Very poor 10month old

Shettie

Well-Known Member
Joined
5 March 2012
Messages
237
Visit site
i have recently purchased a little shetland pony.

After some research, she was sold at Beaulieu sales to another lady. After that theres no other info to were she has been and whats happened to her (rang microchip people, shes not marked stollen and still in lady who bought her from sales name). Although lady who bought her nolone lives at the stated address.

Shes skin and bones, very dull coat. Can feel every rib, hips and very prominant backbone. With help of vet shes been wormed accoringly and hes suggested a high fibre feed.
Shes in a little paddock of grass at the momment, (she was on mud/dust were I got her from), and has a small amount of soaked hay available but don't eat it.
Does anyone have any advice on a high fibre feed? Will feed little and often throughout the day. Shes perked up since being here, she has a little dog coat on when it rains to keep her warm and dry as her coats very poor and help not to drop anymore.
Thankyou :)
 
When my OH got his foal, he was very similar, the vet recommended a supplement called event, its given once a month, essentially its a vitamin and mineral boost but helps them utilise their food better
might be worth asking your vet about it
 
I would ring somewhere like Redwings for some specialist advice.

But have you tried haylage instead? Or something like Redigrass?
 
Might be worth chucking some oil in the feed too. One of ours came in very bad condition and adding oil made such a difference.

But totally agree with AmyMay - chat to a specialist :)

Pan
 
I personally wouldn't give haylage to a native pony particularly one so poor, would prefer soft meadow hay - which should not need soaking unless the teeth need doing, might be an idea to get them checked out also make sure worming is up to date; no point putting food in if it's only feeding worms.

Little and often should be your motto and I would be inclined to put it on a balancer only (due to the small amounts needed, makes the most of that given rather than bulk it up too much) which should help the digestion better than some feeds particularly something that's molassed.
Baileys Lo Cal, Spillers Lite Balancer or D & H Suregrow are all very good, Suregrow is more reasonably priced, less than half the price of Top Spec or Blue Chip with virtually the same spec'.
Ring the feed help lines for more advice as well as checking with your vet.
 
Another here recommending Suregrow. To help with fibre, you could use A & P Fast Fibre, or their Veteran Vitality. Now I know she's far from a veteran, but the rep told us that whilst it's a condition maintainer rather than improver, it has high levels of Omega and oil, so will help the coat. They're both very palatable, which helps a lot.
 
I had the same last year with a shetland the same age, will pm you some pics later tonight. I started her on hi fi original, fast fibre and a mare and youngstock mix 5 small feeds a day plus ad lib good hay and grass of course when we finally get some. She did fantastically well in only a few months. Do you have any photos?, How much does she weigh?
 
My 29 year old is on Suregrow. I was giving it some thought anyway and a lady I know said it is basically Bluechip but at a fraction of the price. It goes to show that like people we start off eating mush as babies and end up eating mush as oldies!!
 
Top