Don’t feel like I’m feeding cob correctly

[Femail733]

Hi all,
New pony owner alert
We have a 12 yr old traditional cob mare.
History of sarcoids but nothing in last 5 years.
She is barefoot.
She’s overweight but slowly losing.
Long but brittle mane and tail.
Full feather & I suspect has mites.
Slowly exercising daily for 30 mins per day & building up as not done much in a while with prev owner.
Out grazing for around 7 hrs per day

Can anyone help with what would be best in their opinion to feed her? Supplements? Ect

Currently on Allen & Page Calm & Condition (I know this isn’t right for her once I’ve read up on it!), herbal chaff with added 1tsp garlic granules morn and might but reduced portions, carried on with this as she was on this previously & trying to avoid any more upset on top of moving yards.
I’m very into natural feeding and giving exactly what is needed as far as supplements etc in whatever area they need a lift.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Mmmm........ all I would say with a cob is don't overfeed; and be aware that they generally tend to be VERY good doers.

I would get her weight-checked as a priority. Weigh-tape is useful, but we have had someone at our yard who comes with a mobile weighbridge and gives you a weight-check - invaluable then to compare this with your weight-tape and see the comparison - it was a standing joke with our old vet that his weight-tape and ours was usually at about a 40k variance!

What is your grazing like? Especially at this time of year. All I would say is be very very careful the grass isn't too rich. We converted to "Track system" here purely because strip-grazing just wasn't/isn't sufficient to manage the weight of my cob. You really do need to consider this especially now we are in the Spring growing season. You do not want laminitis! And unfortunately these sorts of horses will tend towards obesity. With mine it is a continual struggle. What I've found effective in fittening is fast-walking; I'm not talking about a leisurely walk, this is a good productive forward walk!! It has been invaluable in obtaining and maintaining fitness for mine - particularly so as we have to do a lot of roadwork and don't want to be doing a lot of trotting on the roads. It has helped that I ride-out with a friend on her TB so mine has to walk faster to keep up!

Re. the garlic, may I ask why you are feeding it?? It is contra-indicated in horses with any sort of itchy problem (vet advice) - so won't be helping the itchy issues; my vet mixes up an ivermectin mixture for feather-mite so it might be worth asking yours.

 

[Equi]

Look into thunderbrooks organic fusion, it will suit your needs but probably don’t need to feed to the bags doseage. And if you’re not adverse to clipping, get those feathers off. If you are, give them a decent wash in tea tree oil shampoo and get some spot on flea stuff and put a pipette on each leg

 

[KINDMARE]

Personally i would keep it simple. A low cal chaff with a balancer is probably going to do the trick for now. also consider soaking hay to remove some calories from that. Then once you have got to know him and he is fitter you can better judge what is needed.

 

[MuddyMonster]

Honestly, does she need a feed? I'd be upping the exercise, muzzling when turned out and reducing all hard feed personally. I'd also be soaking all hay and replacing some with straw.

When she's in more work I'd honestly just be giving literally a small handful of something like unmollassed sugar beet with a good quality vitamin & mineral supplement. This is all mine gets and he's been in work over winter and it's been reduced now Sring grass is coming through.

 

[Burnttoast]

I would go for a good quality balancer (Forageplus or Progressive Earth) in a tiny amount of carrier - soaked grass nuts say. You may need to build up the amount slowly as the mineral balancers aren't all that palatable but our fussy one was fine with them after building it up. Beetroot powder is a good nutritious way of disguising the taste if needed. And then just good hay, soaked if necessary. I prefer not to feed straw as most has been sprayed with pesticides at some point.

 

[Above the snowline]

If she has some grass I’d feed her nothing apart from hay and or straw and a salt lick.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Personally i would keep it simple. A low cal chaff with a balancer is probably going to do the trick for now. also consider soaking hay to remove some calories from that. Then once you have got to know him and he is fitter you can better judge what is needed.

