Slimming world secrets for thelwell ponies....

LittleRooketRider

LittleRooketRider

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following a riding less on in which my instructor compared Kitty to a thelwell i've decided to get tough on Kitty's dieting.. a grazing muzzle (i have recently discovered) is a no go. i have managed to arrange for my mum to put her in during the day whilst i'm in france this week and i will continue this when i return with added exercise.

so basically any 'top tips' etc.? :) tea and bicciess for all
 
Cattle would starve to death on grazing suitable for fatties. Sheep graze closer than cattle and horses graze closer than sheep.

If you want an indication of what grass production there is off your "bare" paddock, look at the grass the ponies can't get at. Even put a cage over a small area and see what grows with no grazing.

Short grass is more nutritious than long grass which is NOT an encouragement to put fatties onto long grass but a warning that your apparently bare paddock will still be producing more grass of better nutritional value than you think.

I would introduce hay, then gradually introduce barley straw, finally replacing the hay with 100% straw. But I cannot stress strongly enough that any change of feed should be done gradually, as is the case with the feeding of any animal.

Last, judge the condition of your pony by condition scoring rather than what grass you think is available. If your pony is fat, it is getting too much to eat!
 
I look at our paddocks and seriously looks like no grass.... ppl wold say omg you are so cruel, you don't give them hay and they have no grass, but if you look at them, they are all looking really well, this is because they are eating it the min it grows, I think alot of ppl don't realise this!
My advice would be put in a smaller grazed down area and don't panic thay it looks like there is no grass! X
 
I am always amazed when I poo pick my cobs paddock. It looks bare but the amount of muck I pick up suggests otherwise. I have to remember that when he is gazing longingly at the other side of his field ;)
 
Change your grass. Rye grass is rich for horses and only suitable for cattle. You need to graze ponies on a meadow pasture that's rich in meadow plants and grasses. Doesn't matter how short or long rye grass is its not suitable. When you reseed buy meadow pasture seed. Even the BHS teach about what type of grass should be used in a paddock but owners seem to ignore the advice.
 
I continue to be amazed at how little our herd of good doers actually survive on. This year we have kept 6, ranging from a couple of 12hh ponies to a 17.2hh shire on a paddock just under 3 acres. Sounds horrific but poo picked twice daily, the three smallest are still wearing muzzles through the day despite the rest of the liveries (and their grossly obese ponies) shocked that they are muzzled on such short grass! All look ribby and healthy and the horses are keeping it down well enough that the ponies are allowed muzzle free through the night. The paddock is still healthy and green and our rested paddock gets the odd day where the big ones are allowed a bit more. Much easier than stressing about stabling or muzzles 24/7.
 
My fatty is on a billiard table paddock and it works absolute wonders on her figure.

This past year she has looked the best I have ever seen her since a growing youngster.

While the very short grass may be highly nutritious she has to work extremely hard to get her ration so doesn't put on the weight

Put her on the long stemmy grass as advised by so many she would be fatter than a pig in a few days.
 
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