Tired pony

[JJ2]

I have a 20yr old connemara X mare who is in light to medium work. She is out during the day and in at night, fully clipped. She is quite fit at the moment and certainly doesnt look her age.
Over the last few months she has come in from the field VERY tired. She will come around 5pm and i arrive on the yard about 6pm. She stands tied up whilst i muck out and then i groom her and ride. She just seems lethargic and "flat" if that makes sense when i am riding her and whilst she is on the yard she is yawning and nodding off!!

Tonight i jumped her and normally she is quite fizzy to jump but she was really flat and not very enthusiastic.
I am hoping it is just the time of year and things but am also concerned of her age and that she may be telling me she wants to slow down a little.
Has anyone else experienced this before?

 

[Haniki]

My 24 year old spends alot more time in the field sleeping but she is just as energetic to ride. (She's a TB).

 

[hadfos]

Sounds like she could be suffering with an iron deficiency??I would have vet to check her over and take bloods!!!

 

[Twilight]

What do you feed her. It might be that as she starts to feel her age a little she just needs more calories. Is she warm enough, I found my old girl started to really feel the cold especially when clipped out - mind it never slowed her down. For a native I wouldn't really think of 20 as old. It is easy to dismiss thiings as age to realise later that there was more to it. If it persists I might try the vet, she might have a vitamin deficency or there might be more to it. I hope she perks up though.

 

[happihorse]

I would get the vet to check her bloods for any deficiencies etc. Are you feeding her enough hard feed / good quality protein for her work loads? I would try to slip her down a bit and then give her a little more higher protein food (eg oil).

 

[only_me]

how many nights do you ride her? she may just need a holiday as she could be starting to go sour

 

[Spot_the_Risk]

Is there a deficiency in the soil in your area (your local feed merchant should know).

We are short of selenium close to the shop, customers had said their ponies were very lacking in energy and were lack lustre. They now feed either Baileys lo cal balancer (which would probably suit your mare as she is native) or top up with Selenevite E.

 

[JenHunt]

try a b vitamin and iron supplement like redcell or blood liquid. sometimes the change of routine from summer to winter, as well as the change in the grass and the rest of their diet can leave horses a little short on some of the b vits and iron which help release energy from food.

hope she's feeling more like herself soon!