Made to feel uncomfortable

I appologise if this has already been said but If you are concerned then contact a feed specialist (baileys are good) even just to put your mind at rest that you are doing the right thing, you can then reply if anything is said again "her diet has been designed by an equine feed specialist so I will stick with the experts advise" ;)

When horses get older they do need a little more help obviously than what a youngster does with regards to feed etc but IMO it sounds like you mare is doing fine just as she is.... why fix something that isn't broken? :)

Let us know how you get on :D
 
Actually re reading the "her diet has been designed by an equine feed specialist so I will stick with the experts advise above sounds very sarcastic so maybe re word it some how lol :p
 
Tinypony said:
Not broke, don't fix.
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I agree, if it aint broke, also maybe YO comment wasn't really aimed at you, maybe she is sooooo used to others horses having such a lot of unnecessary supplements and overfeed, she was being sarcy about others, anyway, if your animal is getting what it needs for it's size/breed/workload, then it sounds fine.
 
Great discussion. Just want to echo everyone else's comments to stick to your guns, OP. It sounds like you're doing just the right thing.

The "recommended allowance" listed on the feed bags is often too much for good doer horses and ponies on maintenance/light work. I would be personally somewhat cautious about ringing the feed companies for advice. Since they're not neutral parties--ie they want to sell their product--they might recommend you feed the horse more than you actually have to.
 
Agree with all above...what you feed is fine. My fattie cob get a sprinkling of HiFi Good Doer and half a carrot morning and evening just to keep him from nicking his field mates food. He is also on poor grazing 24/7 and not wearing a rug and is still perfectly happy and healthy!
 
ecarylloh said:
Thank you for the replies everyone.

She looks fine, farrier has said her feet are very strong and vet is pleased with her condition. She has more than enough haylage (always a little bit left in the mornings) and has a huge paddock to graze in.

East Kent - the thing is, I don't think she needs pony nuts/oats etc. She's in semi-retirement so not getting masses of exercise beyond a few schoolings a week and running around in the field. She's never had any problems with energy (still canters up the hill in the field etc) so why would I give her oats or nuts on top of what she's already got? As I said, she's a good-doer so think that giving her these things would just make her fat, and possibly crazy?
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Ignore the silly post telling you to down her forage and up her hard feed. Also ignore the YO, it's only for 2 days, try not to worry.

Due to her age I would consider putting her on a vitamin supplement or a balancer. I have 2 very good doers and all they get is a low cal balancer so I know they are getting the right vits etc and a little bit of chaff, with supplements. They do incredibly well on it and one competes every weekend without any extras.
 
OP I think you are worrying too much about this. I don't think your YO meant "Oh my god you cruel women you're starving your horse" if she is as opinionated and scary as you say she wouldn't have left it at "is that all" she would have said more.

More likely I think she meant one of the following:

"what you mean there isn't a three page list of instructions??"

"Wow you are lucky your horse looks so good on so little, I wish my horses were so cheap to keep"

"Are you sure you've told me everything? I'm sure I've seen you feeding suppliments too"

"How refreshing to hear of a horse being fed sensibly instead of requiring a concotion of fussy junk, this livery is a dream, no requirement to garnish the feed with carrot sliced into the shape of a flower and precisely 5 polos."

"Do you need me to do anything else as well as give her that feed, such as bandage, soak hay or change rugs?"

"Have you finished, my favourite tv program is about to start and I don't want to miss the beginning because I'm out here chatting"

You are putting words into her mouth because you are insecure about how best to feed your horse. Don't worry about it, just carry on as you are.
 
EAST KENT said:
Not surprised..it`s not very much is it? Those are just fillers to add to the "main meal",be it just grass nuts ,oats or whatever.Reduce your ,presumably, ad lib haylage and add in a bit more interesting stuff to her feeds.At the the moment she is getting a sandwich without the filler.
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Thats crap. Horse don't need 'interesting stuff'.

They need grass and hay and possibly a vit/min supplement.

You would die if you saw what I feed 2 of mine...small scraping of low-cal chaff and a scoop of balancer.

They are both in good nick, great hooves- shiny coats and not overweight.
 
Katt said:
OP I think you are worrying too much about this. I don't think your YO meant "Oh my god you cruel women you're starving your horse" if she is as opinionated and scary as you say she wouldn't have left it at "is that all" she would have said more.

More likely I think she meant one of the following:

"what you mean there isn't a three page list of instructions??"

"Wow you are lucky your horse looks so good on so little, I wish my horses were so cheap to keep"

"Are you sure you've told me everything? I'm sure I've seen you feeding suppliments too"

"How refreshing to hear of a horse being fed sensibly instead of requiring a concotion of fussy junk, this livery is a dream, no requirement to garnish the feed with carrot sliced into the shape of a flower and precisely 5 polos."

"Do you need me to do anything else as well as give her that feed, such as bandage, soak hay or change rugs?"

