What to feed good doer unrugged this winter?

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RosieSull

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My mare lives out in the day in at night and is un rugged so does need feed to keep condition and coat however she does very well and when given pony nuts gets fat. She is too chubby now but that is added with lack of exercise she doesn't need feed to gain or lose weight more so remain in condition and make sure she is provided with all minerals and vitamins etc she needs. Low sugar is a must as I'm worried she'll get lami or go hyper. She is 5 and I met her as an unhandled 4 year old who gets her grazing (hay out in field when little grass) and unlimited/lasting hay in her stable. Shes only ever had Hi fi original chaff mixed with water and that's it. I've seen people speak about adding kettles and things (she does eat all the nettles she can find in the field mostly gone now).

Long story short I want to feed her something that will keep her condition but not gain or lose weight and I don't know what, hard feed, chaffs, grains, supplements etc. She's ridden once a week only.
 
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Grass and hay.

If you are giving supplements then give them with a handful of nuts, literally, a handful.

If she is doing well in herself, keeping condition and not working (and a couple of hours doesn't count as work) then she really doesn't need feed.
The golden rule is 'feed according to work DONE'

You know your horse, judge by hand, and eye, everyday.

Easy keeper, lucky you :)
 
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My two (14.3hh HW Welsh D aged 19 and 13.2hh Welsh B x Arab aged 26) are fed high fibre nuts, usually I go for something approved by the laminitis trust (neither like chaff). We start feeding just before they are at their ideal weight as I like them to come out of winter looking slim and slightly under their ideal weights.

I feed around a stubbs scoop a day, swapping to equerry conditioning nuts/cubes if needed as these are fairly low in sugar in comparison to other brands or something similar

My two have 2 to 3 slices of hay each a day once the weather turns and the grass has stopped growing but there is always a grass to eat also. They are out on 5 acres split into two with natural shelter and the older one (26) will be rugged in a LW when the temperature drops below 5 in the day and its constantly wet as she tends not to use the shelter as much.

However, they are only fed now they are older as prior to this they'd maintain weight on grass and hay with just a vitamin and mineral supplement through the winter.
 
As others have said, grass and hay should make up the majority of her diet, as she is a good doer, who is overweight now and in very little work. To be honest, being unrugged shouldn't make much difference unless you clip her or brush/wash all the oils out of her coat. If you are worried about whether she is getting enough vitamins and minerals you could give her a vit/min supplement or a low calorie balancer. She shouldn't need any real hard feed unless she starts to lose too much weight, in which case you should still up the hay ration before adding extra concentrates.
 
All my good doers have had a re vamp to their diet thisyear, we have very rich lush grass which I restrict most of the year. To make sure they get their mins and vits they have Pro Balance mixed with a small token feed of Agrobs Wisencobs and Muesli, mag ox. salt.
 
Something like Spillers Lite balancer will provide her with everything she needs without too many extra calories.
 
Before this summer I would have said give a balancer but after a disasterous summer due to balancers I would say pick up a powder multivit and add it to a handful of dengie good doer with some water and give grass/hay.

Simple and effective.
 
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