Feeding youngester for front end growth

E

Eceni

Well-Known Member
Joined
20 February 2007
Messages
515
Location
Shropshire
Visit site
HI all

I have a rising 5 (that is, 4 yrs, 11 months) warmblood/NPS pony filly. She's going through a hind-end growth spurt which has put her about an inch and a half up behind. I'm desperate for her front end to catch up so she doesn't end up croup high.

She's a fairly good do-er tho' she has shed a bit of weight in the past 3 weeks since I stopped riding (saddle fit problems, now resolved).

She's out at grass 10-12 horus a day and comes in to a feed of Happy Hoof plus a bit of Ride and Relax and hay.

If anyone has any sane suggestions for a good feeding regime that will help her front end catch up with her back end without turning her into a butterball or increasing the risk of laminitis, please let me know

ta

E
 
hmmmm not sure if you can feed for just front end growth...? Think young horses are a little like teenagers - look all wrong and gangly - until they suddenly grow up. As long as your mare is receiving the neccessary vits and mins for optimum growth along with sufficient energy and good quality and essential proteins she should grow into what nature intended. My old instructor used to say she never "looked at a young horse" as they are normally quite ugly (sorry!) but they normally come right in the end!
crazy.gif
 
You're going to require patience I'm afraid, there are no quick fixes!

A horse will grow at its own rate and is best left to it unless you want to upset the skeletal balance and possibly have problems later in life.

They all go through the gawky stage, just something to be lived with!
grin.gif
 
yup - you'll just have to wait. My gelding grew a hand last year and his bum has suddenly shot up again - my vet told me just to make sure he has a good balanced diet with all the right vits and minerals and his body would sort the rest out itself.... didnt think he'd grow as much though...!

My 4 yo mare is all gangly at the moment too - gonna feed her the same and the gelding got last year to help her grow properly too...
 
You will have to wait for nature - mine is 15 hands one end and 14.2 the other at the moment but is coming level. He grows like a see saw.

I feed simple systems - he is 2 3/4s and a gypsy cob so have to be careful about weight - this suits him very well. Until he was 2 he had equimins youngstock supplement but now has simple systems total eclipse supplement.
 
I use TopSpec balancer and condition flakes for my youngsters. Apparently it contains all the nutrients required for optimum growth and the flakes give some condition whilst the grass is still a bit poor.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top