HollyWoozle
Well-Known Member
Today my older (31), non-horsey git of a brother accused me of "starving our ponies to death" because they are on restricted grazing and you can see the ribs of one of them. The ribby one, Cosmo, is 18 and arthritic and this is the first year he hasn't been chubby. However, we saw the vet very recently and I said I was concerned about his weight and she said that it was best to keep him that way. I've since done my best to keep him at around that weight and although he is maybe a bit slimmer, I have also upped his feed accordingly and have been using a weigh tape.
My brother's comments really upset me and he has nothing to do with the ponies and all I seem to get is criticism for how I care for them. My non-horsey stepdad is always trying to guilt trip me into letting them out into the big field with the other horses because he says they must be bored or lonely. The fact is, this is one of the first years that Cosmo hasn't had to be locked in with lami so I'm obviously doing something right. He doesn't look wonderful but I am doing my best. They are also not starved - although they have hardly any grass, they are fed hay and also have fast fibre and safe and sound with some stand-free supplement. They also get equibites and Cosmo has cortaflex.
Please can someone tell me that I'm doing it right? I don't like my horses and ponies to be thin and although the rib-factor of Cosmo concerns me, I am going by what my vet said and he is not frighteningly thin or anything. My two horses are near perfect weights in my opinion and our Shettie also looks pretty good (or so I think). I am just really upset now as I feel as though people think I am abusing and starving my ponies.
My brother's comments really upset me and he has nothing to do with the ponies and all I seem to get is criticism for how I care for them. My non-horsey stepdad is always trying to guilt trip me into letting them out into the big field with the other horses because he says they must be bored or lonely. The fact is, this is one of the first years that Cosmo hasn't had to be locked in with lami so I'm obviously doing something right. He doesn't look wonderful but I am doing my best. They are also not starved - although they have hardly any grass, they are fed hay and also have fast fibre and safe and sound with some stand-free supplement. They also get equibites and Cosmo has cortaflex.
Please can someone tell me that I'm doing it right? I don't like my horses and ponies to be thin and although the rib-factor of Cosmo concerns me, I am going by what my vet said and he is not frighteningly thin or anything. My two horses are near perfect weights in my opinion and our Shettie also looks pretty good (or so I think). I am just really upset now as I feel as though people think I am abusing and starving my ponies.
Sometimes it's just tough when all you hear is criticism, I just needed the reassurance of some horsie types. I feel better now so thanks!
