Feeding advice

C

classybutwild

Well-Known Member
Joined
20 August 2010
Messages
113
Location
Knee Deep in Mud!
Visit site
My ponys have put on lots of weight this winter, they have no grass at all, but i do turnout every day other than icy conditions after the snow, the have hay on tap as well as 2 small feeds a day, 1 scoop of speedi-beet, 1 scoop of chalf (molly calmer one) 1 scoop of nuts. and obviously half of that for my little boy. I have tried taking one feed out morning and just feeding hay, but there not interested they want there breakfast! lol my big boy can be very bolshy when he is hungry or over anything really, but that's another story. My worry is i have 15 acres of land to turn them out into in the spring and i want them quiet alot slimer than they are now to reduce the risk of colic, and advice is appreciated! thanks for reading :)
 
If it was me and they're overweight I would cut hard feed out altogether, maybe just feed a handful of chop and a broad spec bit and mineral supplement. How big are they and what work do they do? You'd be suprised what horses thrive on just grazing and good quality hay/haylage. I have two 16hh + ISH on livery who have hardly any hard feed and they're both exercised 7days a week. They just have chopped alfalfa, the owner will add a teeny bit of hi fibre mix occasionally if she's doing harder work such as a jumping lesson or competition.
 
There not in work at the minute i wouldn't say there obese but a bit bigger for my liking knowing they are going to be grazing in the spring with grass up to your knees. The scoop i use is a small green one.
 
If it were me I would cut out the hard feed completely. The hay will be enough for them. How big are they height wise? We have horses at our yard who have no hard feed at all and even they aren't losing any weight yet and they vary in size from a shetty to 15.2hh despite having no hard feed :confused:

Are they rugged? If so maybe leave the rugs off and let them shiver a few calories away for a couple of hours a day
 
I'd cut out all the hard feed, put a mineral lick in the field so they are still getting everything they need, if they are a pain with out the bowl of food infront of them, cut up a carrot and apple and put that in a bowl they will think thay are getting breakfast and dinner then. They are getting thier succulent at the same time then.

I check over my horses while they are munching so even in the summer they have a bowl but only has a carrot in it.

Sugar Beet is brilliant for putting on and maintaining a weight so you need that cut out.
 
Ditto the others, just cut the hard feed.

I would go for half a handful of unmolassed chaff with a scoop of Equivite or similar instead.

My mare is in work, not overweight but not as slim as I would like coming into spring. This works for us :)

ETA: Do they need ad-lib hay? My mare would be the size of a house if I fed her ad-lib! I weigh her hay and feed 1.5 - 1.75% of her bodyweight in total each day...
 
Again, I would cut out all hard feed. Should you need to feed them "something" then a handful of Mollichaff Calmer with a vit min supplement will be absolutely all they need.

Are you able to section off part of the field or bring them into their stables for part of the day? the grass contains more fructans during the day than at night so you could try bringing in during the day and leavingt hem out over night.

Also, do you give them hay when they are turned out? If so and the grazing is good in your field at the moment then you could reduce their hay during the day or even stop completely.

If you give them hay of a night time in their stable then soaking the hay before giving it to them over night is another option.

a few more details on their current management inc height, breed, age etc would help us to be able to give you the best advice.
 
Ditto cut out all hard feed and stick a mineral lick out in the paddock. If they have ad lib hay, are not in work and on the fat side then they probably don't need hard feed at all. At the moment our oldies, broodmares and TB youngsters are all out with just grass, hay and a mineral lick. All are unrugged except the oldies are rugged as required.....and all of them are on the fat side!

Your boys will get used to not having breakfast :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top