...fat.
This is his first time on pasture in almost five years, so I've been watching for it, and it's not unexpected. As a first step, I cut his feed back as far as I can, even though I know the feed isn't what's making him fat. He's now getting a handful of Essential K ration balancer morning and night. The barn owners just laugh, they've never seen a horse get this little feed before.
But I know he's happy being able to graze again, I'm worried for their white vinyl fencing if they drylot him (...#ponyyoga tends to be hard on fencing when the grass is greener on the other side) and I want to let the BO's keep their normal turnout routine, so there's only one compromise:
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| It's the pony version of this emoji: :-| |
He's worn a grazing muzzle before, briefly in September of 2012, when one person told me he was fat and I believed them despite not really believing it myself. Trust your gut, people!
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| Not fat. |
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| Fat. But also muscles! (But mostly fat.) |
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| Also the reviews said this design could be improved by the addition of one more strap on the front, because the horse can basically pull it down and get it off otherwise, so I proactively added duct tape. Again, he's not persistent, the grazing muzzle just needs to stand its ground for a few minutes. |
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| (pre-duct tape, I tried a zip tie and didn't like it.) |
What a poor, sad, abused pony ;) that look of utter betrayal is universal when the grazing muzzle comes out, haha.
ReplyDeleteLol, yeah. If only we could reason with them...
DeletePOOR CONNOR! don't let him talk to Dino about muzzles. I'll be crossing my fingers that he adjusts well and keeps it on!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I hope so too. We have a few days until he goes out with it on, I'm letting him be drylotted this week as a detox (and to hang out with a fellow fatty/Cushings horse that came down with Laminitis last week, also drylotted).
DeletePoor Connor! lol Smart though to try the muzzle. My mini wears one because I think he prefers being out with the big boys in the pasture instead of alone in a dry lot. He does look sad though. Whenever I come out to see him he bumps me with the little basket of the grazing muzzle and I feel like his little eyes are begging me to take it off! lol
ReplyDeleteAwwww, yeah, I know he won't like it, but it's better than foundering!
DeleteHis color is so striking this time of year. Or maybe it's just that he photographs so well in the light of day? Haha. Either way.
ReplyDeleteHahaha, I'm pretty sure it's the second one. Most of the pictures you guys get to see of him are in the dark barn aisle. That's funny!
DeleteB drinks out of auto waterers just fine with her muzzle on (when it's on...she's very persistent and crafty lol)It mixes with the hay/grass in there and makes a green soup for her to fling at you :) Good luck!
ReplyDeleteHahaha, oh boy, can't wait for that. Connor does love creating herbal tea.
DeleteI am going to print his photo out and show it to Carmen- maybe she'll back off the grass a bit! I am keeping a close eye on her weight.
ReplyDeleteLol! Yeah, it's so easy to let it get away from you. The second I got uncomfortable with his weight, the muzzle went on.
DeleteUgh...the fat pony issue. I hope your muzzle works great!
ReplyDeleteI know you feel me on this one. I love that Greenguard muzzle you have, but it doesn't work with the auto waterers sadly.
DeleteHope it works out well! Poor Fatty Mc Fat Butt
ReplyDeleteMe too. It's always something.
DeleteIt's a tough life Conner. A tough life.
ReplyDeleteLol, right? Deal, little buddy.
DeleteThat seems cruel. You deny him anything of a natural horse life. He should graze and eat grass. Can't he put on some pounds and even out?
ReplyDeleteI can't tell if your comment is tongue-in-cheek or not...it's either a grazing muzzle and he gets to graze, or a drylot and he stands around bored, or he dies of laminitis/founder. Easy choice.
DeleteMuzzles are the devil and even with wearing one 24/7 Katai get's obese. She's in a small dry lot right now but a bit of grass still grows and she's gained weight with just that small amount. I seriously can sympathize with her though since I feel like my metabolism is equally crappy haha
ReplyDeleteUgh, it's such a struggle with them. This pasture has been seeded and fertilized and generally well maintained. There's a small one on the property that was intentionally not seeded or fertilized, I have a feeling Connor may end up there eventually.
DeleteAh Cob genes! Rosemary and Comrade get the low fat hay and whine at night. After Comrade's near founder, we ere on the side of caution. Hang in there Connor!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, that's always in the back of my mind. I watch his weight like a hawk!
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