Meagre rations for a native.

pistolpete

pistolpete

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Hi all. Seeing as I’m now allowed to manage my own pony. Long story but first time in four years! I have a retired slightly overweight highland eh is on a paddock of poor chalk grazing. He’s got as lib barley straw and I’m currently giving him 3-4 kgs of hay a day. Is that mean? Is it a lot? He’s maintaining his weight. Doing about 10 poos. Would you give more/less? I know he’d eat more he has no off button! He seems pretty content and certainly not clearing up the straw.
 
You could soak the hay if you want to reduce calories but not reduce the amount of forage

I soak my hay for between 8-10 hours, there’s loads of differing views on how long but I work so it has to fit around be being at the yard, I’ve never have any issues with them eating it
 
Lucky788 said:
You could soak the hay if you want to reduce calories but not reduce the amount of forage

I soak my hay for between 8-10 hours, there’s loads of differing views on how long but I work so it has to fit around be being at the yard, I’ve never have any issues with them eating it
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I could if there was a tap at the yard. 🤔
 
If you don't want him to.lose weight, I would leave everything as is, if he is coping with the straw. If you do want him to lose weight, I would decrease the hay slightly and increase the straw a bit.

My mare got colic when eating long straw, so I fed her plain oat straw chaff.
 
He’s lost that puffy look they get when on good grass! Going to top up his straw net today. He’s been leaving it on the floor so time to tidy and put up fresh. Is it weird that he prefers a solo paddock?
 
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