I would do this

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

First thing, get rid of the garlic, it upsets the gut flora
2nd thing, get rid of the mix. Feed only forage based feed and only a tiny bit of that to encourage her to follow your routine. An overweight cob doesn't need any extra feed in spring

 

[Sossigpoker]

Stop the Calm and Condition, it's a competition level feed. I'd feed Fast Fibre from their range instead , it contains essential vitamins and minerals but is low calories so ideal for good doers. I wouldn't feed anything but that , soaked hay and grass.
Thunderbrooks don't declare all their ingredients, tend to be sugary and the company is run by a sexual pervert so I wouldn't touch their feeds with a barge pole .
Fast Fibre is ideal for a cob in light work that needs to lose weight.

 

[TPO]

Agree with the majority of posters.

Feed a good vit/min supplement (Balancer). I like Progressive Earth. Pro Balance + is my usual but they have a wide range of supplements and are really helpful if you contact them.

My mum has her two on GWF One Cup, they're both a barefoot and one is a (fat) cob. Both are doing well on it.

Fat cob gets the tiniest amount of fast fibre. It really swells up when soaked along with a sprinkling of Light & Healthy straw chaff. I truly mean miniscule amounts.

He gets soaked hay through spring-autumn and hay in tiny holed nets during winter when he's in overnight.

They also get salt and oily herbs (rosemary, thyme, and oregano from buy wholefoods online).

I wouldn't touch Thunderbook feed with a bargepole. Haha horrible experience with them and the behaviour of one owner is awful.

 

[Spotherisk]

As others have said A&P Fast Fibre, or a balancer. I’ve liked and fed Equus Health for years, specifically their Winter Glow/Summer Shine, although I see they do this https://www.equushealth.org.uk/product/equus-health-itch-relief/

 

[SantaVera]

Personally i would keep it simple. A low cal chaff with a balancer is probably going to do the trick for now. also consider soaking hay to remove some calories from that. Then once you have got to know him and he is fitter you can better judge what is needed.

This

 

[SEL]

My cobs are currently on 1/2 scoop Dengie meadow grass and 1/2 scoop Topchop zero split between two feeds dampened down. A cupful of balancer. Spirulina for the itchy, allergy one. Bit of salt and some extras for the PSSM one.

That's it. Pretty tiny buckets but just enough to get any supplements in and persuade them into stables while I poo pick.

Still on winter paddock due to rain so getting some hay along with grass pickings. Summer field will have a track round it and at least one will have a muzzle on.

Cobs really don't need much but will like to pretend they are starving.

 

[Glitter's fun]

Hi all,
New pony owner alert
We have a 12 yr old traditional cob mare.
History of sarcoids but nothing in last 5 years.
She is barefoot.
She’s overweight but slowly losing.
Long but brittle mane and tail.
Full feather & I suspect has mites.
Slowly exercising daily for 30 mins per day & building up as not done much in a while with prev owner.
Out grazing for around 7 hrs per day

Can anyone help with what would be best in their opinion to feed her? Supplements? Ect

Currently on Allen & Page Calm & Condition (I know this isn’t right for her once I’ve read up on it!), herbal chaff with added 1tsp garlic granules morn and might but reduced portions, carried on with this as she was on this previously & trying to avoid any more upset on top of moving yards.
I’m very into natural feeding and giving exactly what is needed as far as supplements etc in whatever area they need a lift.

Welcome, and congratulations on getting your new pony - always very exciting.

Very good advice above. Just wanted to add, you are doing the right thing by making changes gradually.

Always remember that although cobs are popular leisure ponies now, they were a poor person's choice originally, bred to be worked very hard and cheap to feed. If in doubt under do it. The results of under feeding are much easier to reverse than the results of over feeding, which can do lasting damage.

 

[Patterdale]

I wouldn’t feed it anything. Balancers are a massive money-making con - the fact that you and many others have been tricked into believing you need to give expensive feed to fat horses is testament to this.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

My cobs are currently on 1/2 scoop Dengie meadow grass and 1/2 scoop Topchop zero split between two feeds dampened down. A cupful of balancer. Spirulina for the itchy, allergy one. Bit of salt and some extras for the PSSM one.

That's it. Pretty tiny buckets but just enough to get any supplements in and persuade them into stables while I poo pick.

