Feeding cobs/natives - supplement recommendations?

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Ashleigh_

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Hello everyone :)

Just wondering if any of you feed your cobs supplements? If so, which ones and why? :)

As things are right now Ronnie lives out 24/7, as he does all year, although soon we might be moving to a yard with stabling..(wanted grass livery as Mr Fatty doesnt need a stable but yard doesn't offer it so it appears he will soon have a cosy bed!) Right now it's pretty bad grazing quality (please let it rain more!) and he gets one small feed of happy hoof, a chopped up carrot and some garlic granules. In the winter, because he is so exposed right by the sea and on a hill he gets some speedibeet to bulk it up a bit. He seems happy with this, although I doubt he would turn his nose up at anything.. greedy monkey ;) :p

I've never fed a vit or min supplement before although I know they are widely popular and just wondered why people feel they need to? I'm just intrigued if you've seen any noticeable differences by using one with your cobs/natives :) I wonder if it would be worth adding one to his feed as the grazing is poor, I just know what these companies are like trying to sell new found 'essentials' and want to know opinions first before buying in to the idea :)

Thank you for all the advice as always! x
 
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I have a 2 yr old cob and he is on a balancer for vitamins and minerals/protein (spillers grow and win) and he has falcon feeds fibre care with it which he loves! this seems to suit him as he looks just right on it!-

My other two although they are not natives have pink powder as they get less than the recommended amount of feed so it makes sure that they get enough vits/mins and it makes them look really well.
 
I am currently considering cutting out balancer from 3 of my 4 ponies as they are fat as pigs and it feels like I am just stuffing money down their necks. I would have thought if he is well - good hoof quality, pooing enough, bright and happy and with a good coat then there is no need to change what you are feeding. A mineral lick in the field is what I am swaying towards.
 
minigal said:
I am currently considering cutting out balancer from 3 of my 4 ponies as they are fat as pigs and it feels like I am just stuffing money down their necks. I would have thought if he is well - good hoof quality, pooing enough, bright and happy and with a good coat then there is no need to change what you are feeding. A mineral lick in the field is what I am swaying towards.
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Thanks for replying :)

'Stuffing money down their necks' - see this is what I'd like to try and avoid :) Obviously if I think he needs it I would happily pay out, but if not i'd rather keep that money and put it towards something else we need :)
He's actually barefoot at the moment as touch wood his hoof is quite strong and he has regular farrier visits just for trims, I also use Kevin Bacon dressing on them. He's full of character & shiney coat etc... poos more than enough! :D :p

Did you see a difference when you started your ponies on it initially?

ETA: They do have a field lick at the moment, although i'm afraid to say Ronnie fancies himself as a bit of a David Beckham and it gets a good kicking/roll about instead, not sure I want to fund anymore of his football practice.. :( lol
 
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I feed my natives and good doers a vit/min supplement. I was at a laminitis talk last year and current thinking seems to be that adequate vit/min supplementation is important in helping prevent laminitis. I use Dodson and Horrell Equibites mostly, the fatties think they are getting treats and I don't need to give them a feed :)
 
Did I see a difference? Yes they got fatter! Haha!

Paddy is the one I have had the longest and have gone the whole journey with from feeding mix/cubes to simple systems to an expensive balance to fibre only and condition wise he has always looked (far too) good, however his feet are fab now and he calmed down alot once I took him off the mixes. He is retired now (at 12 :sob: ) so he just doesn't need vast amounts of feed. I have good grass (though I keep it grazed down) and intend to cut feed down to a minimum in the hope of slimming him down and helping my pocket.

Tex my youngster will remain on a balancer and a decent bucket feed as he is slim and still growing.

My 2 mini shetlands will again have a mineral lick and soaked hay. They don't look too bad TBH but they live on a bare track.

I am slowly coming round to thinking that maybe what they need is plenty of decent fibre and less commercially prepared food though it will panic me greatly to not have many tubs of supplements in my feedroom - for some reason they make me feel like a better owner!
 
I feed a benevit in winter and in summer they have linseed, brewyers yeast, clivers and hedgerow herbs.

They have the different stuff in summer as they get mild SI and I also show them and want them to look in peak condition, ie very good coat, strong feet etc.

If you have good grazing, then I would not worry unless it was young or very old, but we too have not a huge amount of grass, hence giving them something to cover this lack.

I feed just grass and green gold chaffs, carrots, black sunflower seeds and a bit of speedibeet.

If I were feeding a ready made mix or cubes then I would not use anything else as it should have all they need in it.
 
i had my pony who is living out 24/7 on NAF slimline but I think it was sending him round the bend as he has become very spooky and sharp so I have taken him off it.

He is now having a handful of good doer chaff and a handful of slim and healthy mix without the supplement which he has all year round. I also sometimes give him cider vinegar and garlic.

If your pony has a shiny coat, enough energy and good hoof condition then he is probably getting what he needs from his diet.
 
Because I can't feed due to being a good do-er he gets a small handful of Top Spec's Top chop lite which I think is unmollassed and that's just so I can mix in a maintenance joint supplement as he's now 15(Global Herbs MoveFree) and breathing one as he's a bit wheezy at times due to pollen/dust (Global Herbs - Pollenexe and just moved to AirwaysPlus I think it's called). He has a mineral lick in his stable and I feed D&H Equibites if I think he's needing vits and mins - like recently when I found him eating the soil around tree roots...:D
 
my darties and welsh c get handful of chaff and pink powder but now they're back on better grass just my welsh c gets the chaff and a scoop of oestress for being a bit moody!
 
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