Worried about horse...

[Bikewanderer]

I'll be that guy.

End this animals decline and suffering.

Not my decision. Really t he vet isn't either, but I can ask her to do this. I have been a little worried that she can not financially afford to care for the horse. I don't know this for an fact though, just wanting to know what the situation really is.

 

[Bikewanderer]

Her response:

"He gets about 2/3 a coffee can fill of grain with 4 oz weight additives. He still has all but maybe 1 tooth. They are kinda rough but he's not dropping much grain or having problems chewing. He's also on some really good senior grain."

 

[WM75Guy]

Don't give up hope. An older horse can be a challenge but can come back from 200-300# of weight loss. You can get a tape to measure them to get a fairly accurate weight. A stick to measure height will also help.

Here is our 22 y/o mare that is now a pasture pony due to a tendon tear. We are having to deal with weight loss as she is depressed from pain and not being able to work. She gets to live out her life as a companion for the other horses.



Here is our 30 y/o gelding we had to put down after he had a stroke 2 years ago. He maintained his weight right up to the end.

 

[WM75Guy]

Her response:

"He gets about 2/3 a coffee can fill of grain with 4 oz weight additives. He still has all but maybe 1 tooth. They are kinda rough but he's not dropping much grain or having problems chewing. He's also on some really good senior grain."

It's tough when it is not your horse. The only way to really know if the teeth need floating is to have them checked by the vet. You cannot tell from watching them eat. It is not painful if they are overgrown, they just don't crush the hay stems so that the gut can absorb the nutrients from it.

 

[OzarkFarmer]

20 is not really that old for a horse. I've seen (and ridden) plenty at that age and higher in some rigorous situations. He might have something going with teeth or worms. Have the vet float his teeth and give him a check-up. A paste wormer from the TSC is a cheap way to make sure his digestive track is in order.

 

[zzvyb6]

I've been involved in several cases of horse neglect here in Michigan via The Michigan Horse Welfare Coalition. (Look it up).

It YOU are aware of a neglected horse (no water, hay, severe weight loss or untreated injury, etc) here in Michigan, both YOU and the owner face jail time for animal abuse. Judges have a very dim view of owners, keepers, boarders and neighbors who fail to intercede on the animal's behalf. Check with your local sheriff on what the consequences are. There are quite a few horse rescue and adoption farms around here. Maybe you should contact them. If it's a case of financial hardship, we provide food, shelter at other locations and even transport to foster farms.

News outlets LOVE to advertise and crucify any horse or dog owner charged with neglect or inhumane treatment. I've had local TV stations fly in to see the animals we've seized from boarding stables, dead owners, horse hoarders, city people, meat packers, and mental health patients.

 

[Kentuckyfarmer]

I've been involved in several cases of horse neglect here in Michigan via The Michigan Horse Welfare Coalition. (Look it up).

It YOU are aware of a neglected horse (no water, hay, severe weight loss or untreated injury, etc) here in Michigan, both YOU and the owner face jail time for animal abuse. Judges have a very dim view of owners, keepers, boarders and neighbors who fail to intercede on the animal's behalf. Check with your local sheriff on what the consequences are. There are quite a few horse rescue and adoption farms around here. Maybe you should contact them. If it's a case of financial hardship, we provide food, shelter at other locations and even transport to foster farms.

News outlets LOVE to advertise and crucify any horse or dog owner charged with neglect or inhumane treatment. I've had local TV stations fly in to see the animals we've seized from boarding stables, dead owners, horse hoarders, city people, meat packers, and mental health patients.

Buddy I believe your barking up the wrong tree here. This guy is concerned and is asking questions to better the problem. You don't know what the problem is and jumping on the wagon saying jail time, in humane treatment and neglect. Problem with some people spouting off when they don't know the whole story. Could be horse is sick, cancer, infection from something you don't know, I don't know, nobody knows until the vet checks, blood work is done. He is concerned, the owner seems to be concerned and have been trying things it sounds like, example worming, different grains for older horses. Maybe you should read the whole thread again and not think the cuffs should be on him and the owner thinking you know everything about what's going on. What to do the right thing find the real neglect cases, there are lots in the world but it appears this isn't one when questions are asked and their trying to better the situation. Start with the dog owners that get dogs and let them run a will tearing up others property and going after livestock killing and injuring them. Trust me there are lots more of those in the world than people not feeding horses properly. You'll have a full time job trying to keep up with them.

