Best feed for an oldie

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Tiggy1

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I have acquired an oldie who is just wonderfull for my daughter but having never looked after a veteran before just wondered what you all feed your veterans?
He is ridden every to every other day after school just walking and trotting at the moment and will be coming in at night when the weather starts to turn.
Thanks!!
 
Not able to offer much advice...but if you offer details on breed, size and workload, livery set up then someone more useful than me should reply!
 
As other poster said, more details needed. however some of the veteran feeds out there are a good all round feed, though do check the ingredients. However sometimes it is best to continue feeding what they have had before if they are maintaining weight well.
 
it will really depends on age, size and what condition he is at the moment. if his condition is ok, then he will possibly just need some softer hay (teeth may be wearing down if he's very old) and some basic general mix, he may not manage nuts if his teeth are wearing, you could possibly add a small amount of sugar beet to moisten the feed but if he's very tiny i would be very carefull how much you feed other than good quality hay.

i have a 29 year old mare, she's 15hh, i feed her a general vit and min supplement and a sugarbeet / alfa A chaff (both unmollased as she's a cushings mare) she's not got many (if any) teeth left and stuggled towards the end of last winter to eat much hayledge so planned to feed more unmollased chaff based feed this year to replace the hayledge. She's done well on the grass through the summer so has some good condition on her already. obviously she's not ridden but gets turned out as much as possible every day, at least 6-7 hours.

You could also ask the yard owner where you keep him if they are knowledgable, especially as they will be able to see the pony, start of with small amounts and you can always increase if he starts to loose condition. you can use a weigh tape to keep a check on him through the winter.
 
my veteran is on sugabeet, dodson and horrel 16+ cubes and top spec feed balancer. he also has some premier flex HA in his feed to help his arthritis. he is ridden fairly regularly though, 3-4 times a week usually, so your horse may not need as much food. it also depends on breed, size etc.
 
As others have said it depends on the condition he is now, if a good doer I would just feed something fibre based unmolassed.

My 19 and 21 year olds don't have anything "veteran" always contain far too much starch and sugar. They have Fast Fibre and micronised Linseed and look fantastic on it :)
 
Sorry should have supplied more info.
He's 22 of unknown breeding but has been one of the classic handed around pony club ponies, 12.2hh. He came to me quite ribby have managed to put a little weight on, nit great teeth which have been seen to.
He lives at home, I try and let him have slightly longer grass than my others as dont think he can manage short grass.
Currently being fed hifi and pony nuts with cortaflex and a dash of oil once a day just now to give him cortaflex in.
Any other suggestions welcome!!
 
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