How much feed should she have??Getting depressed

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alivetnurse

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Hi there, my mare is not allowed grass or hay for at least the next 6 weeks due to treatment on her diastema. She can eat anything that can be soaked to a mash so I have some fast fibre. alfalfa pellets, calm and condition and soft and soak fibre. How much should she be having each day? Its really hard as she is seriously not happy on this diet and some days she eats everything and other days she leaves quite a lot. We are only 1 week into this so think she is hoping she will be turned out or given hay at some point. Water wise she hardly seems to drinking any, I have tried everything I even got some of the Horse Quench sachets that are supposed to be brilliant but she hasn't touched it. I know her feed contains loads of water but is that enough? Her poo's are soft to squash - have become obsessed with quantity and consistancy- and to be honest look exactly like the food going in. Getting quite down with all of this as she is looking really fed up and when I put her out in the school with her friend she just mooches around trying to eat anything she can find. I am having to keep my pony on box rest with her as seperating them just didn't work. Poor Nea the pony just galloped flat out round the field the whole time so not only was she trashing the fields but after pulling off both her back shoes in the process and going through 3 lots of electric fence I decided she was just going to hurt herself. They go out in the school 3 times a day for about an hour a time and I have aplay with them and get them to run around and have a play. Just feels like a very long road and want to check if I am expecting her to eat too much? I seem to be tipping loads of un-eaten feed on the dung heap. Sorry very long xx
 
Without seeing the pony in the flesh, its impossible to say. Have you tried grass nuts? Can be soaked to a runny mash & most horses like them, so can add taste to the fast & fibre. Did the vet not recommend quantities?
 
I haven't tried grass nuts, good idea though. No he didn't, all I can find on-line is they need approx 2 % of their bodyweight so if she weighs approx 500kg that would be about 10 kg of dry weight of food a day.Blimey thats scary if I have that right as thats going to alot of feed!!!! Think I need another job.
 
She can have fast fibre in almost any quantity, it can be a complete hay replacer so unless you want to restrict it because of weight gain leave a tub with her at all times so she can eat as she wishes. Alfalfa pellets and calm and condition are higher in energy, starch so I would stick with recommended amounts.

Are you mixing them all together or feeding separately, she may prefer to have them offered in different bowls so you can see which she prefers and adjust quantities accordingly.

Speedibeet would be suitable as would some linseed or oil to help with weight if she is likely to drop, a little salt could encourage her to drink and may help with the healing process.

Try some herbs to encourage eating or flavouring with mint, apple juice etc. Some grated apple may be allowed and could make the feeds a bit more tasty.
 
Ring the vets & ask the vet who treated her. If she's a good doer, then provided her gut is kept moving its not the end of the world if she loses some, it will go back on soon enough. However if not, you may need more specific advice from someone who's seen her.
 
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