Feeding a horse who is kept out 24/7

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Mummy82

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Hello,
I am new to this site and I am after some advice please, what would you feed a rugged 14.2 mare who is light worked (2/3 days a week)? She obviously grazes and I give her 2x full hay nets a day, one in the morning and one in the evening. Should I be giving her anything else?
The reason I am asking is because the lady I took her on from sent me a message today saying that "someone" had walked past and said she was looking sad and thin. She is rugged and has a neck cover so not sure how he could see this. I had the vet out three weeks ago and she said she was in great condition. When I took her on she was on the verge of laminitis, had to have her teeth done, her feet needed trimming, she needed to be shod and have her vaccinations. She also needed to be microchipped and passported.
Admittedly she has lost weight because she needed to as she was fat and turned away for three years as the previous owner got frightened of her.
I am now paranoid.
Any advice would be gratefully received.
Many thanks
 
Feed according to weight and workload. If you're happy with her weight and she's sparkly enough when you ride then she doesn't need hard feed. Try getting her a mineral lick.
 
I'd be telling her to get lost! You took on a horse that had not had its most basic needs met whilst under her "care", and she has the audacity to have a pop at you. Cheeky cow.
 
No need to feed so long as she is getting plenty of hay. She is only in light work and if you want you could give her a small feed on the days you work her.

Your eye will tell you when you need to feed. Keep an eye on the holes on your girth, if you are tightening them on a higher hole then you may need to up her feed.

Good on you for getting her weight down, its a hard task, I have a Clydesdale that blows up like a balloon the moment she gets too much grass.
 
might be handy to stick her on a balance to make sure she's getting all her vits and minerals. Ignore the old owner - some people haven't a clue what a healthy weight horse looks like.
 
You sound like a lovely responsible owner and the pony is lucky to have you. Tell the old owner what she can do with her criticism - like you said, how on earth can one tell what condition a horse is in under its rugs just by looking, and how many horses living out actually look "happy" in this weather? Mine live out and look shocking when the weather is foul, but it's all cosmetic, and they're happy as Larry, toasty and dry under their rugs.

A tiny feed might not do any harm if you really feel she needs it, but if she's prone to laminitis and is currently perky and slim, then why rock the boat?
 
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