my pony the fussy eater

[emilyhanstock]

just hoping you could give me some advise on feeding my pony,the trouble is that he is so fussy we have tried lots of feeds but after about 2 weeks he gets bored of the feed and then wont eat it, i only feed him a very small amount just to give him his supplements, (synequin,devils claw) i have tried everything i can think of but he just wont eat it .it is not the supplements as he still wont eat the feed without them in, running out of things to try any tips please.

 

[bellaM]

Have you had his teeth checked?

 

[emilyhanstock]

yeah only had them done 3 months ago, he has always been like this, he eats fruit and hay fine .

 

[Sags_Deer]

soft soaked foot, how old is the pony. adding apple juice for flavour. mint. garlic. He has taste likes variety in his diet!! bit like me with my food!!

 

[MagicMelon]

Mine does this too, although he usually lasts a good 3 months or so before he gets bored of it and wants something new, which is a real pain in the butt since I spend a LONG time working out his feeds!

I have had a bit more success with feeding herbs - basically any herby smelling supplement. I happened to use D&H calming herbs (which I had lying around) which he loved. Although nothing helps when he's away from home. He goes VERY picky and basically will have 2 mouthfuls. Not good when we're away for 5 days! I will be trying sammyj's idea of Apple Juice and Mint this time though!

I think some horses are just like this. Some are picky as hell, others are greedy as hell!

 

[sleepingdragon10]

Have you tried him with Happy Hoof? Never met a pony yet that turns it's nose up at that!

 

[emilyhanstock]

yeh had him on happy hoof for about 6 months thats when the problem started when he stoped eating that, now he only eats new feed for about 3 weeks then starts being fussy again,just got a sample of the new healthy hoof he seems to like that at the moment , my friend feeds happy hoof so might give it another try.

 

[JessPickle]

what about just trying putting a bit of apple juice in then gradually decreasing the amount

The other thing you can do is get a vegetable peeler some carrots/parnsips/apples peal them into little pieces the stir them into the feed, the in order to get the carrot/parnsnip/apple they have to eat the feed.

 

[emilyhanstock]

i have tried the apple juice and he did not like it ,but the veg pealer sounds a good idea i have tried cutting carrots small but was worried incase he choked on the small pieces but i will defo try the peeler just going to look if we have one now !
thanks for the tips.

 

[dianchi]

have u tried feed alfalfa pellets? You have to soak them in hot or cold water but they are high in fibre and non heating and pretty yummy smelling!

I add it into my mares feed along with chaff just as an extra but there are a few girlswho feed it on my yard.

havent seen one not like it yet and my mare is convinced that anything new is an attempt to poison her!

 

[mad_egg]

The fussy eaters (all 2 of them) at my stables do not get their feeds changed - either they eat it or they leave it.

If I was you I would just stick a bit of mint in the feed and keep it at what it is - too many diet changes could give him a tummy upset.

 

[Nic]

Topspec Dr Green is good for encouraging fussy eaters.