"Have you finished, my favourite tv program is about to start and I don't want to miss the beginning because I'm out here chatting"

You are putting words into her mouth because you are insecure about how best to feed your horse. Don't worry about it, just carry on as you are.
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Brilliant post Katt!
 
Before moving my boys to a 'proper' livery yard I had them on 10 acres of good grazing and they had nothing but grass!! Now on appauling grazing they are having 2 feeds a day and adlib hay and I'm skint beyond belief plus my horses have more digestive problems than I've ever seen!! If I could go back to just having them on the land as I would prefer believe me I would, they would be healthier and I would be finanacially better off.

Don't listen to anyone but your horse, she'll tell you if she needs more or less.
 
Katt said:
OP I think you are worrying too much about this. I don't think your YO meant "Oh my god you cruel women you're starving your horse" if she is as opinionated and scary as you say she wouldn't have left it at "is that all" she would have said more.

More likely I think she meant one of the following:

"what you mean there isn't a three page list of instructions??"

"Wow you are lucky your horse looks so good on so little, I wish my horses were so cheap to keep"

"Are you sure you've told me everything? I'm sure I've seen you feeding suppliments too"
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I must admit, I had exactly the same thoughts as Katt has stated above.

If you horse looks the picture of health, up to weight and has plenty of energy for the work you do, then your feeding her correctly.

Stop worrying !!!! :)
 
EAST KENT said:
Not surprised..it`s not very much is it? Those are just fillers to add to the "main meal",be it just grass nuts ,oats or whatever.Reduce your ,presumably, ad lib haylage and add in a bit more interesting stuff to her feeds.At the the moment she is getting a sandwich without the filler.
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Reduce forage and increase concentrate? Thats brilliant advice!

Yes I'm being sarcastic!
 
Kenzo said:
If you horse looks the picture of health, up to weight and has plenty of energy for the work you do, then your feeding her correctly.
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We feed our 4, ranging from 14hh NFx to a16.3hhIDx, ad-lib forage (mixture of haylege and straw, this year) grassnuts and Graze-on in varying quantities , with different supplements according to their needs. We get compliments on their condition from some very knowledgeable people but many less experienced find it difficult to get their heads round the simplicity of our feed regime.

OP, stick to your guns!
 
EAST KENT said:
Not surprised..it`s not very much is it? Those are just fillers to add to the "main meal",be it just grass nuts ,oats or whatever.Reduce your ,presumably, ad lib haylage and add in a bit more interesting stuff to her feeds.At the the moment she is getting a sandwich without the filler.
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And with a reply like that its easy to understand why there are so many obese ponies/horses in this country.
 
EAST KENT said:
In case you have failed to notice ..grass nuts ARE fibre,the reason to add them in is simply to vary the feeds and make them more appealing.There is nothing wrong with "the old way" (or correct way) of feeding,and as for adding all these silly additives..WHY?? With a decent diet there is no need whatsoever.If I gave my two just what this one is having I would get a pained look,and quite probably they would leave it.Obviously an animal not i much work does`nt need oats,but grass for grass nuts is cut at it`s peak nutrition and therefore can make up for deficiences in hay that may not be of "racehorse" quality.
Seems to me ,instead of taking offence at the YO maybe something could be learnt from her greater experience.
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This horse is a good doer - it doesn't NEED grass nut/oats or extra feed. Yes it is getting a filler feed which it also probably doesn't 'need' as many good doers manage on hay alone. But the OP is giving an additive to ensure that the diet is balanced.

The 'old' or 'correct' way of feeding is surely to feed in accordance to requirements?

OP - I have a good doer who lives out. He is on poor grass and curently gets one section of hay morning and night, and half a stubbs scoop of readigrass and sugar beet which carries his supplement. He is fat. And lively. Don;t worry.
 
Um... wow. Really hadn't expected to get this many replies!

I did speak to YO (or more precisely she spoke to my OH and I spoke to her afterwards). I wasn't being entirely paranoid! She suggested I put my mare on a veteran feed instead of the chaff, since she swore by it when she had an old pony. I have now put my girl on sugabeat (since she loves it so much), vitamins, and Senior Maintenance. Going to keep a close eye on her weight and condition, but she has slowed down a bit in this cold so I thought trying it couldn't do any harm.

Thank you for all your comments and help.
 
EAST KENT said:
Not surprised..it`s not very much is it? Those are just fillers to add to the "main meal",be it just grass nuts ,oats or whatever.Reduce your ,presumably, ad lib haylage and add in a bit more interesting stuff to her feeds.At the the moment she is getting a sandwich without the filler.
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i havnt read all the replies. i got to this one and couldnt stop laughing at the ignorance! :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

op- if your horse is in good condition then your feed is fine. Take no notice of your yo- she sounds a like a prat if she makes you feel silly instead of helping you
 
At the the moment she is getting a sandwich without the filler.
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Which if the OP is feeding adlib hay / haylage - and the horse looks well, is probably all it needs.


Maybe you've just misunderstood your YO OP???

Whenever my horse was on full livery I would always prepare the feeds, put them in bags and label them up. That really did make life easy....
 
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