Feeding oats to my pony - Yay or Nay?

[3Beasties]

Someone has suggested that we should give Millie some oats to give her a bit more energy.

She is a 12hh Section A, 11 years old and used for hacking, Schooling and jumping.

Recently she has become quite lazy out on rides, she will listen to Little Jockey's leg but she does need to keep nagging at her or she will drop back and plod along at her own pace.

She is looking really well at the moment, has lost quite a lot of weight and muscled up really nicely. She has worn a grazing mask everyday all summer and is put in a starvation patch overnight. She gets half a round scoop off Safe and Sound at the moment but I just don't feel it's enough.

She needs something to give her a bit of spark without making her put on weight.

Do you think oats would be suitable for her?

 

[dixieandfinn]

we had this problem with our pony and put him on endurance mix,it provides slow release energy rather than a short burst cos we didnt want him silly.we found it a really good feed

 

[china]

i would go for a slow release mix rather than oats, youl prob find youl get bursts of sillyness!
i think sugar beet has slow release energy. some one else may be able to confirm this, maybe add some of that, or soya oil is good for stamina, i feed that to my boy as he gets abit flat after a short while of schooling

 

[Tiarella]

Nothing to do with the feeding side but...

Doug was like this for a bit, but he doesnt have feed so didnt really want to start feeding him oats. I just used spurs for a few schooling sessions to get him listening. Soon sorted him out, he goes off my leg really nicely now

Just another idea instead of changing feed which could be weight gain.

 

[Chico Mio]

I feed soaked oats (more nutrition, less zip), soaked sugar beet and corn oil (can't get soya). My 14.3hh 22 year old mare seems happy enough to hack out two or three times a week carrying OH (10st 10lb) including a mad gallop through the woods last week!

 

[3Beasties]

LJ really wants to ride her in spurs but I'm not sure I want to go down that route yet, I don't like the though of Little Person and little pony being let loose with spurs on

even though I use them myself

She does actually listen to L's leg though, when kicked on she'll keep up for a few strides but then she will slow down again and drop behind until L asks again.

 

[Tiarella]

[ QUOTE ]
LJ really wants to ride her in spurs but I'm not sure I want to go down that route yet, I don't like the though of Little Person and little pony being let loose with spurs on

even though I use them myself

She does actually listen to L's leg though, when kicked on she'll keep up for a few strides but then she will slow down again and drop behind until L asks again.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think as long as she knows how to use them correctly then she will be fine. I used to use them around 3 times a week on Doug just so he knew exactly what I ment when I put my leg on etc. It worked really well, now I dont use them at all, and now end up having trouble stopping

I just think oats will give her more bursts of energy rather than constant energy, not sure though, you know her best

 

[china]

i think maybe just schooling may solve it, my theory is that you should only have to ask once, if they dont go the first time you ask, re inforce your leg with a tap from a schooling whip, once the horse is walking leave them alone and dont nag, im i right in thinking she is a fairly young pony, (memory like a gold fish!)

ets- durr just looked at your first post and it says her age lol

 

[3Beasties]

Rider is nearly 12.

She does listen to Jockey's leg, she walks, trots and canters etc when asked it's just that she is lacking in energy/Forwardness/Impulsion (not really sure of the right term!).

 

[3Beasties]

I'm not sure what to do now

Would Endurance Mix make her put weight on?

At the moment she doesn't need condition, just energy but over winter she may need something to help maintain her weight!

 

[kellyeaton]

try oil put personally you could ask your self my all of a sudden has she justy started to be lazy? if she is only on safe her sound Any kind of mix would give her that little more!x

 

[3Beasties]

She is working more then she used to which I think is why she is lacking in energy.

What type of oil would you recommend?

 

[kellyeaton]

i would say soya oil. or if you used a fast response engery food she would burn it off so she would not but the weight on!