very difficult situation...with a fat pony help!

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rweaver

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hi peeps!
i have a grossly overweight pony, and i have tried to get the weight off him. he lives down a public country park, as there is no private grazing available for me, as i dont earn a ahuge wage. every time i have tried to put him in a maller paddock (ive had permission) somebody lets him back out onto the bigger, lusher fields. and here is also a constant supply of haylage. i would like to loan him out, but the problem is my dad, even though im 18, and my name is on the passport. im not allowed to do anything with him. i was thinking of loaning him anyway, or giving him to a rescue centre as a last resort. im terrified of him getting ill (he had laminitis before) and either having to be put down, or going to his field one day and finding him dead! he is my boy nand means the world to me, so i need to do whats best for him. but my dad is aking this very difficult for me, and will NOT listen to anything i say at all...any help or suggestions would be great because i dont know what to do.

thanks guys
 
Try a grazing muzzle perhaps? They are like a head collar but with a sort of rubber cage over the nose... the pony can still eat and drink but just not as much grass as before...
 
A smaller paddock with a permenant notice explaining why? If people let him out of the paddock they will probably take off a grazing muddle, interfering idiots!
 
as you say he is grossly overweight... can your dad see this?

maybe put a 'case' forward. providing info on body scoring... showing what a normal weight should look like, and how an unhealthy horse looks(and how your horse looks)

and talk about health concern from being over weight. as he has already had laminitis (sp?), and other complications

in the long term to put it bluntly he can loose weight be happy and healthy. or left as he is put more weight on become ill then two choices arise. pay lots in vets bills or unfortunatly pts

ditto grazing muzzle
 
Laminitis is very serious. I know someone who ignored peoples advice and a few months down the line her horse was found in the field half dead as his pedal bones pushed through his hoof capsule. He had to be pts. He was severly overweight with lami.

If he was mine I would restrict him straight away, put a sign up telling people not to interfere and why, feed soaked hay (dont ever just stop him from eating) and I would start to exercise him - even if its just lunging work. I would research all of this thoroughly and explain to your dad, even if you have to write him a letter, if you dont think he will listen.
 
thanks guys for the replies. i dont have the time to excersise him untill the nights get lighter as i dont get home untill about 7.00. and the grazing muzzle is a great idea. but he rubs everything of. hes a bugger for doing that. as for explaining it to my dad, ive tried countless times, and he just wont listen, he thinks he knows best (like most men haha) he doesnt get all this, and is convinced the pony is his aswell. i am ready to just give up and give him to a centre i really am considering it.
 
personally if it was me i'd be getting up in the mornin to ride before work and then doing something with him after work, i have to do this with taz over the summer months as the grass is so good where we are he just explodes! and i dont want to risk it, or advertise to get a sharer for him if not give him to a centre for his wellbeing i know its tough im 18 as well, but your dad shouldnt interfere with your horse especially if he doesnt know much
 
If this is a genuine enquiry hun, can you put a pic of your pony on the Forum? Then we can see him and comment constructively, which might help as you could show the comments to your dad.
 
You might as well stop saying you will give him to a rescue centre. The rescues are full to overflowing at the moment and really you should take responsibility for your own pony. Just get your vet out to give your pony an MOT and ask your dad to be there. If you decide to get rid of him maybe try the Project Horses website, offer him cheaply to anyone who might like to take him on.
 
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