Brambridge04
Well-Known Member
Benefits to a native??
grass nuts???
- Thread starter Brambridge04
- Start date
Brambridge04
Well-Known Member
I was told that it was better to feed them than hacking mix as higher in fibre?
YorksG
Over the hill and far awa
We use grass nuts as 'hard feed'. The calorific content is highter than hay, I would be careful of using them as a hay replacer, because apart from cost, ponies get fat on them, in much the same way they do on grass! Well ours do anyway. 
YorksG
Over the hill and far awa
We do that too 
Very old fashioned we are, I think it is something to do with a) being old and b) not likeing wasting money
Very old fashioned we are, I think it is something to do with a) being old and b) not likeing wasting money
YorksG
Over the hill and far awa
i will agree 100% with B...and begrudgingly with A...
Lol, I think we are very near the same age, quite possibly to the year! Vintage rather than old perhapse
YorksG
Over the hill and far awa
Me too!
Brambridge04
Well-Known Member
I heard theyre good for fibre? would they be better than pony nuts? can you feed them year round?
Pearlsacarolsinger
Up in the clouds
Yes, yes and yes.
They are pure fibre (although short, so not as good as hay/lage/straw). IMO they are better than pony nuts as you know exactly what's in them (grass) and if you need to you can feed them year round BUT you need to be careful not to overfeed. As FestiveG said they have a high calorific content. We feed them year round to our oldie but not to the others, who do get some in winter.
You do need to check carefully though, one local supplier sold me alfalfa nuts as grass nuts once (I took them back).
I would say that they are the best 'hard feed' available for a native, if it needs supplementary feeding as grass is completely natural feed for any horse, unlike molasses & cereals, which make up pony nuts and mixes.
Last edited:
ofcourseyoucan
Well-Known Member
natives were/are bred to live half way up a mountain or moor and are bred hardy. adlib good hay and good water source will see them through if well wormed, they are designed to bulk up in summer to drop in winter which is why natives who live as intended rarely succumb to lami.
Brambridge04
Well-Known Member
She came into winter underweight and has managed to put a fair bit on with alfa a chaff n conditioning mix. I recently switched to hacking mix as although still in need of weight she is not far off. Yard owner puts out minimal hay and we are not allowed to put more out sadly.
TGM
Well-Known Member
I would say that in your circumstances where the pony is underweight and not enough hay is being provided, then grass nuts are probably the best thing as reasonably calorific, fibre-based and close to the pony's natural diet.
One difference between straights such as grass nuts, and most commercial cubes and mixes, is that cubes and mixes are usually supplemented with vitamins and minerals. So if that concerns you, you might want to add a vit/min supplement to the diet (something like Equivite or Benevit). An alternative would be a balancer, which also contains probiotics/prebiotics which are said to help maintain healthy bacteria in the gut enabling the horse to make the most of the food it gets. Particularly useful if you feel the gut bacteria may have been damaged in some way, as a result of illness, stress, drug treatment etc.
One difference between straights such as grass nuts, and most commercial cubes and mixes, is that cubes and mixes are usually supplemented with vitamins and minerals. So if that concerns you, you might want to add a vit/min supplement to the diet (something like Equivite or Benevit). An alternative would be a balancer, which also contains probiotics/prebiotics which are said to help maintain healthy bacteria in the gut enabling the horse to make the most of the food it gets. Particularly useful if you feel the gut bacteria may have been damaged in some way, as a result of illness, stress, drug treatment etc.
Brambridge04
Well-Known Member
Thank all x