Feeding native weanling- equimins or NAF?

[pickwickayr]

Hello
I am looking for something advice on the best supplement for a 6 month old native pony foal. I have contacted top spec who advised their comprehensive balancer and Alfa a. Having read up I think I would rather stay away from balancers and feed a supplement instead...

The 2 I am interested in are the NAF mare and youngstock supplement
http://www.naf-equine.eu/uk/img/products/spec/mare-foal-&-youngstock.pdf

Or equimins youngstock
http://www.equimins-online.com/all-products/157-equimins-young-stock-formula-supplement.html

Not sure which would be best?
Also I feed copra to my other ponies at the moment would this be suitable for the foal to mix the supplement with? Or would Alfa a or some kind of chop be better?? I want to avoid her growing too quickly but ensure she has everything she needs! I have a rockies red lick available too

Thank you for any replies!

 

[Dry Rot]

Mine seem to thrive on good grass and hay but as my 12HH yearling Highland is still growing, I exect I'm doing something wrong! But I do feed a handful of soaked sugar beet and the occasional carrot slice in training. Oh, and a salt block and fresh water, of course.

 

[honetpot]

I would say why? if they are on good quality forage there should be no need to give them anything else. Natives have evolved to live on poor quality forage and survive, they mature slower and sometimes look uneven but they will end up well.
If you are feeling guilty because the others are fed, a handful of chaff and a chopped carrot will be a treat.

 

[pickwickayr]

Ah ok thanks! Just want to get everything right! Youngest I've had before is 2 year olds so foals are new venture for me! Thanks for the response much appreciated

 

[pickwickayr]

Mine seem to thrive on good grass and hay but as my 12HH yearling Highland is still growing, I exect I'm doing something wrong! But I do feed a handful of soaked sugar beet and the occasional carrot slice in training. Oh, and a salt block and fresh water, of course.

Fab thanks for reassurance! Your highlands are gorgeous! Do you live in th north? My foal is coming up to Highlands from south England so expect she may find it a lot colder up here ...... hence wanting to give her the best start. If she would be better without tho will go down that route! Advice from feed companies etc is all so conflicting! Hard to know what to do for the best!

 

[Cortez]

Feed companies will of course advise you to feed all sorts, that's what they exist to do. A native pony will in all liklihood need nothing more than good quality hay/pasture, clean water and a salt lick to thrive. It is preferable to allow horses to grow in stages, so there may be (actually should be) times when they are showing a rib - this indicates they are putting all their energy into growing. Young horses should not look "finished" (and they definitely shouldn't look like those you see in the show ring, which are generally far too fat).

 

[pickwickayr]

Feed companies will of course advise you to feed all sorts, that's what they exist to do. A native pony will in all liklihood need nothing more than good quality hay/pasture, clean water and a salt lick to thrive. It is preferable to allow horses to grow in stages, so there may be (actually should be) times when they are showing a rib - this indicates they are putting all their energy into growing. Young horses should not look "finished" (and they definitely shouldn't look like those you see in the show ring, which are generally far too fat).

Ah that all makes sense, thank you!

 

[Dry Rot]

Fab thanks for reassurance! Your highlands are gorgeous! Do you live in th north? My foal is coming up to Highlands from south England so expect she may find it a lot colder up here ...... hence wanting to give her the best start. If she would be better without tho will go down that route! Advice from feed companies etc is all so conflicting! Hard to know what to do for the best!

Mine are 40 miles north of Inverness in the Highlands and will never be rugged or stabled but they do have shelter (which they seldom use!). Your weanling will be fine. Does it have company? They do need someone to play with!

 

[pickwickayr]

Mine are 40 miles north of Inverness in the Highlands and will never be rugged or stabled but they do have shelter (which they seldom use!). Your weanling will be fine. Does it have company? They do need someone to play with!

Yes she will have company thank you for the advice!

 

[honetpot]

My Highlands are in sunny east angular, but face the winds off the Fens. They live on round bale late cut hay, unrugged and yes they do loose weight in winter, but they are supposed to

 

[Dry Rot]

A lot will depend on the quality of the hay. I've had mine put on weight on ad lib hay (the "adult" herd) so moved over to forking hay out of the quad trailer. They get as much as they can clear up twice a day. My hay field seems to have degenerated into native grasses (mostly Yorkshire Fog) which is not meant to be highly nutritious or palatable so my hay should be fine for natives.

For Highlands, outside 24/7, I prefer to watch their condition by a quick feel for ribs. If they don't have adequate shelter and there is 48 hours of horizontal sleet or heavy rain with half a gale behind it, they can lose flesh incredibly quickly and it is not so easy to put it back on again. I've had that happen a couple of times when a gate has blown shut or someone has shut a gate that should have been left open. In winter, in the Highlands, I'd prefer them to be on the fat side of fit, though probably not in "show condition"!