multi vitamins?

riding_high

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My pony is very lazy, has been since he was backed, during a half hour schooling session it will be you who's breaking a sweat and had people joke that you would do less work if you carried him round.
He is on a very strict diet as he is a bit tubby and struggling to shift it so can't give him anything like oats.
What would be the best supplement to give him to make sure he is getting everything and will also give him a boost when ridden?
 
If he's on a very restricted diet then he could well be lacking in vits and mins. Personally I'd feed a good spec supplement in a handful of chaff, Feedmark's Benevit Advance works well imo. Once he loses weight he will probably have more energy, but if he's really lacklustre and vits/weight loss don't make a difference then a vet check may be wise.
 
He is the most laid back and lazy pony i have ever known. Always has been. He's perfect for kids and lead rein but if you want more from him then it's extremely hard work to even get out of walk.
 
Lol, he sounds ideal for the kids, but if he is struggling to lose weight and is lethargic then I'd be thinking EMS could be an issue, he will definitely need extra vits and mins on his current diet, and regular exercise should help.
 
Exactly how much work is he doing? It sounds like very little. I'd up his fitness and work on his schooling as a remedy for the lethargy (and weight loss), but multivitamins will do no harm on such a limited diet.
 
He is doing around an hours schooling 4 times a week, jumping and fast hacking (canter/galloping, when we can get the extra gear!) 3 times a week.......sometimes/mostly after schooling to unwind which he loves. He's also hacked out up and down steep hills in trot and walk once or twice a week. It depends on which rider it is though. He is also free schooled with his "brother" over jumps and again that is controlled rather than just charging around like tasmanian devils! If there is a day he can't be worked then his hours out in a bare field is restricted and he is in an outdoor school.

Just read that back and it sounds alot but as i said it depends on the rider, i have one rider who will push him forward even though she's exhausted after. He was on like an last year and doing 4 and 5 hour hacks almost daily, he went to pony club camp etc and was still bone idle. He gained weight in spring due to not to being worked and I've got most of it off now but it's shifting the last bit.
 
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