worried about pony..how do I approach owners?

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hannabanana

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Okay then, there is a little sec A pony at the yard I keep mine at, which has breathig problems. When it has hay in the stable it coughs constantly, it is in the stable for most of the time due to weight problems (very fat!). It is turned out in a little paddock for a few hours a day, and I usually have to walk through it to get my horse out of the field, and I noticed its breathing is very wheezy, Never been like that during winter, just recently I think. Now the owners are really lovely people, the pony is for a small girl, but the mother tends to it, I dont think she is very horsey, and on days she doesnt tend to her; her sister does who is horsey. I asked the sister whats wrong with pony and she said its hayfever?? can horses get hayfever? When the pony is given hay they dont soak the hay long enough, just a bucket chucked over, the sister does it better, but the pony is still coughing its head off, just not as much when she soaks the hay. Now how do I go about suggesting to them they should soak for at least half an hour etc. without sounding mean??
 
I would just gently ask if the cough is more of a problem at the moment, or something like that, and see if you can get into a discussion over it ? It may be that the pony would be far better off out in a field with a grazing muzzle on, well away from hay. Maybe this owner doesn't realise this is an option ?

Might be worth a try ? sm x
 
thats what I think, Im sure it would be cheaper and less time consuming if its out 24/7 with a muzzle on anyway, I feel so sorry for it, thanks for advice
 
COPD. You can get a pamphlet at the vets probably or download one off the bhs/internet site. Maybe give it to them in a friendly manner if they're not aware of it :)
 
It could have a pollen allergy which I gues scould be called hayfever. But yes, COPD. Sounds like it needs to live out full time to me, and have well soaked hay. I would be fencing off a bare bit of paddock and keep it turned out.
 
I'd just try and start up a conversation, about how you have noticed pony coughing worse lately and had they thought/tried about a grazing muzzle (has anyone got a spare one on the yard they could try?) so it could spend longer out to see if that may help, or maybe offer to put their hay in to soak for them on a day that you know you will be up before them, to see if that would help him.
I think with situations like this you have to be careful not to affend the owner, by saying they are not doing it right, but have to find more subtle ways, like offereing to help to see if things can improve.
 
Sadly my gorgeous pony has a very similar form of summer allergy/hayfever type thing which makes her completely unrideable thru' summer.

- You may find its actually worse outside if it is pollen related but yes the hay needs to be soaked far more.
Could you say something along the lines of "i read the other day that they now say hay should be fully submerged in water for half an hour to have any effect"- ie... your kind of saying i didnt know that and am not telling you your wrong?

I use Ventipulmin when mine is not too bad she is currently on steroids although this was not a decision taken lightly due to side effects. *touch wood* she is doing brilliantly and i am about to bring her back into work-- woo hoo!!!!
 
Hi, today I kicked up a convo today about it today when she was bringing pony in and I was on way home, the ponies wheezing seemed to be a little better, the sister was telling me how she gets piriton tablets in her feed, and that the grazing muzzle rubs her raw. Then I mentioned about asking the YO about putting her in a bare paddock, not so long ago the council had to section a part of one of the field off to sort the water works that runs underneath, now finished, the fence has been left to leave 2 smaller paddocks, with one side a bit bare but grass growing back, only problem is, is that there is no gate to enter it, so I suggested that she could ask the YO to put one in...? Asking YO may sound a bit rude, but I would of thought something would need to be done about it anyway. But she just said a 'well Im not sure...' I didnt get a chance to talk about hay and more turnout time because pony was trampling on her feet and she had to move :rolleyes:. So hopefully I can kick up another convo soon, I just feel so bad for suggesting it, I like the idea of offering to help with hay soaking, I will offer her help when I kick up the convo again, and then think about giving her leaflets while helping her. And good luck on bringing her back into work mcnally! thanks for help guys
 
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