Lazy Shetland- what to feed?

[dottieh]

I have a gorgeous Shetland who I have Owned for about 6 months. He is on restricted grazing as lives on fresh air- like most Shetlands! He is stabled at night and gets a handful of chaff everyday with his supplements. He is worked a few times a week but has become increasingly lazy in the past few months.. Any feed suggestions that I could try? Was planning to train him to harness!

 

[be positive]

I doubt he needs a feed, as he gets his vits and mins each day that is covered, you say he is stabled at night but not how much hay he gets, increasing the fibre/ forage intake would be the best way to increase his energy levels as will getting him fitter and slimmer if he is overweight, don't rule out his feet being the cause of the apparent laziness, low grade laminitis often presents as them being reluctant to work and is not always obvious, also consider clipping him if his coat is thick he may be uncomfortable doing much exercise.

The last thing I would be doing with a shetland that is doing a little exercise a few times a week is giving it any hard feed unless it is actually underweight, which is very unlikely from your post.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

In a word, nothing!

Shetlands are bred to eke out the roughest grazing ever and survive. Unless he has been ill he certainly shouldn't need any supplementary feed. I would be surprised if he actually needs vits and mins, even.