Never eaten hard feed

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southerncomfort

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I've just taken on a mini shetland who has had a bit of a hard life and who absolutely will not eat any hard feed.

Her previous owner, who rescued her, almost bankrupted herself trying various different feeds but it's almost as if the little mare just doesn't know what it's for!

Has anyone had one like this and managed to get them eating from a bucket? It isn't essential by any means but it would be nice to be able to get some vitamins in to her if possible. Plus I'm concerned what will happen as she ages and needs hay replacer etc.

Worth persevering or just accept that's how she is?
 
You need to stand them next to another horse while they are eating. Ideally a greedy pony if you have one. Foals learn about hard feed from their mothers. I've had a couple over the years that havent been fed while at foot. I had one who really wouldnt touch feed, I tried all the usual stuff, making it very tasty, sprinkling it on his hay etc etc. Didnt work. Stood him next to another for a few days and he was away and didnt look back :)
 
yep agree with LW, lead by example :D
similarly I've had several that don't understand treats when they arrive but when they see another horse chomping happily then they soon catch on.
 
Will she eat carrots and apples from you with unfed foals I have found if you can find something relatively easy to feed from your hand and they enjoy them you can then put them in a bucket and add tiny amounts of feed as you go along until they are eating normally. However I do agree with LW they do usually get the message from another pony fairly quickly
 
If she is out with the other mare try putting a few bits of feed onto the ground or hay for them to forage for, safer than a bowl and less likely to prompt a fight over it, once she gets a taste there will probably be no off switch.
 
Will she eat carrots or apples from your hand? If so start with those in a shallow bucket then start to add a bit feed to that. My mini was the same and now I sometimes wish he still was!
 
Thanks for all the suggestions. Lots to try!

I sliced up an apple and gave them a few pieces each on the ground. She enjoyed this very much! So I'm thinking about doing the same thing for a couple of days and then start adding some tasty nuts or something and see how she goes.

Hopefully I'll be able to add a feed bowl at some point.
 
Just a quick update and a thank you for all the really good ideas and suggestions.

She is now happily eating a tiny feed of lite and healthy and a feed balancer. I've also tried her with some soaked grass nuts which she liked very much indeed! One thing that really seemed to make the feed more interesting for her was adding a bit of salt for some reason. She is definitely less interested in her feed if I forget to add it.

I'm really pleased as I now know I can get any meds/supplements in to her that she might need in the future. 🙂
 
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