 

[MF283]

Buddy I believe your barking up the wrong tree here. This guy is concerned and is asking questions to better the problem. You don't know what the problem is and jumping on the wagon saying jail time, in humane treatment and neglect. Problem with some people spouting off when they don't know the whole story. Could be horse is sick, cancer, infection from something you don't know, I don't know, nobody knows until the vet checks, blood work is done. He is concerned, the owner seems to be concerned and have been trying things it sounds like, example worming, different grains for older horses. Maybe you should read the whole thread again and not think the cuffs should be on him and the owner thinking you know everything about what's going on. What to do the right thing find the real neglect cases, there are lots in the world but it appears this isn't one when questions are asked and their trying to better the situation. Start with the dog owners that get dogs and let them run a will tearing up others property and going after livestock killing and injuring them. Trust me there are lots more of those in the world than people not feeding horses properly. You'll have a full time job trying to keep up with them.

I think it was a fair warning, with this world going to hades in a waste basket, no one is safe against anything these days. Agree, a Vet needs to be called.

Ronnie

 

[Kentuckyfarmer]

I think it was a fair warning, with this world going to hades in a waste basket, no one is safe against anything these days. Agree, a Vet needs to be called.

Ronnie

Myself didn't think a warning was warranted. Man is trying to better problem and asking questions. Also saying horse was given quality hay and grain and wanting to know if there was maybe something else to consider. Appear owner was the one that was giving and buying the feed and was also concerned. There is no sign of abuse so comment wasn't warranted. I also have problems with folks not taking care of their livestock and animals. Make me mad as fire to see some one buy a small piece of ground in the country and first thing they think they need is a dog, not one but two or more. Get them a feed and water bowl and think they are taking care of it by filling them up once and a while. That's it. Just let them run and don't care what they tear up or kill at the neighbors property. Then they need a horse, that leads to two or three. Had a neighbor that got that little place and his daughter wanted a horse. I think she petted it once or twice then one became seven before all said and done. All,seven were in a pasture about 3 acres. After a week or so not a blade of grass was left. Was tearing my fence down trying to get the hay I was growing to feed my cattle. He threw a round bale of hay to them once in a while to try and keep the from going thru the fence and never once fixed it because I was the one that put it up myself before he moved in. Not once did any of the horses have a haulter on them, lead anywhere, had a saddle on them. No shade for hot weather or protection from cold winter wind. I have cattle, chickens, and a couple hogs. I control my animals, feed my animals, and take responsibility for them. They never leave my property unless they are in a trailer after being sold. They are tame and can be petted and are messed with daily. I don't expect my neighbors to have to tolerate my livestock being in their yard, or on their property tearing up their stuff. It's called consideration, and respect for their property. It appears the op has consideration for the animal and is questioning and wanting to know what can be done to better the horses condition, along with the owners knowledge. That's not abuse. Abuse comes in lots of different ways. Abuse is a owner not taking responsibility for the animals from the moment of ownership and thinking it someone else's responsiblility to accept their unresponsibility.

 

[TomSeller]

I've been involved in several cases of horse neglect here in Michigan via The Michigan Horse Welfare Coalition. (Look it up).

It YOU are aware of a neglected horse (no water, hay, severe weight loss or untreated injury, etc) here in Michigan, both YOU and the owner face jail time for animal abuse. Judges have a very dim view of owners, keepers, boarders and neighbors who fail to intercede on the animal's behalf. Check with your local sheriff on what the consequences are. There are quite a few horse rescue and adoption farms around here. Maybe you should contact them. If it's a case of financial hardship, we provide food, shelter at other locations and even transport to foster farms.

News outlets LOVE to advertise and crucify any horse or dog owner charged with neglect or inhumane treatment. I've had local TV stations fly in to see the animals we've seized from boarding stables, dead owners, horse hoarders, city people, meat packers, and mental health patients.

This post is over the top for this situation.