Feed advice please

[stanley101]

I have been recommened to start using blue chip as a hard feed for my pony who's lost a bit of weight, i've never used hard feed before, does it have to be mixed with anything or can I just offer a handful etc. If it needs to be mixed, whats the best/ cheapest thing to mix it with?

Thanks

 

[ISHmad]

Which Blue Chip feed have you been recommended? How old is your pony, workload etc.

 

[stanley101]

Its the original, pony is 20, workload is quite light, he's my daughters pony, gets ridden 4 times a week on a good week, he's more of a pet than anything else. I asked for advice at the livery yard where he's kept ( as I know nothing) and thats what they recommended but I assume it's mixed with something or am I being thick?

 

[Brandy]

You can use blue chip on its own, however given the ponys age I might think about starting to feed something extra such as a conditioning mix or veteran mix? Just beware with adding blue chip to wet food as it can swell slightly and cause choke. So you would need to make sure it is properly wet, or dry.

If I were you I would phone some feed companies for recommendations.

Blue Chip is expensive but you only feed in small amounts and it does work.

 

[stanley101]

I didn't even know you could get wet food? So if I get some veteran mix to mix it with that should do the trick?

Thanks

 

[teddyt]

You can feed blue chip on its own. Or you can mix it with anything, particularly chaff. However what you mix it with would depend on many things, such as breed, weight and how good his teeth are. One handful of chaff wont do any harm to most horses but you could optimise your money better if you consider the horses needs and select a feed appropriately. maybe ring some helplines and see what they suggest for your individual pony

eta- there will be lots of different opinions on what to feed so you may get confused!