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Original poster

Wording for a don't feed the pony sign

55 replies

LaPufalina · 10/07/2022 17:11

We have my DD's pony on a smallish bare(ish) paddock to keep his weight down but unfortunately that paddock is next to a busy road and we've caught people feeding him Sad so annoying.
He's very cute and friendly but I'm going to do some supplementary/more personalised signs to beg people not to feed him.
He had lami before we got him and has fat pads at the moment, no heat in hooves but I think he's borderline. Any ideas for wording for the sign?
Ps He has a grazing muzzle but he's so miserable wearing it so the small paddock seems the lesser of two evils but not if CFs treat him as a petting farm pony.

OP posts:
Theimpossiblegirl · 10/07/2022 17:12

Please don't feed me, I am on a special diet.

AnneKipankitoo · 10/07/2022 17:13

Please do not feed the pony . He is on a special diet

AtillatheHun · 10/07/2022 17:16

Put a fence up inside the field so he can’t get to the gate where people feed him. People wilfully ignore those signs

(alternatively make it very strongly worded - the pony is ill - feeding him may kill him. Please don’t - or similar. Scare people otherwise they think you’re a big meanie and the pony is soooo cute)

BellaTheDarkOverlord · 10/07/2022 17:19

A fence inside the fenced area may be a good idea if you can accommodate it. He can't get to people then and they can't reach him. Scary signs too are a good idea. My mum feeds horses and I've told her not to. Her reasoning is "they have no food in their area or grass the poor starving things!". She willfully ignores signs. Maybe something saying that he could die if fed anything but the stuff he's on.

Polkadotties · 10/07/2022 17:35

I would add that there is cctv even if there isn’t

Original poster
LaPufalina · 10/07/2022 17:43

Good suggestions thanks all. I've thought about extra fencing but the last person actually threw apples in front of us after being told the pony was overweight and at risk of illness. Can't argue with stupid.

OP posts:
Original poster
LaPufalina · 10/07/2022 17:45

Polkadotties · 10/07/2022 17:35

I would add that there is cctv even if there isn’t

That's a good idea. It's in an isolated area but a busy road if that makes sense. No houses for about 300m. Everything gets nicked from there so wondering how long solar powered cctv would last Grin

OP posts:
NeedMoreMilk · 10/07/2022 17:52

“Hello, my name is X. I am a on a special diet to prevent an existing health condition from worsening, so please do not feed me anything. Even ‘horsey’ treats like apples, carrots or handfuls of grass could make me ill. I may not look like I have very much grass in my field but my mum is making sure I am well looked after so please don’t worry!”

No idea if it will work or not, but in my experience the DO NOT FEED THE PONY signs are quite often ignored so maybe a gentler approach is worth a go!

Not that people should need to be persuaded not to feed your animals, obviously 🙄

Original poster
LaPufalina · 10/07/2022 17:57

Perfect, thank you needmoremilk
Do you think a photo of the pony on there with his name would also personalise it? He's a little grey old Welshie and so friendly that I'm really up against it. Next pony I buy won't look like an adorable unicorn Hmm

OP posts:
JanglyBeads · 10/07/2022 17:59

Softer approach is lovely but I do think you need the "May kill me" bit

QuestionableMouse · 10/07/2022 18:00

"this pony has laminitis and requires a restricted diet. Do not feed. Laminitis can kill."

NeedMoreMilk · 10/07/2022 18:02

LaPufalina · 10/07/2022 17:57

Perfect, thank you needmoremilk
Do you think a photo of the pony on there with his name would also personalise it? He's a little grey old Welshie and so friendly that I'm really up against it. Next pony I buy won't look like an adorable unicorn Hmm

I think a photo would work, definitely. Obviously there are a few people out there who will still ignore it but I like to think that most people would choose not to feed him if they’ve had it really carefully explained to them why they mustn’t.

Ohhh, I have a particular weakness for little grey ponies 😍

Original poster
LaPufalina · 10/07/2022 18:02

JanglyBeads · 10/07/2022 17:59

Softer approach is lovely but I do think you need the "May kill me" bit

Yes, I'll include that. Pisses me off so much that DD can't give her pony a carrot and then locals treat him as a theme park.

OP posts:
NetballHoop · 10/07/2022 18:03

Warning. This pony will attack! Stay well back.

QuestionableMouse · 10/07/2022 18:05

NetballHoop · 10/07/2022 18:03

Warning. This pony will attack! Stay well back.

Don't use this. If anything happens, you've basically already admitted liability.

Original poster
LaPufalina · 10/07/2022 18:14

Haha also the pony is a saint! Grin I wouldn't back him as an attack pony.

OP posts:
Mariposista · 10/07/2022 18:34

If you are creative, write a funny little poem.

I like when you feed me, enjoy every bite,
but come the next day, my tummy’s not right.
keep your fruit in your pocket, your sarnies for you
If you give it to me, it will just make me poo

HighlandCowbag · 10/07/2022 18:40

Something like 'I have horsey diabetes and my diet is very carefully managed by my owner and my vet, even small treats like apples or carrots can make me ill, as mum doesn't know I have eaten them. She has left a tub by the gate, if you leave your treats in there for me, she will make sure she gives them to me as part of my diet. Thank you, Little Pony'

Original poster
LaPufalina · 10/07/2022 18:41

HighlandCowbag · 10/07/2022 18:40

Something like 'I have horsey diabetes and my diet is very carefully managed by my owner and my vet, even small treats like apples or carrots can make me ill, as mum doesn't know I have eaten them. She has left a tub by the gate, if you leave your treats in there for me, she will make sure she gives them to me as part of my diet. Thank you, Little Pony'

Never thought of that! We have four bigger horses on there (main field) that would be fine having a treat or two in their dinner so that could work really well. Genius!

OP posts:
HighlandCowbag · 12/07/2022 07:53

It worked really well for us in similar circumstances, with a lami prone pony on a sand paddock that was next to a footpath.

Be prepared for weird things in your tub tho. Including veg peelings, Including potato skins, leftover picnic food, mouldy fruit and slate bread. Luckily we had chickens who hoovered up anything edible. Scary what people were actually feeding her over the fence.

HighlandCowbag · 12/07/2022 07:54

Stale bread not slate.

Stickytreacle · 12/07/2022 08:05

I found that people don't bother reading long explanations, I ended up fencing internally with electric fencing and putting a sign up saying "Do not feed for health reasons"
Keeping it simple and to the point is more effective imo. Also not specifying whose health made people seem to think twice!

SpaceJamtart · 12/07/2022 08:17

If they dont read longer signs, i would be blunt

Do not feed this horse
This horse is on a vet controlled diet
If you feed him, you might kill him

countrygirl99 · 12/07/2022 08:18

My neighbour is keeps saying she is considering a "don't feed us or my owner will find you and kill you" sign. Of course she won't but her horses are currently a whole paddock away from the nearest right of way and last week she caught people walking up her drive to take them apples!

cottagegardenflower · 12/07/2022 09:07

Please don't feel the pony, he is on a special diet and even grass could make him ill. Pleasure seem to think because they live in a field, grass is part of their diet.

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