Fortanedancer
Well-Known Member
What do you feed your weanlings? I’ve got a 6 month old Connie arriving on Monday and The youngest horse I’ve ever owned is a 2 year old. I’d be interested to know what you feed and how much and why. Thank you ??
Feeding a weanling advice please.
- Thread starter Fortanedancer
- Start date
KittenInTheTree
Well-Known Member
I'd keep it out with appropriate company and ad lib grass, topped up with ab lib hay if and when the grass ran out. I might also feed it one of the balancers designed with youngstock in mind. Obviously water too, and access to some form of shelter from the elements if needed.
windand rain
Well-Known Member
As a native I would feed a very small feed of soaked grassnuts and Suregrow balancer alongside adlib forage grass/hay/haylage. They dont need much just the building blocks to grow steadily. Dont get them too fat too young
Fortanedancer
Well-Known Member
he’ll have company of a yearling and a nearly 3 year old and he will be stabled at night, they also have a field shelter. I feed my 3 year old dengie happy hooves molasses free, micronised linseed, spirulina and a small bit of limestone flower and he’s come on great with that but he’s obviously a lot older and I’m unsure would be suitable for a weanling.
Fortanedancer
Well-Known Member
would you recommend haylage for a weanling? I tried my youngster on it once and he sent him a little hyper with a runny tummy. I was thinking I would try the wealing with it if it’s recommended as a better source of protein and more digestible?
windand rain
Well-Known Member
Depends on the type there are some high fibre ones that are fine and if living in at all I would use haylage and dust free bedding kept very clean to protect young lungs. Mine live out 24/7 so no issue with dust
Fortanedancer
Well-Known Member
ok thank you, he will have dust free bedding and will be stabled at night in the large foaling stable with a small partition ive made so he can see my 3 year old for company who will be the other side of the partition. I’ve got everything sorted to have him I’m just panicking now about what’s right to feed him lol
Equi
Well-Known Member
Keep it simple, a cup of a good quality young stock balancer along with the hay/grass and leave it at that.
Horses_Rule
Well-Known Member
Mine has suregrow and lives out on plenty of grass, when that runs out I’ll supplement with haylage
Fortanedancer
Well-Known Member
what brand is that? X
AdorableAlice
Well-Known Member
D&H. Feed it at correct gram to KG along with clean forage. A native won't need anything else and if you push the growth it will pay you back in spades of grief.
windand rain
Well-Known Member
february 2018 6 and bit months the day she arrived
dozy girl November 2020 a purely D&H suregrow girl Highland pony so a bit chunkier than a Connie
Fortanedancer
Well-Known Member
oh my gosh!! She’s changed so much! She’s gorgeous! How much has she grown? X
Fortanedancer
Well-Known Member
great thank you, is it the mare and young stock concentrate? X
Horses_Rule
Well-Known Member
No the mare and young stock is a mix suregrow is just a balancer
https://www.dodsonandhorrell.com/product/suregrow
Hopefully that link will work! It’s relatively cost effective aswell compared to other balancers too!
Fortanedancer
Well-Known Member
Appreciate that, thank you. Do you mix with any chaff or anything else? X
windand rain
Well-Known Member
I mix with soaked grass nuts as above. About 2 hands bigger in the 20 months
Fortanedancer
Well-Known Member
Its amazing how quickly they grow! Thank you x
windand rain
Well-Known Member
You are welcome They certainly change hugely from 6 to 18 months and mature more over the 18 months to 2 and a half. Might be why some folk think they are ready to back too young. uregrow has been my go to for many years of breeding and raising young natives. Did a Connie the same way she is rising 14 bought her at 4 months and sold her at 8 to the girl who rode her for me Have photos of her too another suregrow baby
Fortanedancer
Well-Known Member
I have a cob who I got at 18 months and he’s only grown an inch since I had him, bless him. He’s 13hh. He’s 3 now but has filled out a bit. The dam of my Connie foal is 14.3 and the sire is 15.2, they’ve said they think he’ll make at least 15hh as his half brothers and sisters have made 15 to 15.2 from dams of a similar size so the sire tends to throw larger babies. I’d love to see your Connie x
windand rain
Well-Known Member
day she arrived
age 3
Age 5 stands just over 14hh and has a grade 1 grading they loved her
Fortanedancer
Well-Known Member
she is gorgeous! It really makes me so excited to see my little one grow up xx