangly next minute fat as a pig!
Would still follow other advice of getting worm count and blood test just in case.
Would still follow other advice of getting worm count and blood test just in case.
Goldenstar
Well-Known Member
The most likely cause of this sudden wieght drop is a growth spurt and not enough grass and additional feed to support it however if he does not gain wieght easily on add lib forage you must take action quickly .
Get the vet quickly and see if something's going wrong.
However you need to get your eye in and learn to monitor his wieght and make adjustments quickly especially in the spring when growth often outstrips the grass available however do remember too fat is much much worse for a youngster than a bit too thin .
Get the vet quickly and see if something's going wrong.
However you need to get your eye in and learn to monitor his wieght and make adjustments quickly especially in the spring when growth often outstrips the grass available however do remember too fat is much much worse for a youngster than a bit too thin .
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AMW
Well-Known Member
I agree with the advice given re worms etc, also so many ponies are in or nearly in summer coats and the weather has got so cold again, they lose weight keeping warm.
I think your YO needs to look at what she provides for youngsters as the grazing & fencing don't look great. I wouldn't be happy paying for that field
I think your YO needs to look at what she provides for youngsters as the grazing & fencing don't look great. I wouldn't be happy paying for that field
misterjinglejay
Well-Known Member
You say your friends field is ungrazed, so be very careful with Laminitis - strip graze with a muzzle on preferably.
AmyMay
Situation normal
Oh, please..................
Prince33Sp4rkle
Well-Known Member
dont get your sarascm amymay-he's a native and ungrazed field is a real lami risk no matter how poor he is, better to gain weight slowly than try and whack it back on in a month!!!!
if its ungrazed since last summer, and its ex dairy pasture, if it looks anything like mine i would NEVER put a lami risk pony on it.
he does look poor but TBH as long as no underlying medical prob, better to slim than too porky, at this age.
run checks as per other reccomendations, increase fibre intake, but monitor it, would be my advise.No huge hard feeds.
if its ungrazed since last summer, and its ex dairy pasture, if it looks anything like mine i would NEVER put a lami risk pony on it.
he does look poor but TBH as long as no underlying medical prob, better to slim than too porky, at this age.
run checks as per other reccomendations, increase fibre intake, but monitor it, would be my advise.No huge hard feeds.
AmyMay
Situation normal
He is more likely to get colic than laminitis.
Putting him on good grazing is the best way to get condition on this poor little creature.
After a couple of weeks, and close monitoring of his weight, the OP can then make a decision on whether to keep him on the good grazing or to move him somewhere that is a little less good - as we do with all our horses.
Prince33Sp4rkle
Well-Known Member
agree colic also a risk, but going from relatively rough grazing, to lush grazing, with no restriction, is going to do no good at all, in the same way that ponies gorging on feed after breaking in to feed bins get lami!
PonyIAmNotFood
Well-Known Member
He may have just had a growth spurt and couldn't eat enough to keep his weight up through it, I know a youngster who would fill out then grow silly amounts upwards at once and he was shovelled with hayledge and still looked ribby and poor after a spurt.I think you should get the vet just to make sure there's nothing underlying, but really wouldn't be too concerned coming into summer like that. He's hardly emaciated, just ribby.
JFTDWS
+++ Out of Cheese Error +++
Joeanne, the last month has been rubbish - cold, wet, mudbath, the grass round here has only been growing for the last week, so if he has been on a well grazed paddock over winter I am not surprised he has some dropped weight in only a month, assuming he wasn't fat before hand.
There is no way I would put him on ad lib haylage, or give him unrestricted turnout on lush spring grass. I would personally muzzle during the day. It is a lot easier to put a little weight on a native youngster than to get it off again, especially if you have made it laminitic by putting the weight on so suddenly with sugary grass.
There is no way I would put him on ad lib haylage, or give him unrestricted turnout on lush spring grass. I would personally muzzle during the day. It is a lot easier to put a little weight on a native youngster than to get it off again, especially if you have made it laminitic by putting the weight on so suddenly with sugary grass.
jeeve
Well-Known Member
lucerne hay twice a day. plus your normal feed - hay is the best weight conditioner if you ask me.
AmyMay
Situation normal
The OP hasn't mentioned lush grazing - just long, ungrazed grazing. This could mean anything. And the land could be rough, stalky and containing very little in the form of goodness at all. Equally, yes it could be lush - in which case I agree that too much too soon is not a great idea.
