Just before Christmas I gained ownership of a young shetland pony, completely terrified, overgrown feet but couldn't get near the thing. I managed to corral it catch the bugger after much kerfuffle and had the vet out who said about 9 - 12 months old, underweight but not as young as I'd feared so feed hay and chaff/nuts continue to try and befriend (worry about feet once less stressed). Weve been making progress. I borrowed another shetland off a friend and have put that in with her and have been feeding her and I can now scratch her and groom her. All good.
I've been away with work for a week and had someone coming and looking after the ponies but I said not to worry if she couldn't get near her as I didn't really want to set her back.
I've got back a couple of hours ago and have been to the horses. The little filly is skin and bones. You can't tell because her coat is so fluffy but running my hands over her her spine and hips must are extremely noticeable even worse I think then when I got her.
I rang the vets but at the press one for emergency I hung up. Its like I don't feel it's an emergency in that what can the vet do on a Sunday evening but on the other if something happens to her I will never forgive myself (I have anxiety issues so it's highly probable I'm overreacting).
She was moving around ok. whickers at me. Had a little trot away when I scared her by dropping the bucket. She was picking / nibbling at the hay as I left but not really paying attention to the feed. I don't know whether to try going down and feeing her something else (I've got speedibeet) but I'd have to lock her away from the other one and I don't know if that would stress her more.
Any suggestions?