help with new pony feeding & settling in

[Violett]

Hi, havent been on H & H for a few years. We have been lucky to own a super star welsh A for a couple of years and last weekend purchased our second pony at the weekend.

A super dartmoor - however the journey was 7 hours on monday .

He has instantly stuck like glue to our welsh as they are in the field together but in at night apart.

He is very tucked up after the journey and unlike our A is not a great eater in field or stable.

He stands in field gazing, after purchase owner said sugar intolerance altho0ugh not laminitic and only fed simplesystem feeds which have arrived today.

He is only 6 yrs but spent 5 yrs with one owner then 4 months on different yard before our purchase last week - how long to settle in before i get worried and who feeds simple systems feeds?

please help before i panick!

 

[cobden99]

I never met a native pony that didnt live to eat. I dont want to worry you but that sounds a bit odd to me. Sugar intolerance ? Did you have him vetted ?
Re : Simple Systems, I would speak to the people who own the company. They are nice people and very helpful.

 

[Christmas_Kate]

I too would question the sugar intolerance. I think if you havent had him vetted the best thing to do would be to get the farrier out asap and just make sure he's NOT laminitic. Then get the vet out and have him look ponio over and advise you from there.

A dartmoor really shouldnt need hard feed, of any type, not yet. These ponies survive on the moors in the wild, on very little goodness. I would offer him 'old' hay, or hay which has been soaked for a good 12 hours to remove the goodness. If you plan on competing, hunting or any type of hard work, then he will need some kind of feed. Treat him as a laminitic until your farrier and vet have been out. Then speak to the people from the simple feed system.

as for him not eating atm, he will take a few days to settle, so i wouldnt worry too much.

 

[the watcher]

Your new pony might just be very tired and abit overawed with the new surroundings, especially if this is the first move ever.

If you do want to feed or tempt with something, you could try alfalfa and Quikbeet/Speedibeet, both of which form part of the simple systems feeds and maybe Pink Powder for condition. much easier than buying Simple Systems by the pallet load IMO.

If you didn't have the pony vetted for purchase it might be worth asking your vet to check him over although you could elimate some potential problems yourself by making sure worming is up to date and checking for anaemia and signs of infection.

Was the pony jabbed just before purchase, this could be a reaction?

 

[shuz7]

I brought a dartmoor pony for my daughter two years ago from a riding school. As soon as she arrived I put her in a stable with hay for a few days / nights and let her out with the other horses. As soon as she was in the field she started eating grass. The only thing I had to look out for was if she was laminitic as she had been before.

I feed her on hi-fi-lite, pony nuts and an apple in the winter and i've had no problems.

Since i've had her she has not been laminitic and i'm hoping she will never get it. She is exercised every day.

Last week I brought a friesian over from Holland and the first thing she done was eat grass.

Just keep an eye on her for a few days and if you are still worried ask your local vet to check her out.