Shetland pony - advice on care please

[Marigold4]

I've got a skewbald shetland pony aged about 9 on loan - standard rather than mini. She's to be a companion. Very nervous but we're working on it and she's responding. She's overweight, I think, under all that fluff. Teeth, vaccs and feet all up-to-date.

At present, she's in at night and mostly out during day but with a couple of hours in again at lunchtime to limit grass intake. In a small fenced off field area on her own at the mo until other horses get used to her. I'm feeding Marksway hifibre blue at night. She gets a handful of grassnuts when others are fed.

I'm keen to get a bit of weight off her before spring. Not had a tiny pony before. How much haylage should I give at night? Any other tips for reducing her weight?

She's also got a scurfy mane. Any tips on how to treat?

 

[poiuytrewq]

Can you swap to soaked hay? That would help. Then she could have a decent amount in a small hole net. Maybe a bit of straw to pick at if she runs out as it’s lower calorie.
Mine wears a Flexible filly muzzle and last summer that was a life saver, he was also happy to wear it unlike most muzzles.
Any photos? Everyone here loves a Shetland photo!

 

[cauda equina]

I agree, we can't possibly advise without a photo!

 

[Parrotperson]

Yes photos are compulsory! Small hole nets a must and put one over another can help to make it even better.

if she’s going out with your others on ad Lib grass she’s going to have to have a muzzle. And straw mixed in with gay yo bulk up means you can feed less hay.

 

[Marigold4]

Here she is! She was worried about the ipad taking though photo so looking nervous. How overweight do you think she is?

 

[Parrotperson]

Difficult from that angle (can you get a side on?) but most shitlands (HHO pet name for shetlands!) could do with losing but she doesn’t look huge.

she’s lovely!

 

[babymare]

Oh who doesn’t love a Shettie. She’s gorgeous

 

[Marigold4]

Difficult from that angle (can you get a side on?) but most shitlands (HHO pet name for shetlands!) could do with losing but she doesn’t look huge.

she’s lovely!

I did try to get side on but she's determined to keep both eyes on me! She's got a strange sort of indentation where the thick fur on the muzzle stops and the velvety nose starts. Is that normal??

 

[cauda equina]

Could it be a scar?

 

[Marigold4]

Yes photos are compulsory! Small hole nets a must and put one over another can help to make it even better.

if she’s going out with your others on ad Lib grass she’s going to have to have a muzzle. And straw mixed in with gay yo bulk up means you can feed less hay.

I'll try soaked hay tomorrow - she's certainly not keen on the haylage!

 

[Marigold4]

Could it be a scar?

I wondered if someone had left her headcollar on?

 

[cauda equina]

In your photo there looks like a distinct line across her face, I wondered if she'd had a tight rope wrapped around her muzzle but a grown on headcollar might do it too