Still on winter paddock due to rain so getting some hay along with grass pickings. Summer field will have a track round it and at least one will have a muzzle on.

Cobs really don't need much but will like to pretend they are starving.

Ooh what does the spirulina do?
My cob is driving me mad scratching her legs, every time I think we've turned a corner she rubs again.

 

[Sossigpoker]

Ooh what does the spirulina do?
My cob is driving me mad scratching her legs, every time I think we've turned a corner she rubs again.

Try some Farrier mite shampoo, she's probably got mites. That will sort it.

 

[Burnttoast]

I wouldn’t feed it anything. Balancers are a massive money-making con - the fact that you and many others have been tricked into believing you need to give expensive feed to fat horses is testament to this.

Most are but that's because they don't actually balance anything. Some are formulated against actual forage analyses though, and are more useful. Grazing in one place and eating the same forage all year round can result in less than optimum health - lots of locations have very weird mineral ratios in grass. Also for that reason I try to buy my hay in from different soil types to mine so it has a different mineral profile to my grass. It might not be such an issue if horses could roam across a wide area (ie a county, say) or had truly biodiverse pasture available but obviously that's not happening in most cases.

 

[Surbie]

Hi all,
New pony owner alert
We have a 12 yr old traditional cob mare.
History of sarcoids but nothing in last 5 years.
She is barefoot.
She’s overweight but slowly losing.
Long but brittle mane and tail.
Full feather & I suspect has mites.
Slowly exercising daily for 30 mins per day & building up as not done much in a while with prev owner.
Out grazing for around 7 hrs per day

Can anyone help with what would be best in their opinion to feed her? Supplements? Ect

Currently on Allen & Page Calm & Condition (I know this isn’t right for her once I’ve read up on it!), herbal chaff with added 1tsp garlic granules morn and might but reduced portions, carried on with this as she was on this previously & trying to avoid any more upset on top of moving yards.
I’m very into natural feeding and giving exactly what is needed as far as supplements etc in whatever area they need a lift.

Welcome to the never-ending challenge of keeping a cob at a decent weight! Hope she is settling well with you.

You don't say how much hay she is on while in. Or how big she is. Or when your turnout is going to increase?

So this might not be at all helpful as a comparison. I have a tubby 15.3hh heavyweight cob, also barefoot. He gets 5-6kg of soaked hay double netted in small hole nets overnight - which I hate but I can't muzzle him and he needs the weight off. Feedwise he's on a big handful of Honeychop Light&Healthy chaff, powdered vit & mins from Forageplus, boswellia for his stiffness, salt, plus a 50ml scoop of Allen & Page Veteran Light made up into slop to make everything stick to the chaff and add a bit of interest. One sack of A&P lasts me a year, a sack of the chaff about 3-4 months so, other than the vits&mins and boswellia, he is very cheap to feed.

Can you increase the exercise? It doesn't have to be ridden or high impact - purposeful walking really helps.

Are you keeping the feather? Can you give the legs a good clean to see what's going on at skin level? The feather looks glorious but is a lot of work. If she is itchy, I would probably take out the garlic as it can make some worse. I use pig oil and sulphur on mine, which is cheap and works for him to stop the mud building up - but he's never had mites or mud fever, just some cob grease.

As an aside, not every horse likes fast fibre. Mine won't eat it or speedibeet.

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

I’d feed grass and soaked hay only at the moment if she’s in very light work and over weight.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Try some Farrier mite shampoo, she's probably got mites. That will sort it.

No she hasn't got mites.
She had an allergic reaction to linseed and despite my removing all traces of linseed from her diet, we just can't get the last of the scabs fully healed.

 

[Surbie]

No she hasn't got mites.
She had an allergic reaction to linseed and despite my removing all traces of linseed from her diet, we just can't get the last of the scabs fully healed.

You may well have tried it, but udder cream has been brilliant for the worst lumps in Archie's feather and previously for soothing sweetitch scabby bits in his mane. I'm particularly glad the Battles one is white and not the normal luminous pink!

 

[SEL]

Ooh what does the spirulina do?
My cob is driving me mad scratching her legs, every time I think we've turned a corner she rubs again.

