Should I say something?

Mo-Jo

Mo-Jo

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The pony I ride is very overweight possibly obese, lives out 24/7 and is foot sore on stony ground (unshod and doesn't go on hard surfaces much). I was hoping she would burn some weight off now it's getting colder, but the owner now has a rug on her. I am really concerned for this pony's health but I feel unqualified to say anything to the owner because I've only known her for a couple of months and I don't have a lot of experience of caring for horses' health. But then if she were to get laminitis I'd feel terrible. What should I do? :confused:
 
Is there anyone on the yard you can ask? Itis difficult without seeing the pony, but obviously posting pics would be difficult, as you could get yourself into trouble. If you google horse weight scoring, it should give you more of an idea of where the pony stands weight wise. Does it have fat pockets over its back end, or down the shoulders? How far off being able to feel his ribs are you?
 
People I've talked to at the yard agree she could do to lose a bit, but I feel like I'm the only one who considers it a problem.
According to this chart on The Horse (you have to register but it's free) http://www.thehorse.com/pdf/nutrition/bcs-poster.pdf I would say a 7, down from an 8 a couple of months ago.
The pony is young and she might be absolutely fine, I just want to know if I'm worrying about nothing.
 
Yes it's a share. Good idea about asking owner about the footiness... I admit that didn't occur to me, I'd been naively thinking she was foot sore because she wasn't doing any roadwork.
 
You could also see if there'd be any interest on the yard with getting a feed manufacturer rep in to weigh the ponies, condition score and advise on feed. Our local RC did one of these and the ponies got weighed and assessed and got sent a free bag of feed, we also got a few samples amongst those who went along but didn't get their horses done. Might appeal to the yard as a whole.
 
It's always worth saying something, if anything happens you wouldnt want it to somehow turn and become your fault.

At least with saying something, in a friendly tone you've brought it to the owners attention and did your bit...
 
Ditto labruyere. If I fed my two a feed reps recommendations they'd either be so hyped I wouldn't see them for dust, or so fat they'd spontaneously combust. Could you speak to the farrier? If farrier mentions weight & footiness to owner its more likely to be taken well.
 
labruyere said:
yeah and you can always rely on a feed rep to give you honest, unbiased advice.... :rolleyes:
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We have Spillers out to the yard twice a year to weigh and condition score the horses. The rep has always given unbiased advice, yes they do recommend their products but they dont shove them down your throat or insist that the horse will perform better/act differently/live for all eternity if you do feed their products :rolleyes:

They give their recommendations and hand out money-off vouchers put I can probably count on the fingers of one hand how many of the 24 horses on the yard are fed Spillers feed.
 
We told the owner (and yard manager) that the horse she rides was stiff/lame "no hes OK" was the reply! They clearly cant see it, and think we are making it up. That pony is also very fat.
Hope you get a better reaction than that!
 
I think I'm not quite well enough established to suggest a weigh in, but girth has gone up a whole hole so I'm hoping she will carry on that way. Do you still need to worry about laminitis in winter?
 
Mo-Jo said:
I think I'm not quite well enough established to suggest a weigh in, but girth has gone up a whole hole so I'm hoping she will carry on that way. Do you still need to worry about laminitis in winter?
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Sadly, yes, you do. One of the biggest triggers (according to my farrier) is turning out onto frosted grass, which has a very high sugar content. He reckons in recent years he has seen more laminitis in winter than in spring/summer.
 
I refused to ride the horse I had when she got foot sore - ended up with a week off and the owner agreeing to get shoes put back on. In terms of the weight . . . could you lunge a few times a week? Build up the fitness levels throughout the winter and help burn the weight?
 
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