what would you say if...

Ottinmeg

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www.equestrianimage.com
a livery on your yard decided their horse was to fat and they wanted it to lose weight, the way they are going to achieve this weight loss is to stop rugging it (still out 24/7 and fine coated) not feed it hard feed and allow it a 5 minute munch on hay per day. the rest of the time it is in an approx 3 acre field with 4 others that have been on the field 24/7 since may , therefore no grass either.
 
i think that thats a thick idea and they shoudnt have a horse if they dont understand their needs
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Something happened here a couple of years ago on similar lines although the horse was rugged. By March he was looking so poor and lethargic that I told the owner to get the vets out to do bloods - he had severe anaemia, which cost her alot of money in the long run to put him right.

As someone else said, I would have a quiet word with the YO as she, under the new Animal Welfare Act is equally responsible as the owner.
 
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I would wonder what has provoked such an extreme and sudden solution to a problem that can be overcome with exercise and careful management of feed.

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Quite
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What very poor management...
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this isnt happening on my yard, but i can guarentee the YO of the yard it is on wont say a thing to her and even if she did the livery would cop the hump and refuse to speak to her for a month!
the winter...this person doesnt have a clue. you cant give her advice or say anything to her with regard to the care ,management of the horse as she knows it all.....this latest 'brainwave' is how she thinks you get a horse to lose weight.
i havnt seen the horse in question lately but it was never fat,might have had a bit of a belly in the summer but not what you would call fat.
i must confess i posted this to see what others thought as im thinking about reporting owner before the poor horse suffers to much. it is complete ignorance on owners part and just the latest in a long line of stoopid things she does to/with this horse.
 
But if you report her they will arrive and see an apparently thriving horse!
Sadly it will work and it will lose weight, but not the kindest method is it?
Sometimes it makes you want to reverse the position and lock her in her bathroom for a month with access to the fridge once a day for five mins...
 
See if you can get hold of a copy of 'Consultation on the Code of Practice for the Welfare of Equines' (ISBN:978 0 7504 4475 0) and hit her with it
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You could also check out www.newc.co.uk. Reporting her will get you no where, she needs educating! An alternative route would be to inform the YO of her requirements under the Duty of Care legislation. In the extreme, she could be proscecuted for neglect even though its not her horse. Would she want to lose her business and get a possible ban from keeping horses?

The positive duty of a horse owner or keeper responsible for an animal to ensure its welfare as stated in Section 9 of the Animal Welfact Act 2006 is based on the 'Five Freedoms' ~

1 Its need for a suitable diet by providing ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour.

2 Its need for a suitable environment by providing an appropriate environment, including shelter and a comfortable
resting place.

3. Its need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and desease by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment.

4. Its need to be able to exhibit normal behavious patterns by providing sufficient space for habitation and exercise, proper facilities and company, as appropriate.

5. Any need it has to be housed with, or apart from, other animals by ensuring conditions and treatment, which avoid mental suffering.

Also check out Section 4 of the Act. Wont bore you all any more.

Hope this helps to kick ar$e
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HH ,that did cross my mind that if i call them now they WILL see a 'healthy' horse!
ill get as many leaflets as i can and get my friend to leave them in her stable,not that it would make any difference i doubt.
failing that i think they are going to a show that we are going to in a couple of weeks so i might just tell the silly cow straight ,whether she wants to hear it or not.
 
Mae needed to lose weight, i done this by increasing exercise and cutting back lightly on her hard feed. No way would i think about putting one of our finer horses out without a rug, its too cold here.

Even if she cant ride it, surely she could give it a good lunge!!

The woman needs a wake up call, surely a few extra pounds this time of year wont do it any harm!
 
Sounds like they want the horse to lose weight by shivering! Basically the horse burns calories by shivering thus losing weight. So instead of the horse storing it's food as fat - it uses it to keep it warm (by shivering)

It's a bit extreme - I wouldn't do it. It's bad enough when it happens by pure neglect but to do it deliberately!!
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I think they shouldn't be owning a horse with moronic ideas like that. Id definately have something to say to them! Tell them that they're fat, so maybe they should strip naked and stand outside all day with nothing to eat!
 
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