Obese and stressed pony - WwYD?

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Abacus

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A tiny livery arrived yesterday, so fat I can’t quite believe it. He’s 11.1. Apparently has never had laminitis. He is new to the owner and was vetted: apparently the vet said ‘he’s chubby’ and ‘get his weight down’. Has a solid crest and a colossal tummy. I would post a picture but it feels unfair to the new owner (happy to PM).

For the moment he is in a tiny paddock with absolutely minimal grass, but he’s hating it and walking the fence line. It was a regime that worked when I had a tiny pony myself but clearly he’s a bit more bored by it. I can’t put him with the others which need more to eat, even the good doers. Any ideas…?
 
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dorsetladette

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How long has he been with you?

What routine did he have with old owner? (obviously reducing any excess calories)

Is he in a bear paddock 24/7? is he pacing because of being separate from others or due to being unsettled in a new environment? at least he's burning calories while he's walking!

I find treat balls work well for mine when they are restricted.

Can his hay ration be divided into several portions throughout the day?

Could his day be split up a bit to avoid boredom? ie. morning out, couple of hours stabled with tiny haynet, afternoon out, couple of hours in for another tiny haynet. Then tiny haynet later in the evening either in or out depending on where he spends his nights.

What are his owners planning on doing with him?
 
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Abacus

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He has been here since yesterday. He’s in a paddock that has extremely low grass and a big bare patch, he can nibble away but won’t find a lot.

I believe his original routine was at a riding school, literally used for 1 hour a week, otherwise stabled. My guess is that the walking is a combination of stress at the new environment and not being immediately next to others - he can see them but I have kept him apart for bio security for now. My plan was to expand his area a small amount at a time until his area then is adjacent to the neighbouring horses - but which time any infection risk is gone. At the same time I expect my little old pony back from loan to keep him company.

I agree in part about the self exercise being good but also I hate to see a stressed pony. Honestly I can’t be there several times per day to move him about and give hay, stable him etc (he’s on livery to include daily feed and checks, not 7 visits per day).

He is the new lead rein pony for a 7 year old girl.
 
Clodagh

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Abacus said:
He has been here since yesterday. He’s in a paddock that has extremely low grass and a big bare patch, he can nibble away but won’t find a lot.

I believe his original routine was at a riding school, literally used for 1 hour a week, otherwise stabled. My guess is that the walking is a combination of stress at the new environment and not being immediately next to others - he can see them but I have kept him apart for bio security for now. My plan was to expand his area a small amount at a time until his area then is adjacent to the neighbouring horses - but which time any infection risk is gone. At the same time I expect my little old pony back from loan to keep him company.

I agree in part about the self exercise being good but also I hate to see a stressed pony. Honestly I can’t be there several times per day to move him about and give hay, stable him etc (he’s on livery to include daily feed and checks, not 7 visits per day).

He is the new lead rein pony for a 7 year old girl.
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He does need something in his tum, is there a little bit to eat? I’d maybe give a handful of soaked hay an and pm in a haylage net but leave him to it.
 
meleeka

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It's only temporary, so there's not a lot you can do apart from make his pen as interesting as you can. I think Honeychop Lite & Lean is about the lowest calorie you can get so I'd be chucking handfuls of that around the field for him to 'graze' along with a teeny holed net of soaked hay.
 
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When you are comfortable from a biosecurity PoV, could you give him a track around the edge of the field? I appreciate this is a faff in terms of electric fencing, but if he could get down next to the others, it would probably help him? You could also then put some soaked hay in a corner away from the water etc, to encourage him to keep moving. I do think it's good if he can have something in his stomach, especially if he is a bit stressed out.

I'd also encourage the owner to do some stuff with him in hand/on long reins before putting a rider on him- if he's that obese, his joints must be under stress? Do they have plans for him?
 
Melody Grey

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You’ve probably taken care of it already in the yard move, but given the big tummy think about worming/ worm counting….he’ll be even more hangry on limited rations if there’s a worm burden.

Our pony was 50-60kg overweight when we bought him by the vets estimation. We’ve muzzled him very successfully during the summer, in during the day and then out overnight. This has let us turn him out in a herd with our bigger ones and everyone is settled and happy. We strip graze too. Riding and leading is a good call too and is in itself a training exercise- I’ve loved doing this with my little boy, the best quality time!

ETA: our pony has ‘hickstead moments’ so the starvation paddock was very quickly proven useless! 😜
 
Archangel

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He's a bit unsettled (probably furious as he's a pony 😀) but he is embracing eat less, move more.
Agree with others above, some soaked hay/chaff out for him, twice a day, so he had something to look forward to and keep his tummy filled.
Also a salt lick.
 
Goldenstar

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If the paddock is completely bare I would put something like top chop zero on the ground .
Is he in the tiny paddock 24/7 ? If he is he might settle better stabled at night and out during the day .
Leading from a horse is a great way to help get weight off them .
Company would be ideal if you can .
 
HollyWoozle

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As others have asked, what does he actually have to eat right now? I would be another giving him well-soaked hay - appreciate you can't be there all the time to ration it out so I would use a small-hole net or double net it. Dotting top chop zero around also a good idea.

Our EMS pony did continue to walk the fence, even after many months and being directly next to other horses. He has a track system in the daytime now and a buddy at night and this works great but I know you can't just magic up a friend for him and a track may not work for you.
 
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Toby_Zaphod

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You have a difficult job for this time of year. Fence off a small part of a paddock with electric fence. He'll gradually eat the grass off & then when it's gone put small piles of west hay in various places in the paddock. Don't feed treats & give him a feed bowl at his usual time but only have feed with very little goodness n it. Lunge him & hopefully combining both things he'll lose weight. It's unfortunate that he obviously came out of the winter with too much weight. You could also speak to you and get help from them.
 
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