'Puggy' section A - anyone got one? any eating problems?

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DuckToller

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I have recently acquired the most delightful little welshie, but he does a very odd thing when he eats - he throws his head up in the air when he swallows, bit like a seal gulping down a fish, and makes a noise. He does it with grass, hay, short feed (I always soak his cubes now just in case), everything in fact. Mind you as he was obese when I got him, I don't think it stops him eating anything!

I got the dentist out, and he had a look and did what needed doing, but said there was nothing wrong with his teeth to cause the problem.

I thought perhaps he was windsucking, but he only does it when eating, so I mentioned it to a friend as she is a bit of an expert on welsh cobs.

She said there are two distinct types of As, the old fashioned 'puggy' type with little ears, dished face, bulging eyes and a broad muzzle. As my OH calls this chap toad-face, I guess he is a puggy :) Cutest little thing I ever did own - a total delight to ride, but I have noticed he is quite noisy in canter.

Apparently the puggy types do sometimes have problems with teeth and breathing - anyone got any input on this?
 
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Sticks hand up and waves!

Had one a few years ago, drove me nuts. In the end I had him scoped and he had an extra flap over the top of his trachea which made an odd noise when swallowing. He was from Revel lines and had the same facial conformation as you describe. It never affected his performance or health.
 
Waving back vigorously!

So nothing can be done? I don't mind the noise in canter - he is so stumpy he is only ridden by little kids and it helps that he can't breath well enough to gallop anywhere far! But the eating worries me as I think of choke :(
 
Thanks! He was a bogof, so can't complain, just wondering if it will affect the vetting if I sell him one day, but got so many friends who adore him I guess he will sell himself.

He has Blaenau lines, Moorcroft Halcyon rings a bell, stud name is Nergar which doesn't come up on any search.

He makes me smile everytime I see him, in a nice way :)
 
If he's child friendly and kind to ride he is priceless, they'll be queuing up for him!

I'm off now to curl up in my basket and snuffle. :)
 
No, not noticed that fault fortunately! Looking at his pedigree he does have Revel lines, and his great great great grandmother is in both halves of the pedigree - but I guess if you go that far back, everyone is interbred.

He is the nicest, kindest, easiest little pony I have ever had - he says yes, what's the question? So far he has been xc, sj, dressage, games, hacking, pairs xc, 5 pc rallies in big fields - and he's hoof perfect! Other than a tad grunty...

Get to the back of the queue everyone, I want him for my grandchildren (daughter not actually left school yet so might be a while) :)
 
Bulgy/frog eyes can also be due to metabolic syndrome.

Is he eating very quickly? Horses that stuff their food in can sometimes make a noise because they are stuffing themselves. Like choke, just not as serious as it clears quickly without a fuss
 
Thanks pastie2 - I was just repeating what I was told, I didn't realise the finer heads were the proper as, and that puggies were a fashion. I certainly wouldn't think the conformation is desirable - slightly weird looking in fact. Although toad face sums him up quite well, he is just the nicest pony I have ever met so they got something right.

He is quite young, 9, and he hasn't got that bulgy an eye, think it is just his breeding not metabolic problems.
 
As said by others the puggy heads are fashionable to some- not the heads they originally had. I went to a conference a few months ago and the vet in attendance specifically mentioned such exaggerated heads saying that they come with a range of problems- mostly teeth (the x-rays he showed us of their teeth were awful)
ETA: Blaenau breeding typically produces such heads- my mare is Blaenau bred but luckily her dam's side compensated for it and she has a fine head.
 
I have had a fair amount of experience with welshies, including what you call the puggy type! Revel ponies did have a tendancy to this look, though I never came across one that would do what you sais while eating. I would have the vet check the pony over and witness the behaviour just to be on the safe side. POny sounds a delight!

Re the grunty ness when cantering, this does seem a bit of a welsh trait whether puggy section A or any other sort! Many of the welsh cobs I have ridden have been a bit snorty in canter, a bit train like in fact.
 
Snuffles out of basket.....

Mine had terrible teeth and sinus problems as well and I always thought he had been bred with these characteristics for the wrong reasons. I always wanted to know if anyone else had had the eating noise and investigated it as well, just wondered if the inbreeding had caused a genetic abnormality that others had experienced. Mine was a Weston pony and a grumpy little toad but not surprising with what he had to contend with.
 
Blaneau bred pony.....awful problems with her teeth, prone to jaw abcesses....and a general all round pain in the a**!!!
babyquailers017.jpg

And her foal....
babyquailers016.jpg
 
Afternoon Old Bat - good of you to drag yourself out of the basket to join us :)

Joeanne - your foal's head certainly is broad - I hadn't realised that some breeds of ponies were being messed with like dog breeds.

However I am so in love with mine, I could clone him - only thing he isn't keen on is anything narrow that he has to jump. Perhaps with his eyes stuck out so far to the side of his head, he can't see anything dead ahead of him.

I will go sort out a pic, so we can all go aaaah or urgh, depending on your view point. I won't be offended btw, as don't like breeding for looks. As I have said, his obliging nature more than makes up for his bug-eyed look.

Friend's daughter wants to do fancy dress on him. Could go as The Ugly Bug Ball? Any other ideas?
 
Actually I've had a really hard morning chasing my tail, when's tea time?

I'm off to investigate photobucket to see if I can upload one of mine!
 
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