at a loss, feed help for a native?

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LiffWee93

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Heya guys, I thought I would tap into your combined infinite wisdom, and ask anyones ideas on how to get weight on my very non-native purebred newforest- he REALLY struggles with his weight, he had a touch of laminitis july last year, and as a result I've been really vigilant with his grass/ sugar intake. He is now fed on a cup of fast fibre, l mix and lo-cal in an effort to give him the vits and mins, and a lot of fibre, he is turned out without a muzzle as on as little grass as possible and strip grazing slowly. He has been wormed and had his teeth done recently. He is worked about 4-5 times a week (usually) but having some down-time to pick up. He was fine over winter, just recently dropped off, anyone have any ideas?
* his laminitis was caused by his new forest attitude, and breaking into our feed area and devouring a full bag of baileys 17 while being very fit, as opposed to being fat and eating too much grass - any help greatly appreciated!
 
He's a good weight now, I just wouldn't want him to lose more, he's got plenty of stamina, and his coat is all shiny and lovely, he just seems a bit poor to me, ill call my vet tomorrow and see what they reckon, thanks guys, I may well try linseed too- would I try the oil or a straight?
 
the micronisation helps them digest and use it better I think so thats the one to go for, introduce it gradually. I believe it is more similar in nutritional make up to grass than a lot of weight gain products, but without the high sugar issues of grass
 
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Fab thankyou very much, I assume both do the same? I may try oil to see how he goes then move to the straight. I will try to attatch a photo when I am on my laptop, thankyou so much for all of your replies xx
 
How old is the pony? If a teenager or older it might be wise to test for Cushings as this can result in both laminitis and a loss in condition, particularly on the topline.

It is not clear from your post whether he is getting hay as well as the limited grazing, if not, I would definitely introduce soaked hay and increase the amount until his condition stabilises. You could also increase the amount of Fast Fibre you feed.
 
I would go with soaked or old meadow hay, forage is better than bucket feed for his breed type in my experience!
 
He is 6 yo, and we have started strip grazing our fields down, and he has picked up a lot on that, but yeah, I'm thinking giving him some hay of an evening to keep him going may be good too.. Sigh, pony thinks he is a thoroughbred I'm sure!
 
My fat new forest who is trying to loose weight gets 1 cup of fast fibre twice a day so your thin new forest might be needing more than what you are giving him. The L mix is one of the lowest energy feeds you can get. You are basically feeding him diet food.

You could try giving him global herbs restore this is a good tonic which aids digestion or swap the fast fibe and L mix which are both diet foods for the A&P Sugar & Cereal Intolerance Diet.

Would also add my fat new forest was also a slim new forest when he was younger he was slim at 6 and then has become a really good doer as he got older and stopped growing and became more confident.
 
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I was advised these feeds by allen and page, I have to be very careful about the level of sugar and starch he has, hence the lami-friendly foods :) I will be upping his fast fibre soon though as he has just been reintroduced to it :)
 
ps, here is a photo from tonight, i am aware he doesn't look skin and bone, i just wouldn't want him to lose more, and we are working on getting the top line. (and i also have no clue how to make the photos show up on here)
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/386907_10152009204340066_343811523_n.jpg

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/182163_10152009207205066_839872791_n.jpg

You can see his ribs when he stretches round, and can feel them with a slight press with the fingers, but not when he is just standing/ walking. Like i said, i just don't want him to drop more ha
 
SO1 said:
Would also add my fat new forest was also a slim new forest when he was younger he was slim at 6 and then has become a really good doer as he got older and stopped growing and became more confident.
Click to expand...

That is really interesting, he seems to have bulked out a lot recently, and thought he had grown into himself a bit more only just recently, could be a part of his problem if he is having a bit of a growth spurt... :)
 
As a comparision this is my forester at 6

homeyoutside004.jpg


and at 10

homeyjune12002.jpg
 
wow! that is quite a difference! i wont worry so much about him not bulking out then! my boy is a much finer stamp than yours- who is stunning btw! lovely colouring :D thankyou for your advice!
 
I think further investigations are in order. Your pony is not 'thin' but he is very poor, looking more like a 20 yr old. I'd be concerned that there is a metabolic problem going on.
 
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