My money would be on not so great.
Worried1
Well-Known Member
You have my sympathies as I too have a poor 2-y-o who has never looked 'well'.
Some things I have doen...
I have had her teeth done, they were sharp so no harm in starting dental care early.
I also have regular worm counts done as she fluctuates depedning on the season, I then worm according to need.
She has been fed on D&H sure grow, with Alfa Oil, a stud mix and a conditioning nut and had access to unlimited hay. she is not very interested in food and is quite a shy mare so will not stand up for herself so we had to separate her at feed time to ensure she ate up.
I also ran some blood tests to check for inflammation levels/ aneamia etc which could indicate worm damage amongst other things. Her bloods were all completely normal.
She is now turned away with access to really good grass so I am hoping Dr Green will work some magic!
Some things I have doen...
I have had her teeth done, they were sharp so no harm in starting dental care early.
I also have regular worm counts done as she fluctuates depedning on the season, I then worm according to need.
She has been fed on D&H sure grow, with Alfa Oil, a stud mix and a conditioning nut and had access to unlimited hay. she is not very interested in food and is quite a shy mare so will not stand up for herself so we had to separate her at feed time to ensure she ate up.
I also ran some blood tests to check for inflammation levels/ aneamia etc which could indicate worm damage amongst other things. Her bloods were all completely normal.
She is now turned away with access to really good grass so I am hoping Dr Green will work some magic!
Baggybreeches
Well-Known Member
OP FWIW I don't think he looks bad for a youngster. I would agree that he has probably had a growth spurt and the odd weather will have used up a few of his calories. I would get a worm analysis done and check him for lice (or just treat him anyway).
Please resist the urge to overfeed him and also be careful about changing his grazing (I know you have no choice) but this is coming up to prime time for grass sickness and he is at an age which puts him in a higher risk category.
What I am actually disturbed (and yes I do mean disturbed) by is the number of people who think the pony looks like it needs x amount of feeds and ad lib hay.
It's no wonder the horses in this country are off their legs by the age of 5 or 6.
Please resist the urge to overfeed him and also be careful about changing his grazing (I know you have no choice) but this is coming up to prime time for grass sickness and he is at an age which puts him in a higher risk category.
What I am actually disturbed (and yes I do mean disturbed) by is the number of people who think the pony looks like it needs x amount of feeds and ad lib hay.
It's no wonder the horses in this country are off their legs by the age of 5 or 6.
L&M
Well-Known Member
Well, he is ribby, but wouldn't say he was a welfare case!
We are having similiar problems with my sons new pony. He is 19yrs and came to us poor, but despite the following regime for 3mths, are struggling to put much weight back on:
- 24/7 turn out on reasonable grazing (5 acres with 2 x 14.2hhs as companions)
- giving haylage 2 x a day (whilst separated from the others so they don't nick it!)
- giving 2 x small fibre based feeds a day with pink powder and corn oil added
- keeping well rugged
- wormed for everything including tape
We have the vet booked this week to check teeth and run some blood tests as he thinks necessary.
I think that moving to better grazing would help plus all the necesary vet checks, and be pateint as the weight won't go back on over night.
Also, if he is being fed in a 'group' I would monitor them to make sure the other horses are not pinching his feed. I have to tie up the herd leader of my 3 when we feed as will steal the ponies food after he has gobbled his up quick time!
As others have said, the cold weather combined with growth spurts, may also be an issue. If the weight loss is sudden I would certainly be getting the vet myself.
Good luck
We are having similiar problems with my sons new pony. He is 19yrs and came to us poor, but despite the following regime for 3mths, are struggling to put much weight back on:
- 24/7 turn out on reasonable grazing (5 acres with 2 x 14.2hhs as companions)
- giving haylage 2 x a day (whilst separated from the others so they don't nick it!)
- giving 2 x small fibre based feeds a day with pink powder and corn oil added
- keeping well rugged
- wormed for everything including tape
We have the vet booked this week to check teeth and run some blood tests as he thinks necessary.
I think that moving to better grazing would help plus all the necesary vet checks, and be pateint as the weight won't go back on over night.
Also, if he is being fed in a 'group' I would monitor them to make sure the other horses are not pinching his feed. I have to tie up the herd leader of my 3 when we feed as will steal the ponies food after he has gobbled his up quick time!
As others have said, the cold weather combined with growth spurts, may also be an issue. If the weight loss is sudden I would certainly be getting the vet myself.
Good luck
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