Help?

T

ThomasBoy

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12 October 2012
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Hey,
I am getting a 14.2 new forest mare.
How much hay would you say she needs?
She will be on rotary turn out for 4 days a week for half the day.
She will be on a straw bed and worked 40 mins - hour ago, mainly hacking, hardly any jumping.
She is in good physical condition and fit.
Help?
 
Speak to the person you are buying from.
If they have been able to 'manage' the pony & keep in good condition, then perhaps its wise to carry on with same feed/hay till you get to know how pony does over the coming months.
Ad-lib is not always the best way to go with native ponies, only except in extenuating circumstances such as the vile weather we have currently had.

:)
 
Agree with Fuzzy F, New Forests are generally good doers and ad lib hay might be too much as they are bred to live out on the forest and live on scrub and basic grass and do well on this. You are only adding extra calories to make up for the fact your pony will use energy when ridden and when stabled with no access to grazing. I would ask the present owners as said before and see what they have been feeding. If pony looks poor then up quantities slightly when it arrives (monitoring any behaviour changes so you don't end up with a loopy mare) and if she looks just right when she arrives then stick to same as old owners unless your grazing is dramatically different in nutrient quality. If she is turned out then give less hay than on the days she is going to be in 24/7 when she will need more hay in place of grass.
 
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