Feeding a good doer in Winter

[pitter_patter]

I'm here asking questions again!!

Do you HAVE to give hard feed in winter?

What if they are on hayledge?

If they keep weight on over winter and do not lose condition what would you feed? Food Type and brand please

Thanks!!

 

[tasteofchristmaschaos]

Nope! I don't even feed haylage, just plain old hay.

 

[Gingerwitch]

Depends on what happens with the others surrounding them and what you want to do with them i.e are they going out competing, hunting or just plodding round the lanes on a weekend?

One of mine is a chunky monkey - but because everthing else gets breakfast and tea he gets a handful of good doer and some carrots.

 

[LankyDoodle]

No not at all. I use winter to get weight off my horse. That's what the seasons are for - weight off in winter, on in summer. That way he stays a nice weight all year. But he's a good doer and he's a native. I wouldn't do the same with my warmblood.

He gets hifi lite (handful) with winter glow summer shine in the Summer; in winter he gets normal hifi (2 scoops a day) with his winter glow plus some hay in winter as well. No proper hard feed.

 

[pitter_patter]

I think this winter it will be a bit of schooling, hacking (if and when poss) some walk trot tests and practicing jumping!!

Sorry if I'm confusing anyone BTW - as I was on here the other day talking about my 2 yr old, but I'm getting my loan horse back yay!!

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

I have a wb and a coblet and they both have fibre based diet - both are good doers - they have hay and then for the various supplements they have either Happy Hoof (coblet) and pony nuts (wb) with a bit of speedibeet. Hay is soaked for the coblet as she has had laminitis.

 

[sarah101095]

I have just changed my pony's feed to good doer chaff and lo-cal balancer, because he gets sluggish in the winter - the grass and hay will probably be low vits+mins. The balancer gives him all the nutrients without the calories

 

[Passtheshampoo]

My RID filly, New Forest pony and IDx ISH/SWB all have haylage and a small feed of Healthy Hoof and Speedibeet. They have access to a mineral lick. I keep an eye on their weight and adjust amounts of hard feed given accordingly. They all live out 24/7 unrugged.

 

[kellyeaton]

No you dont have to feed but if you are not feeding you will have to get a min vit lick so he his gettin what he needs that way!

 

[Chunkie]

My Welsh cob lives out unrugged.

I feed her all year round - in the summer she has a double handful of Happy Hoof, and that goes up to 2 double handfuls in the winter!

She has hay if there isn't enough grass, but only one flake a day shared with the other horse.