Feed help please......

[Supertrooper]

I've worked out that feeding my pony 1.5% forage he needs 5.25kg per day. I was going to do 4kg of two year old hay and the other 1.25kg as grazing.

The field he is on is one acre and now very short grass, but how can you judge what they are taking in?

 

[TGM]

It is difficult to tell how much they take in when grazing - there are 'textbook' amounts to allow per hour grazing but I think they are based on summer grazing. My grazing at home is at is lowest ebb since the recent spell of bad weather, so if yours is similar and your pony is on only 1 acre of very short grass, I would leave the grazing out of the equation and feed at least 5kg of hay to ensure you are giving enough fibre. Presumably your pony is overweight and you are trying to get the weight off if you are only giving 1.5% of body weight? I'd weight tape every week to check whether pony is losing, gaining or maintaining and adjust hay accordingly. As temperatures increase and grass starts growing again, you will probably have to decrease the hay. Make sure you space the hay out throughout the day so pony is not left without for too long.

 

[be positive]

I know you are concerned about getting this right, 2 of my ponies are on a very well grazed 7 acres there were more on it now just the 2 plus one during the day, they are now getting no hay as they are still very well covered, they had a small amount through Jan/ early Feb but unless the weather gets really bad they are not getting any more, the field will be split next week so they will have less to graze but the grass is growing steadily on the warm days, they are not rugged either.
I have another 2, finer types not quite such good doers, 14 and 15 hands, they are on just 2 acres of pretty much bare ground now, they were on ad lib hay but again I am watching them spend more time nibbling at the fresh grass coming through so have cut back the hay considerably this week.
If you watch your pony you will see how efficient he is when grazing he will find bits to eat, the field may look bare but it is because he is eating what is growing each day, he will not go hungry on 4kg each day as he will be able to pick at grass, probably easily getting 1.5kg and he still will be better off coming into spring lighter so he can be less restricted over the summer.

You know how to check his droppings to ensure he is getting enough fibre, you may notice them getting darker when he starts getting more grass to eat, that is the time to reduce the hay before he puts the weight back on that you have worked so hard to get off.

 

[Supertrooper]

I think I'm paranoid!

 

[be positive]

I think I'm paranoid!

I think you just lack confidence to trust what you are doing is right, he looks fab, seems to be happy and enjoying his life with you, it will get easier to make your own judgement and stick with it, having an unhelpful neighbour is not helping you, small ponies really can live on not much more than fresh air.