feding highland/trekking ponies

[Erray]

Hi I wondered if anyone can advise me. The trekking ponies are in the middle of a very busy season but I'm slightly concerned about whether I am feeding them enough. They are all very fit and I would say at the moment about perfect weight, certainly not fat but no ribs showing and a good covering on hips etc. They live on high hill ground, about 50 acres for 11 ponies but there isn't much good grass on the hill. They each get a scoop of baileys cool mix in a morning and the same again at night. I don't really want to up their feed as they start to get a bit too much energy for trekking ponies, but I feel that they are still hungry. There is definately less grass this year especially as they are sharing with a lot of sheep but I don't want to start feeding hay yet as they do have plenty of forage out there.
They have started hanging around the gate waiting to be fed and are really greedy out on treks at the moment. I also feel that they are lacking something, they don't have the usual sheen to their coats or sparkle about them.
I have tried field licks but it just ends up with the greediest and bossiest ponies hogging them and eating them in one go and the others don't get a look in. Is there some sort of supplement that I could feed? I have heard that top spec is good but it seems very expensive (I am on a budget).
I just wondered if anyone had any tips. I wouldn't be too worried if it was spring but winters not too far away and the ponies stay out all winter and from past experience its quite difficult keeping the weight on some of them in the winter.
Thanks.
Liz.

 

[Harlequin_Ro]

cant you stick hay out for them? Sounds like they need more forrage or put a scoop of chaff in each feed? I would try topspec at half rations

 

[LeneHorse]

I remember you posted a while ago about horse dentists. Did you manage to get someone to come over to Mull?

 

[Cuffey]

Scoop Alfa A or Alfa A Oil something like that
Grass has been very wet, probably low in nutrients
1 cup full of Top Spec per pony per day could just increase nutrients enough
Dont forget to add salt for working ponies

 

[Thistle]

Baileys Lo Cal is not quite as good as Top Spec but way cheaper, I always use it. Perhaps add a couple of scoops of HI Fi lite to their feeds too.

 

[fruity]

here here to for baileys lo cal it gives them all the vits/mins and nutrients they need also has added stuff in it for healthy feet,coat etc. I bet that will make a difference it's fab stuff and ideal for natives that need food without fizz and calories.