Lady, One Week After The Move

equestrianabbie said:
she said that her friends were neglecting her horse..
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She said here friends were only supposed to feed her once out of her 3 feeds a day, I find it hard to a) call that neglect or b) understand how she got like this from only missing 1 feed

equestrianabbie said:
Also reply from Jadine: Lady has a lot of natural shelter like trees and bushes, but not an actual shelter. Even if she did she wouldn't use it.
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So that's a no then !
 
well, lady is jadines horse and not her friends responsibility.

And how did she not notice, if her feed had been missed she surely would have acted differently, and how could you not notice her dropping so much weight? surely you check her over EVERY day? pick out her feet and at best groom her? Also, given her history you would surely be weight taping her to make sure she doesnt do badly again.

I think this horse needs to be cared for by someone with an idea of what they need to be doing.
 
equestrianabbie said:
I know she'd been trying hard to move Lady and I myself helped her as soon as she said that her friends were neglecting her horse.
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I think we need to be clear here that whilst it's true that Jade may have been let down by her friends, there was no neglect by them. I actually think that's quiet a serious allegation to make (unless of course Jade had handed over the entire care of the horse to them, which is not what she has said on this thread). They were feeding one feed out of three. Jade presumably fed the other two feeds, and was responsble for ensuring an adequate adlib hay supply for her horse. And of course ensuring that her horse maintained a good body wait by checking her thoroughly daily.

So Jade saw her horse up close and personal twice a day - and still she is poor.

Also reply from Jadine: Lady has a lot of natural shelter like trees and bushes, but not an actual shelter. Even if she did she wouldn't use it.
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Providing there is plenty of natural shelter then a field shelter is not always necessary, I agree.
 
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I think that ultimately what is needed here, is good solid advice from a vet and equine nutritionalist.
The mare is going into a second summer looking extremely poor, and unless something is done to rectify this, then her outlook is bleak to say the least.
I am not sure that Jade is as on the ball as she could be, nor as experienced as she thinks. Forget not that she was riding Lady whilst she looked like this last year, and saw nothing wrong with it.
Perhaps what the little mare needs is to be retired and then what feed she is getting can go towards laying down some fat instead of burning it off in exercise.
 
joeanne said:
Perhaps what the little mare needs is to be retired and then what feed she is getting can go towards laying down some fat instead of burning it off in exercise.
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I suggested this last year when it was obvious that the mare was experience particular difficulties with soundness and ridden work.
 
I'm new to this thread and I haven't read other posts but OP your horse looks shocking. Its not rocket science just feed her.

You have a responsibility to provide a suitable diet for her needs, no ifs or buts or someone else didn't do it. Horses don't get thin like that overnight.

If i've missed something and she has grass sickness or other wasting disease then I apologise but you'll appreciate this thread is too long to read.
 
BBH said:
If i've missed something and she has grass sickness or other wasting disease then I apologise but you'll appreciate this thread is too long to read.
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Maybe this will kick Jade up the backside a bit when people are saying that from immediate appearances the horse looks like she has a serious illness!! Although, if RSPCA reports aren't doing it, maybe not eh :rolleyes:
 
amymay said:
I think we need to be clear here that whilst it's true that Jade may have been let down by her friends, there was no neglect by them. I actually think that's quiet a serious allegation to make (unless of course Jade had handed over the entire care of the horse to them, which is not what she has said on this thread). They were feeding one feed out of three. Jade presumably fed the other two feeds, and was responsble for ensuring an adequate adlib hay supply for her horse. And of course ensuring that her horse maintained a good body wait by checking her thoroughly daily.

So Jade saw her horse up close and personal twice a day - and still she is poor.



Providing there is plenty of natural shelter then a field shelter is not always necessary, I agree.
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Did Jade not say in one onf the very earliest posts that before the move, she could not drive, and so it took over 45 mins to get to yard? I think we can safely say she was not feeding the horse twice a day.
 
I have seen a lot worse then this. Yes you can see ribs is that such a bad thing or is it that people are used to see well coverd horses ie fat ones!! I wouldnt say she very poor like some of the comments that have been made. her comformce isnt great. She lacking muscle topline etc. I do feel for you as you getting harsh comments that won't be helping you. I've know a horse who eat loads a old chap just couldnt hold enough weight he was a happy chappy well look after disepite everyone saying hes a hat rack.

Hope Dr Green works well for her. Im sure with time she put the weight back on.
 
lexiedhb said:
Did Jade not say in one onf the very earliest posts that before the move, she could not drive, and so it took over 45 mins to get to yard? I think we can safely say she was not feeding the horse twice a day.
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So who was doing the 2 extra feeds and hay then I wonder:confused:
 
lexiedhb said:
Did Jade not say in one onf the very earliest posts that before the move, she could not drive, and so it took over 45 mins to get to yard? I think we can safely say she was not feeding the horse twice a day.
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My thoughts exactly. I als wonder who was breaking the ice on the water trough several times a day as I had to do during that awful December freeze over. Hopefully the livery YO or other liveries? I know a few people were posting that ice didn't have to be broken as horses got enough moisture from the snow! Sorry to go off topic.
 
Bojangles said:
I have seen a lot worse then this. Yes you can see ribs is that such a bad thing or is it that people are used to see well coverd horses ie fat ones!! I wouldnt say she very poor like some of the comments that have been made. her comformce isnt great. She lacking muscle topline etc. I do feel for you as you getting harsh comments that won't be helping you. I've know a horse who eat loads a old chap just couldnt hold enough weight he was a happy chappy well look after disepite everyone saying hes a hat rack.
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This is a two year ongoing situation unfortunately of mismanagement bordering on neglect. Hence people getting so hot under the collar about it.

