New Foal Advice

[Jess1994PM]

Hello!
Just looking for a few bits of advice as I've just bought my first foal (9 months old).
I have years of experience with older horses with riding, breaking, training and im confident with all the handling/teaching manners as I used to work at pre yearling sales studs abroad.
One thing im getting mixed feelings on is nutrition and rugs!
She is quite a skinny 9 month old, very ribby and as its getting to winter in this lovely part of the UK (Manchester) would you rug a young foal? she will be living out with a mixed herd during the day and coming in to be stabled most nights - summer is 24/7 turnout.
Also what is the best thing to feed them to keep weight on over winter but not excessive - not showing as a youngster.
she is welsh x warmblood for context.
Thanks so much in advance, very excited for her to arrive!

 

[AmyMay]

No, I wouldn’t rug. Hay, hay and more hay for food, and perhaps Suregrow. Also do a worm count the minute she’s home and worm accordingly.

 

[Jess1994PM]

No, I wouldn’t rug. Hay, hay and more hay for food, and perhaps Suregrow. Also do a worm count the minute she’s home and worm accordingly.

Thank you for your comment! I definitely will have a worm count done the owner said she has been done not long ago but she is on the skinny side so best check!

 

[TheMule]

Young horses are supposed to be ribby- obviously not thin, but they're much better kept a little leaner for the sake of the developing limbs. I agree that you need to get her wormed asap and keep up worming every 5 weeks. Definitely no need for a rug (much safer to not rug) and I would advise minimal hard feed.