feeding a 4 year old section b stallion

[rosiepony13]

I rescued Enzo back in March, I've got coverage on his rump ribs and shoulder, neck still a little upside down but I'm working on that. currently on Speedi beet, pony nuts, alfa A and linseed losenge twice a day. he doesn't like haylage and cannot eat fibre beet as it sends him mad, vet has recommended myoplast and a friend has recommended blue chip healthy gut..... I need help with deciding his feed regimes.... I will be starting ling reining after teeth done on the 7th Sept, and want to build him up enough to be able to sit on him around jan/Feb.... what recommendations would you give to help with lunging to build a top line and build him up but not blow his head..... 2, 3 or 4 times a day? and not get him so he goes off his feet either.... all advice welcome.....

 

[Chinchilla]

This was just to get a horse to gain weight (ANY sort of weight) but I've found micronised linseed and soya oil good. Not to mention it makes their coats amazingly shiny. I prefer to use mollichaff than alfa a but if he's prone to being a bit hotheaded then it might not be a good idea....

 

[be positive]

He is a native pony and will eventually require very little feed to keep him looking well, personally I would get him gelded asap as he is now well enough, then turn him out as much as possible and do very little work until next spring by when he should be strong enough to back without stuffing full of feed which will make him potentially too sharp, by this time next year you will probably be trying to keep the weight down if he is anything like the sec b's I have dealt with.

I can see no point in keeping him entire for any longer even if he is well bred and an excellent example of the breed, there are so many stallions he is unlikely to get many mares, he can lead a more normal life as a gelding, I have a sec b here at livery who was a top pony in his youth he was gelded at 5 or 6 and is the most wonderful child's pony, his life would have been very restricted if he had not been gelded, he was good enough to stand at stud yet someone took the best decision for him and he was gelded.

 

[Chinchilla]

I can see no point in keeping him entire for any longer even if he is well bred and an excellent example of the breed, there are so many stallions he is unlikely to get many mares, he can lead a more normal life as a gelding, I have a sec b here at livery who was a top pony in his youth he was gelded at 5 or 6 and is the most wonderful child's pony, his life would have been very restricted if he had not been gelded, he was good enough to stand at stud yet someone took the best decision for him and he was gelded.

Agreed! but then I am against breeding horses in general considering how low prices are for anything except exceptional ones, and how many seem to be being abandoned/neglected/etc. particularly welsh types and coloured cobs.

(No offence OP he sounds a nice boy but there is no market for small ponies right now so no point in breeding and so no point keeping him entire).
Plus he's a rescue and you don't know his history or breeding and it makes finding livery etc. much easier too as many places won't have colts or stallions around (personally I'm not a fan of blanket policies like that implying 'all' colts and stallions are testerone driven maniacs because of course they're not).

 

[Carrots&Mints]

Geld it - turn out on some good grass. Bring back in spring and see where to go from there. So many quality section b stallions about, I doubt there is a need for more (dare I say it - substandard stallions) at the mo.

 

[Carrots&Mints]

Agreed! but then I am against breeding horses in general considering how low prices are for anything except exceptional ones, and how many seem to be being abandoned/neglected/etc. particularly welsh types and coloured cobs.

(No offence OP he sounds a nice boy but there is no market for small ponies right now so no point in breeding and so no point keeping him entire).
Plus he's a rescue and you don't know his history or breeding and it makes finding livery etc. much easier too as many places won't have colts or stallions around (personally I'm not a fan of blanket policies like that implying 'all' colts and stallions are testerone driven maniacs because of course they're not).

There is a market for up to height top quality hoys quality small breeds - trying to find them is like trying to find rocking horse sh t though

 

[Chinchilla]

There is a market for up to height top quality hoys quality small breeds - trying to find them is like trying to find rocking horse sh t though

But they need a proven performance record and good breeding - OP's horse is a rescue so will have none of those.

"like trying to find rocking horse s h i t " aha that did make me laugh though.

 

[Carrots&Mints]

But they need a proven performance record and good breeding - OP's horse is a rescue so will have none of those.

"like trying to find rocking horse s h i t " aha that did make me laugh though.

Hence my previous comment in regards to gelding it. And it is true, you try and find a decent up to height, quality, plenty of bone Hoys standard section B... not a hope in hell. This year I think has been a very weak season for the B's.