Feeding a foal

[DeeVine]

I'm looking after friend's 8 month filly (riding pony x) just been weaned about a month.
Bit weedy looking, fine boned not a chunky foal.
Living out with shelter, currently on stud mix pellets, she doesn't like chaff or any other type of food as is used to just pellets.
Ad lib hay in field.
Obviously you don't work foals to build up muscle, and can't over feed them to build them up, so how do you get weight on?
Have had only colts before (2) few years ago, and they seem to grow differently, have better necks and shoulder/backs than filly's.
I'm just doing twice daily checks and feed whilst owner is poorly, we were discussing the differences between colts and fillies, I said I'd ask on here people's opinions

Filly is healthy and well cared for btw! Lives with another filly (cob x) which is obviously bigger and makes her seem weedier!

 

[TGM]

You need to really differentiate between whether this filly is actually in underweight condition or is just of fine build. You can do this by condition scoring - there is a guide here:

http://www.laminitisclinic.org/Condition%20scoring.htm

If the foal is underweight, then best bet is to ring one or two of the reputable feed companies for their recommendation of which product to use and how much to feed. When I had a foal, I found Spillers and Dodson & Horrell particularly helpful, but you could also try Baileys, Allen & Page, TopSpec etc. (Much depends upon which brands you can source easily in your local area).

I'd also want to check that she is getting good access to the adlib hay and isn't being bullied by the other youngster and that her worming programme is up-to-date.

 

[scotsmare]

My filly gets Dodson & horrell suregrow, alfa a and sugarbeet twice per day, as well as much hay as she will eat.

Riding pony foals are generally weedy looking things as they're not meant to be large and carrying lots of weight. Can you feel / see her ribs / hip bones?

 

[Scarlett1980]

I'd really try to get it to start eating something like winergy growth but if she really won't touch you could either try a milk based pellet or high oil supplement like outshine or equijewel - just bare in mind neither of those are designed for baby mouths or tummy's so call the manufacturer to double check.