poiuytrewq
Well-Known Member
I thought I'd let those who were interested know how we are getting on.
After bringing a skinny lethargic, scruffy little 35 yr old Welsh mare back to mine for her owners she's doing really well.
Just a really good brush and wash made a big difference, I'm not sure why but she had, and at first regularly got thick black poo all up her back end but including either side of her dock area so took a lot of gentle shampooing every few days, This seem to have stopped. Her legs and face were all scabby but washing and cream has sorted that out.
She absolutely loves her food. At first she used to try and eat hay but it just balled up and fell out. She doesn't even seem to bother anymore. I've tried several different types and sources of hay, she just has no interest. I wonder if at first she was just so hungry that she kept trying but now knows her mash will be delivered several times through out the day so isn't as desperate to try and chew things she knows she can't.
She can't eat any form of chaff, so doesn't even bother trying. I can hide a handful in her mash but it does make her poo sloppy again because she can't chew it enough to digest properly (imo!)
She seems to be able to eat small amounts of grass so is out over night quite happily.
Her owners bought her a nice LW turnout and a forum member kindly sent her a little 100g which we used a lot at first (and will do again come Autumn) as i think without any fat on her she really did feel the cold and was often very shivery, so it was great to be able to wrap her up a bit.
She has become more alert and moves around more. She is pretty chatty and lets me know when a feed is due!
The plan of the two old welshies living out their days didn't work out because my little gelding became very stressy and turned into a full on attacking stallion type
So he lives with the horses and she lives with Bubbles, my tiny fat pony, not the ideal feed requirement combination but they get on well and are happy together.
I'm not so sure the original plan of her and mine moving up to the owners for winter will work as I didn't anticipate having to feed her so often, That's ok whilst she is here but would be difficult to go else where so often around work and such like. Especially as she needs to be separated from fat boy and takes an eternity to eat. Here I tend to put her on the yard and come back in to do some work while she finishes off, this works fairly well.
I also think she will probably be better stabled rather than living out all 24/7.
She's now a weight I'm getting fairly happy with, Maybe a bit more, certainly I'd try for more heading into Autumn. I'm wary of going too much too soon as she does have cushings and I don't know what her tipping point will be. Mine are very different to her so it's been a real case of getting my head round what she can and can't cope with.
So it's all looking fairly more hopeful for her at the moment. I was so horrified when i first picked her up but recently she has jogged (soundly) up the field to come in for breakfast which is very sweet, I was having to hold back Bubbles waiting for her to stumble along behind us at first.
The vet said he didn't think she'd see another winter and I agreed at the time. Now I'm thinking she may well prove us wrong!
After bringing a skinny lethargic, scruffy little 35 yr old Welsh mare back to mine for her owners she's doing really well.
Just a really good brush and wash made a big difference, I'm not sure why but she had, and at first regularly got thick black poo all up her back end but including either side of her dock area so took a lot of gentle shampooing every few days, This seem to have stopped. Her legs and face were all scabby but washing and cream has sorted that out.
She absolutely loves her food. At first she used to try and eat hay but it just balled up and fell out. She doesn't even seem to bother anymore. I've tried several different types and sources of hay, she just has no interest. I wonder if at first she was just so hungry that she kept trying but now knows her mash will be delivered several times through out the day so isn't as desperate to try and chew things she knows she can't.
She can't eat any form of chaff, so doesn't even bother trying. I can hide a handful in her mash but it does make her poo sloppy again because she can't chew it enough to digest properly (imo!)
She seems to be able to eat small amounts of grass so is out over night quite happily.
Her owners bought her a nice LW turnout and a forum member kindly sent her a little 100g which we used a lot at first (and will do again come Autumn) as i think without any fat on her she really did feel the cold and was often very shivery, so it was great to be able to wrap her up a bit.
She has become more alert and moves around more. She is pretty chatty and lets me know when a feed is due!
The plan of the two old welshies living out their days didn't work out because my little gelding became very stressy and turned into a full on attacking stallion type
So he lives with the horses and she lives with Bubbles, my tiny fat pony, not the ideal feed requirement combination but they get on well and are happy together.I'm not so sure the original plan of her and mine moving up to the owners for winter will work as I didn't anticipate having to feed her so often, That's ok whilst she is here but would be difficult to go else where so often around work and such like. Especially as she needs to be separated from fat boy and takes an eternity to eat. Here I tend to put her on the yard and come back in to do some work while she finishes off, this works fairly well.
I also think she will probably be better stabled rather than living out all 24/7.
She's now a weight I'm getting fairly happy with, Maybe a bit more, certainly I'd try for more heading into Autumn. I'm wary of going too much too soon as she does have cushings and I don't know what her tipping point will be. Mine are very different to her so it's been a real case of getting my head round what she can and can't cope with.
So it's all looking fairly more hopeful for her at the moment. I was so horrified when i first picked her up but recently she has jogged (soundly) up the field to come in for breakfast which is very sweet, I was having to hold back Bubbles waiting for her to stumble along behind us at first.
The vet said he didn't think she'd see another winter and I agreed at the time. Now I'm thinking she may well prove us wrong!
. She would let me know when I was late with a feed, would trot up the field just when I was wondering whether I needed to call it a day and was the best companion pony ever. This lasted from early 30s until was PTS this May at the grand age of 48! I would do it all again as she was so special.