Feed - am I feeding her enough?

[YummyHorses]

So my mare has recently come home from livery to live with my daughters pony. She came home about 2 weeks ago and I am struggling with how much feed she should be on.

Normal day:

Out all day to grass (although not great quality grass) from 7.30am to 6pm
Feed (chestnut horse feed lite - its a complete feed and she has 2 scoops)
3 slices of hay to munch on until sleep time

When at livery she was worked 6 out of 7 and had a great deal more hard feed. But its now more like 2 out of 7 so I am trying to slowly reduce her energy levels and in turn reduce her food intake.

But do you think this is enough? She is a big 16.3hh tank shaped mare....you know the sort and loves her food. I just thought she looked a little tucked up this morning.

Thanks for you advice.

 

[MaisieMooandCometToo]

When you say '3 slices of hay to munch on until sleep time' what exactly do you mean and how big are these slices? A horse should have enough hay to last it throughout the night, there should be a little bit left when you go and check it in the morning
Other than that I'm not going to give you feed advice, I struggle with it myself

 

[tallyho!]

MaisieMoo I agree with you! (Is there anthing that doesn't rhyme with your name?? )

I think Yummy Horses, you could just cut out hard feed altogether and provide two large full nets to last the night. That way, she'll have enough fibre and energy without adding any more "hard feed".

I do know of people who give just a little to last a few hours but it's not good for them long term and if you get worried about weight etc, you could add straw or soak one of the nets.

 

[MaisieMooandCometToo]

MaisieMoo I agree with you! (Is there anthing that doesn't rhyme with your name?? )

Orange? Silver? Purple? Apple? Ant? Dog?
I think it's safe to say poor Maisie regrets looking like a cow now though xD

 

[fidleyspromise]

I think Yummy Horses, you could just cut out hard feed altogether and provide two large full nets to last the night. That way, she'll have enough fibre and energy without adding any more "hard feed".

This.

 

[YummyHorses]

Thanks for the response - I suppose we are looking at half a bale of hay (small bale). She gets that about 7pm and then a little top up at the last check about 10pm.

She just paid a little too much attention to me in the hay barn this morning and when she saw the feed buckets being cleaned and filled ready for tonight she started to get very excited which she doesn't normally do. She was on two hard feeds a day and my feed company have suggested she stays on 2 a day but then they would!!

I am letting her down a little over the summer as I don't have a school - should be in later this year when I will want to get her going again. I just don't want her to be skin and bones by then!