Got a bunch of messages yesterday from good people who are worried about Chloe’s weight, foundering is a major concern about horse people, and justifiably so. They weren’t being critical or cruel, they were just worried, this is part of living an open life and sharing photos and videos of your animals with the world, especially the new world of social media.

I am learning to be more gracious about it, depending on the tone. When it gets to righteous, I love to snarl back. I can say that you don’t need to tell us what foundering is, we are quite aware of it and it’s dangers.

I ought to address it, I am not upset about the comments, none of them were pompous or judgmental., If you are worried about an animal it is quite appropriate to say so, as long as it is done in good faith and in a civil way. Truthfully, one could hardly worry about animals more than we worry about our animals here, they are examined and monitored every day of their lives. There are a lot of prosecutors and outrage addicts out there, but also a lot of good and honest animal loving people. It is always a learning and growing experience.

In the last year or so, the blog has drawn a lot of horse people because of my writing about the New York Carriage Horses. They are very welcome here, they have added a lot to the great dialogue that lives here, they are different from the other animal people in some ways, I find them direct and businesslike, less emotionalizing. They seem to have a realistic bead on their animals.

I should say that Chloe is not my pony, she is very much Maria’s. I don’t care to discuss her health much on Facebook.  Maria loves her, cares for her, grooms and attends to her very faithfully. Chloe came to us with some ribs showing at the beginning of the summer, it was agreed that she ought to pick up some weight. She is a big girl, she came with a big stomach, it is bigger still. She had no access to grass in her former life, only hay, so we expected her to pick up some weight.

Chloe has been seen by farriers and vets, quite recently, and been pronounced to be in good health. There are no signs of foundering. But we have already been restricting her access to green grass, I expect she will shed some pounds now that our grass is drying out and turning brown. Winter is coming, she will certainly thin down. Within limits, the best advice is that this a natural cycle. One of the healthiest things for horses and ponies is for them to move about freely within a contained area. We are pleased to give Chloe that opportunity.

Our best grass is in the side pasture, Chloe is not allowed to graze in there, the rest is down to carpet. We watch it all closely. It is not the kind of grass that horses get sick on, but Chloe’s weight needs to be monitored, Maria knows that and is on it.

I write this to allay the concerns of good people, as a rule I do not look for medical advice from strangers, our animals get the very best health care and are closely monitored. Hope that helps, if there are further concerns, you can read about Chloe’s health on Maria’s blog. I am very much a feminist, Maria can speak for herself, I do not speak for her, ever. Chloe is her responsibility, and when she needs help, she asks for it.

Speaking for her not good for my health, and I have no desire or inclination to do it. She used to be nearly mute, she has no trouble finding her voice these days. I’ll just keep putting photos up.