More feeding questions =D

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Hi guys,
Sorry to bore you with my continuous feeding questions...
Ok so, my sisters mare: 13.1 Native (welsh D x Exmoor) 7 yrs old. In light work.
Originally she was on a basic Mix, Chop and sugar beet. And was advised to just have her on a big scoop of chop with a vit/min supplement as the starch from the mix isnt good for native ponies. I also stuck in a bit of Sugar beet to mask the vit/min supplement otherwise shed not eat it.
Now, shes been on that diet for about 4 weeks, and she appears to have dropped weight, as her saddle is now quite ill fitting and she looks a little skinnier than usual.
So im wondering whether to introduce some conditioning cubes? or to get her teeth checked? Though shes not quidding or anything?
What say you
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x
 
She wouldnt be getting that if she was mine! lol

Native in light work.. unless seriously under weight.. would be getting a little bit of chaff with vits an mins and nowt else.

Lou x
 
What else is she getting - ie hay, good grazing, poor grazing etc? Living in or out? Ideally, you want to be able to feel her ribs easily but not see them. If she has dropped so much weight that her ribs are visible, then if the grazing is quite poor I would suggest giving her more hay if possible, rather than giving additional hard feed.

I definitely wouldn't leap from chaff to conditioning cubes straightaway, there are lots of in-between options more suitable for a native!
 
Might be worth checking teeth to ease your mind, also check all worming is up to date (I'm sure you do but thought I would note it just in case) and then I would wait for the lush spring grass to come through- certainly no conditioning cubes for a native in light work.
 
Shes on adlib hay, and shes stabled currently as the yard rules dont allow us to turn out until the 6th. She does get hand grazed occasionally but the only thing we have in the way of winter turnout is a little sand paddock unfortunately.
x
 
Oh dear, doesn't sound like a brilliant regime for a native pony in light work.
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How much hay does she eat overnight - if she doesn't seem to be eating a lot, then definitely get her teeth checked, as poor dentition can slow their hay consumption down.

I presume if the fields have been rested, there will be good grass when she does get turnout in a fortnight's time, so I wouldn't mess too much with her feed in the meantime. Perhaps you could just increase the amount of chaff and beet that you give her.
 
I have a cob who Ive struggled with massively with his weight. I was at a yard with no winter turn and as soon as we moved to a yard with all day turn out through the winter the weight dropped off him! Now he is on more hay than he has ever been on, nice feeds (Speedi beet and chaff and oates) and is probably near perfect weight! Good luck!
 
my native is now in starvation paddock and fed just couple handfulls of hi-fi lite so I can add mineral supplement, and given 2 slices of 24hr soaked hay for roughage and boredom
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