Feed Advice - Newby - First Pony!

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Hello everyone, I'm new to H&H and recently acquired our first pony. We have a 14.2 15yo competition mare, piebald cob (albeit more like an ISP). She is the most gentle, good natured pony we've ever handled, knows her stuff but so strong when in canter and excitable when jumping. We knew this before taking her on, we where lucky enough to have a 2 week trial and my daughter was managing ok and abviously in time will progress further. But my query is around feed and what potential impact this could be having on her being so strong! She has 2 large hay nets a day (morning & night) 1 scoop of Alfa-A original and 1 scope of pasture mix (combined and split into 2 feeds). Same feed/routine as previous owners but said we could look at changing to cool mix when finished with the pasture (they only fed pasture the past 6 months or so as this was easier for them with owning a few horses, so previously on cool mix. I would say on average we turn her out for 4 hours if not too bad weather.

Our YO has commented that we are overfeeding and took it upon herself to half her morning feed that we prepared. Naturally we were unhappy with this as we have taken instructions from previous owner, but have to say, the week when her morning feed was being reduced, she did seem more manageable to school. I've been looking on the net and there is so much info/options it's losing me a bit. A friend has recommended to change to 1 scoop Alfa-A Oil and 1 scoop H&P cubes so that she has a reduced starch/sugar intake but feel I don't know enough to consider this change. I guess, the feedback I'm after is 1) thoughts on current feed 2) would you look to change and if so, what to 3) thoughts on recommended change 4) good links to horse nutrition so I can get a good understanding.

Sorry for long post, there is just so much info on the net to try and make an informed decision on what is best.

TIA x
 
Welcome to the world of horse ownership:) I think your yo is right that is an awful lot of sugary high energy feed, alfa a can be like rocket fuel and any kind of mix is coated in molasses which is not really good for horses they use it to make the feed more palatable mainly.

I would use a basic chaff that is unmolassed like hifi or a grass based chaff like readi grass or graze on, then maybe add some unmolassed sugar beet this is a much more natural diet for a horse that is not doing a huge amount to of work and you will probably find she will be much less excitable when ridden.

The diet above is mainly a high fibre diet so it's not really far off from hay but in a different format, most horses would survive and cope with the amount of work they do on a decent amount of good quality hay but I think many of us feel we should give them a bucket feed, so for me I keep it simple and feed a high fibre low starch sugar diet if my horses need some extra condition I feed micronised linseed it's a form of oil which provides a slow release energy and it's good for hooves and coat, it can also be fed in larger quantities for weight gain and at least with these products you know nothing rubbish is added that horses don't really need.
 
What brands can you easily access??

TBH I think the low sugar/starch route is the way to go with most leisure/low level competition horses and ponies...

If your horse is acting up (time of year, reduced turnout etc) I think you do need to make a change.

I would suggest a grass chaff (not alfalfaas some horses are sensitive to it, something like readigrass or D&H just grass) with high fibre nuts or grass nuts.

Also agree with pinkyvboots above that grass chaff plus sugar beet would be another option.

Fiona
 
I'd take her off the alfa A and pasture mix and feed a high fibre diet. If she likes a mix you could try her on Saracen releve. Topspec feeds are also very good, and will send samples and are very helpful. I'd definitely try and stick to a high fibre diet.
 
She doesn't sound like the type that will need much feed at all so I probably agree with your YO. That is a lot for what is ultimately a pony. If she is used to being fed and the rest of the yard are also fed at the same time, then I would feed a simple unmolassed chaff with perhaps some unmolassed cool mix to make it more palatable. I wouldn't be surprised if she would thrive without any hard feed at all...
 
I would take her off the Alfa a , and get a lighter chaff . You may even be able to get rid of the chaff all together as we're coming into the summer . I would personally remove any mixes too, I'm not a fan . If you feel the need you could put her on a fibre cube or if you cut the chaff too , a simple cup of balancer would probably do her fine . Just make sure she gets a good amount of fibre in terms of hay .
 
My mare has 3/4 scoop of Dengie molasses free and 1/2 scoop of pony nuts as her base feed with a couple of supplements. She also has 8kg of hay per day. She is an Arab so hard to keep weight on her in the winter....and she is also bonkers with too much sugar but this combo seems to work for her :)
 
I'd say talk to your YO - they seem to know what they're doing! There's also lots of information (including a handy chart on feeding according to height/weight) about stable management and riding in this book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ultimate-B...ords=the+ultimate+book+of+the+horse+and+rider

Anyhow, getting back to basics with feeding. High fibre, high oil, minimal sugar and starch, is a good start. Cut out anything with alfalfa, soya, molasses, or cereals in it. That will eliminate most of the products on sale! Agrobs Aspero is my preferred chaff, and I feed this with plain, unmolassed beet pulp, micronized linseed, and salt. I would feed according to her weight/size, and count her as being in light work, so at least three quarters of her diet should be bulk (hay or haylage). For a 14hh pony, that's 8kg of hay per day, and then no more than 2kg of bucket ration, split across at least two feeds. So for example, 500g Aspero, 250g beet* per feed.

*When working out amounts, remember that you measure beet pulp (and other wet feeds such as grass nuts) before soaking, so by its dry weight, which will look like next to nothing. Beet absorbs water and swells up, which is why it must never be fed dry. It's a good source of slow release energy - think of it as us having a big bowl of porridge for breakfast instead of a bowl of coco pops :)
 
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Whilst still on trial I'd stick to the feed that she'd already on.

After that I'd probably just give her a balancer in either sugar beet, hand full of pony nuts, few soaked grass nuts, or some form of chaff.
 
Pasture mix is rocket fuel, no matter what it is marketed as.

The first ingredient is micronized barley, which is high energy. The fourth ingredient is molasses.

TBH, with hay, she shouldn't need any extra food, maybe a handful of non-molassed chaff to keep her happy at feeding times. If she starts to lose condition or lacks energy (which normally comes through fitness and not feeding ;) ), then you could add some forage/fibre based cubes/pellets.
 
Thanks everyone for your help and guidance. We have started reducing the mix and can already notice a difference. On this basis, we will continue with with the Alfa A but will change to the non-molassed and will introduce some high fibre cubes.

On this basis, what supplements would you recommend or important as part of a horse diet? I see some give, some don't at all. Are vitamins and minerals essential? She has a joint supplement
 
Really it does depend on the horse.

I have two (oldie and baby) that I give a balancer to (Pro Hoof from Progressive Earth) as I do notice a difference in their hoof quality when not fed it,

However the one in the most work (competing BD medium) is on nowt but hay, not supplements or balancers or anything :o, she looks great despite only being on hay! Plus is still hotter than a hot thing to ride...
 
Thank you. I guess I'm thinking she's used to having something in her mix so don't want to change her completely. Just wanted to calm the fizz slightly.
 
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