The horse is poor - there is no getting around it.
 
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Bojangles said:
I have seen a lot worse then this. Yes you can see ribs is that such a bad thing or is it that people are used to see well coverd horses ie fat ones!! I wouldnt say she very poor like some of the comments that have been made. her comformce isnt great. She lacking muscle topline etc. I do feel for you as you getting harsh comments that won't be helping you. I've know a horse who eat loads a old chap just couldnt hold enough weight he was a happy chappy well look after disepite everyone saying hes a hat rack.

Hope Dr Green works well for her. Im sure with time she put the weight back on.
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:confused: You know, this really worries me.
 
Im not being funny but how can she be in oxfordshire and be 45 minutes away from good grazing?

Even living in the city centre? has she actually bothered to look in local papers for adverts, ask around farmers? put her own ad in the paper looking for help? Surely if she cant manage the simplest of care without relying on others then she should be responsible and let lady have a better life with someone else.
 
In my eyes the word poor means you can see the end of the rib cage clearly see all the ribs,pelvis etc she doesnt have yes some ribs showing she not tuck up in her belly etc. God I think theres one at our yard then as she old showing ribs But very fit and healthy!!! Have loads to eat too.
 
ThePinkPony said:
Im not being funny but how can she be in oxfordshire and be 45 minutes away from good grazing?

Even living in the city centre? has she actually bothered to look in local papers for adverts, ask around farmers? put her own ad in the paper looking for help? Surely if she cant manage the simplest of care without relying on others then she should be responsible and let lady have a better life with someone else.
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I think she was referring to it being 45 mins walk rather than drive. I believe she has now moved her closer to somewhere with good grazing.
 
Bojangles, what you are describing is emaciation. The horse is not emaciated. But nor is she fit - she has poor muscle tone and is too thin. There are degrees between emaciation and obese - she is too thin, and unlike most of the horses in this country she needs more condition.
 
Bojangles said:
In my eyes the word poor means you can see the end of the rib cage clearly see all the ribs,pelvis etc
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this is called emaciation and is a body score of zero.

God I think theres one at our yard then as she old showing ribs But very fit and healthy!!! Have loads to eat too.
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I think when you're more familiar with body scoring you would understand that seeing or not seeing ribs is just the half of it.

And if you were more familiar with this particular situation you'd not be so quick with smart arse replies.
 
It has all been said really, but i was really shocked to see these pics and atually thought someone had resurrected the post from last year. I fail to see how anyone could not notice this sort of decline in their horses condition. I have a tb mare who is 23 and looks great and is ridden and fit. She isn't a good doer so it takes careful management to keep her right. I use the weigh tape weekly in the winter just to keep an eye on how she is, her rug is off daily to groom her so would notice any difference.

Can i ask if Lady is still being rugged at night. Mine is just to keep her from being chilled as i know she would drop weight rapidly if she was cold.
There are some things are being said that implies that the op didn't have the necessary funds to care for her properly. Someone has said how much Jade loves the horse, no one is doubting that but the horse is still in a state.
She say's that next winter she would have ad lib hay which implies that last year she didn't. If her teeth are worn out and she is struggling to eat it then she will need haylege which is easier or a bucket of some short chop.
At the new yard can she not be brought in at night?
I hope that op has no intentions of riding her in this condition, that would really be cruel.
 
Sadly I feel that even if 'Dr Green' does put condition on Lady over the summer, then I am almost certain that we will be seeing a repeat of the weight loss in winter as we have for the last two.

I think that Lady should be retired completely, (how on earth she has tolerated a saddle over that protruding spine in the past I don't know tbh) fed plenty of food and if weight loss happens over winter in spite of that then the kindest thing would probably be to pts.

There is also a difference between a horse that is thin but fit and healthy, and one that is looking very poor. Yes we may be used to overweight horses, that doesn't mean we should accept seeing undernourished starved ones though.
 
Bojangles said:
In my eyes the word poor means you can see the end of the rib cage clearly see all the ribs,pelvis etc she doesnt have yes some ribs showing she not tuck up in her belly etc. God I think theres one at our yard then as she old showing ribs But very fit and healthy!!! Have loads to eat too.
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You can clearly see her spine running down the top of her rump! It's not just an odd rib. Yes, some horses can still show their ribs when they are fat, but generally their bones will otherwise be covered. This horse's pelvis is clearly visible. She is of sight build and so it will never be as obvious as in an emaciated cob. But posting that you do not think this horse is in poor condition is detrimental.
 
Why did it take her so long to do so? who was feeding it then? (or not as it transpires)

Why has the RSPCA not taken this seriously? why has everything taken so long for the horse?

Im amazed also that someone would post a pic of the horse looking like that, ive dreaded posting pic of pink just because she looks a bit rough at the moment?
 
I do use body condtion on mine as he is far from being poor!! Muscle takes time to build up so I won't expert it to happern over a short time.
 
Bojangles said:
I do use body condtion on mine as he is far from being poor!! Muscle takes time to build up so I won't expert it to happern over a short time.
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It doesnt take two years to get a horse, even a twenty year old horse, back into condition.

would be interested to see a pic of bojangles' horse.
 
ThePinkPony said:
It doesnt take two years to get a horse, even a twenty year old horse, back into condition.

would be interested to see a pic of bojangles' horse.
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There's some already on here. She's now increasing feeds etc and of coz it will take time. Hopefully it won't be too long before we see some up to date photos.
 
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