Supposed to help with allergies - yet to see any improvement!!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

You may well have tried it, but udder cream has been brilliant for the worst lumps in Archie's feather and previously for soothing sweetitch scabby bits in his mane. I'm particularly glad the Battles one is white and not the normal luminous pink!

Unfortunately she has decided that I am not allowed to put cream on any more. I can understand her reaction, tbh. I spray the areas with silver spray, while she does 'Riverdance'.

 

[Surbie]

Unfortunately she has decided that I am not allowed to put cream on any more. I can understand her reaction, tbh. I spray the areas with silver spray, while she does 'Riverdance'.

That is quite the image. I hope she lets you nearer over time.

 

[Femail733]

Welcome to the never-ending challenge of keeping a cob at a decent weight! Hope she is settling well with you.

You don't say how much hay she is on while in. Or how big she is. Or when your turnout is going to increase?

So this might not be at all helpful as a comparison. I have a tubby 15.3hh heavyweight cob, also barefoot. He gets 5-6kg of soaked hay double netted in small hole nets overnight - which I hate but I can't muzzle him and he needs the weight off. Feedwise he's on a big handful of Honeychop Light&Healthy chaff, powdered vit & mins from Forageplus, boswellia for his stiffness, salt, plus a 50ml scoop of Allen & Page Veteran Light made up into slop to make everything stick to the chaff and add a bit of interest. One sack of A&P lasts me a year, a sack of the chaff about 3-4 months so, other than the vits&mins and boswellia, he is very cheap to feed.

Can you increase the exercise? It doesn't have to be ridden or high impact - purposeful walking really helps.

Are you keeping the feather? Can you give the legs a good clean to see what's going on at skin level? The feather looks glorious but is a lot of work. If she is itchy, I would probably take out the garlic as it can make some worse. I use pig oil and sulphur on mine, which is cheap and works for him to stop the mud building up - but he's never had mites or mud fever, just some cob grease.

As an aside, not every horse likes fast fibre. Mine won't eat it or speedibeet.

Ah yes sorry she’s 14/2 hh with a massive bum! Whilst she’s in she has 1 large slow feeder hay net and 2 medium size with the bigger holes. She clears this by morning. Turn out will increase in summer YO has said, with option for 24/7 on another field. Some days we can get 10 hours turn out depending on weather at the min.

Thank you for advice on feed, will have a look at all you mentioned.

 

[Femail733]

Ooh what does the spirulina do?
My cob is driving me mad scratching her legs, every time I think we've turned a corner she rubs again.

I was actually thinking about spirulina yesterday as i add it to my dogs feed and was wondering if horses could have it. May give it a try but I did suspect the itching is due to mites rather than allergies.
Thank you for advice, will have a look at the feed you mentioned

 

[Femail733]

Welcome, and congratulations on getting your new pony - always very exciting.

Very good advice above. Just wanted to add, you are doing the right thing by making changes gradually.

Always remember that although cobs are popular leisure ponies now, they were a poor person's choice originally, bred to be worked very hard and cheap to feed. If in doubt under do it. The results of under feeding are much easier to reverse than the results of over feeding, which can do lasting damage.

Thank you for advice. Out of curiosity, what can happen with over feeding besides the obvious of getting fat? I feel like I may need to drop a meal then maybe?

 

[Femail733]

My cobs are currently on 1/2 scoop Dengie meadow grass and 1/2 scoop Topchop zero split between two feeds dampened down. A cupful of balancer. Spirulina for the itchy, allergy one. Bit of salt and some extras for the PSSM one.

That's it. Pretty tiny buckets but just enough to get any supplements in and persuade them into stables while I poo pick.

Still on winter paddock due to rain so getting some hay along with grass pickings. Summer field will have a track round it and at least one will have a muzzle on.

Cobs really don't need much but will like to pretend they are starving.

I was actually thinking about spirulina yesterday as i add it to my dogs feed and was wondering if horses could have it. May give it a try but I did suspect the itching is due to mites rather than allergies.
Thank you for advice, will have a look at the feed you mentioned