I’m on the flip side of everyone else’s opinions here. Walking and a little trotting under saddle, presuming Honey is not objecting and from the photos she isn’t (tail carriage, eyes, ears, etc), will only HELP her weight gain.
8 Likes
Some horses need exercise to build topline. I gather the OP is riding very lightly with the aim of overcoming some big behavior issues, and is having success with this. Light riding is not going to hurt the horse if her saddle pads and saddle take account of her topline.
9 Likes
I’d also like to point out that Honey always has that “red alert” headset, and folks here keep saying “oh she’s posing” and other cutesy stuff that have encouraged the OP to keep taking pictures of her in that hyper alert body stance.
Well, what does “head up” do? It accentuates the dip in front of the withers, and makes the back hollow. The OP snaps a photo of her like this and everyone says “she’s too skinny look at her back!11!!”
OP, get her head level and watch the “shelf” everyone is kvetching about completely disappear. MAGIC.
6 Likes
I seriously doubt that OP toodling about at the walk with a few steps of trot as per the attending vet’s guidance counts as cruelty.
11 Likes
Yep not seeing cruelty whatsoever. Refeeding… hell FEEDING horses is rarely black and white. Yes there are guidelines and recommendations. OP is doing a fine job. Walking around is not cruel.
Starving a horse is cruel. Neglecting a horse is cruel. Jaminey…. Over feeding a horse is cruel. Please don’t pick at the OP because this horse isn’t following a guideline you’re familiar with.
10 Likes
I see the same thing in the in the following photos as the shadow photo.
It really is a shame that voicing concern gets ones hands slapped.
24 Likes
There’s a big area between cruelty and not doing what’s best for a horse. I don’t think anyone is accusing the OP of cruelty. There are quite a few of us, however, people with lots of experience with horses and bringing malnourished horses back to condition, who believe that the OP is not doing what’s best for this mare. I know she doesn’t want to hear it and it’s unlikely that she will modify her program for the horse.
16 Likes
Or maybe she will follow her vets advice?
What an outrageous thing to say.
6 Likes
I see the shelf in ALL of these photos.
That said, cruel is a harsh word. Unfair is better.
Everyone has been raving about how ASBs are so eager to please and so willing to do what is asked - I would guess they’re very willing to push through discomfort that a less forgiving type would say eff off! As such, it would be wise to be extra careful with Honey and go slow.
I’ll throw myself under the bus here and say that I’ve gotten tons of advice to stay off the gelding I posted above, handwalk for MONTHS, no trot, no lunging, etc etc - so I find it interesting that people want someone riding this horse in this condition. I don’t argue that horses must work to put on muscle - but I would hesitate to put a full fledged adult on this horse. A very small, lightweight, but balanced person/child for a few minutes in a perfectly fitted saddle…. Maybe.
What’s the harm in groundwork and food?
19 Likes
Well post 532 does specify cruel
3 Likes
I mean, sure, but did we ever consider that not all vets are created equally?
I’m not saying her vet is bad.
I’m saying we don’t know.
And this mare doesn’t look great, and progress us quite slow, even to those who know progress in these cases can be excruciatingly slow.
If we shouldn’t discount the vet, who we don’t know from Adam, why are dismissing the comments of COTH members we do have a good read on, who have shown that they are knowledgeable?
7 Likes
21 Likes
Question:
How much of each food source is Honey receiving? An example of what I am asking:
2 quarts or 2 pounds of commercial grain 2 times per day
3 quarts or 4 pounds of alfalfa pellets 1 time per day
10 pounds of Timothy, Orchard, Coastal, Alfalfa hay per day
etc and so forth…
Please name the brand of food source.
8 Likes
Your horse is coming back from a lameness / injury if I recall correctly. And you presently don’t have access to any flat spaces to ride in?
OP’s horse is supposedly sound afaik and has an arena to ride in.
2 Likes
Well… kinda. A very old, very much “it is what it is” injury, but yes nowhere very flat to ride.
In my opinion that would be similar protocol to a horse that is still very underdeveloped and underweight. As far as taking it slow and being very mindful of the work being asked of the horse, anyway.
I will not demand every tiny detail that OP is currently doing. And I’m just a faceless internet stranger, but I also have been in the spot where I look back at pictures of my horse and am APPALLED. I did not realize how underweight and undermuscled he was, because I saw him every day and the other horses were similar at my barn. I wish someone had told me.
5 Likes
A weight tape can be your friend here. So much easier than eyeballing a horse to see if they have gained or lost. Granted, it will not give an exact weight, but if you tape them consistently, say once a week and mark it down, it will give you a ballpark idea. I have to do this with my minis for the opposite reason, they are air ferns.
13 Likes
I can’t speak for “we”, but I can speak for me. I’m flat out dismissing the concept that it’s cruel for OP to putz around at the walk. If it’s “the best choice”, could be up for debate but CRUEL it is not.
Body condition is known to be deceptive in photographs. The vet has seen the horse in person. So for me, that holds quite a bit of weight in considering the vet’s guidance.
15 Likes
Ok, did I say cruel?
I think one person may have, but don’t think it was me so not sure why you’re commenting to me.
While it’s not the word I chose, I’m not sure it’s completely wrong… it’s an opinion.
I am offering thoughts and questions in hopes the OP considers that many, well experienced people are concerned.
Maybe it prompts her to dig and discover there’s something missing that could help this mare.
1 Like
The OP is aware that the horse needs to gain weight and agrees with that. So it’s not like she’s ignoring it.
Considering if these walking around rides are the best choice is something OP can ponder on, but calling it cruel is out of line.
It wouldn’t be cruel of you to hack your horse out either, you are maybe choosing a different path bc you believe it will have a better outcome for your horse.
3 Likes
I didn’t search, but is her feed getting weighed out? Are you 100% certain she isn’t getting shortchanged on grain? Also if the hay quality isn’t sufficient to her needs she won’t thrive. Plus vet (blood work & teeth). You may have a persistent unwanted guest within her.
12 Likes
