Would you expect a pony to live in this?

[flaxen]

Just been for a walk across one of our fields tonight to check on a friends pony that is staying here for the time being and to find out why she had some cow friends as they were meant to be in the field next door. ( pony moved into that field today as she was usually in the field in front of the house with some in calf cows but this morning one of them calved and the pony stole the calf off the cow and was attacking the cow when it tried to reclaim its calf )

At the end of our field is an allotment that looks like this



And this is what I saw











Im shocked anyone can expect a pony to survive in this. Its quite thin ( much thinner than Id like but my pictures haven't come out well on phone), ribs, spine and hips all visible, only a youngster and has foaled in the past, unsure if just wormy now or carrying a late foal, cant see any food or water for it and it was grateful for the nuts I had in my pocket and didnt like me leading the grey away and was going ballistic so will expect to find it in our field by morning. I will also be ringing authorities in the morning.

I have rung people I know and they don't know who it belongs to or where its come from. Sorry for pics tried to make smaller but photobucket wont save them.

 

[vieshot]

Are those stinging nettles? You should have pulled some up. She would appreciate them when they dried out a bit.

 

[*sprinkles*]

I have an acquaintance who keeps a pony in similar conditions, except it's a Shetland so can't even see out over the weeds and living alone, no companion. This pony I know of won't be touched by our local animal welfare as it's a reasonable weight with apparently good enough resources supplied! I don't think it's acceptable IMO, however from your photos the horse doesn't look too poor (I know you said it's hard to tell from your photo) and if it's receiving hay etc to supplement it's diet there's little you can do.

 

[snooples]

Might have been dumped, id give it a bucket of water at least if there wasnt any in there

 

[Gloi]

There's plenty of edible things in that mix, it certainly won't be going hungry. They've probably stuck the pony on there to eat the patch down a bit. Might not be BHS but it doesn't particularly look thin or uncared for.

 

[ChestnutTinker]

Completely off topic, my apologies but what a gorgeous horse!

 

[elijahasgal]

When I took on my land it hadnt been grazed for a year. I borrowed 4 youngsters for a month, and they cleared it!!
Youngsters go through all sorts of stages, shoot up and loose weight. It doesnt look to have a wormy belly. Keep an eye out on it for owner and water, but dont panic yet

 

[Ladyinred]

The worse thing about that pony is her sunburn! That has got to be sore specially when she is in a patch of nettles. Poor girl. She also has a very pronounced 'milk vein' so may well be in foal.

 

[JFTDWS]

Doesn't look too worrisome weight wise, and there's a fair amount it can eat in that mix. It's actually not a bad way to clear a field like that

 

[Tizzy]

She needs a new home, I have one for her

 

[mulledwhine]

I agree , not ideal but those plants are edible if she chooses to eat them

Perfectly manicured paddocks , when you think about it, are not a natural way to keep any animal !

 

[Adopter]

Did you find an owner OP?
Hope in this heat the horse has at least some water.