What would you be feeding this pony?

[MollyFell]

15yo Fell mare, fat - the vet couldn't get her on the weigh bridge (she's ahem, opinionated?) but rough guess of 500-550kg with a goal of losing another 50kg+

She's just gotten over impaction colic, prior to this she was fed on a handful of chaff with equimins balancer, now I'm looking at sloppier feeds...Previously tried her with Pink Mash which she refused and have just now started her on speedi beet but she's not overly keen. She did eat some when I mixed her chop into it, she usually has a plain one but I had to buy Topspec Lite last time due to a lack of options from covid delays. Maybe its the mint that she likes and I could add some to her speedi beet before looking at another option?

She's really scurfy and a bit scabby which is improving with grooming (haven't been able to bath yet) but she's still quite bad. Any lower calorie options than linseed?

I'm going to order some Equidgel, she's not drinking enough for my liking, maybe that combined with soupy chop feeds will suffice. Tried her with some electrolytes I picked up yesterday and she wasn't impressed!

Will be swapping her onto a calcium free balancer when this runs out, she's quite full of herself and a bit spooky.

 

[shortstuff99]

If she is needing to lose weight I would go for the lamigel rather than the equidgel as it has lower calories, I do really like the equidgel/lamigel for horses with digestion problems. It has worked wonders for mine (and helped 1 to lose nearly 200kg)!

 

[milliepops]

why are you looking for a calcium free balancer, if you are looking to feed Equidgel which is Alfalfa based?

 

[MollyFell]

Wowzers, that's impressive! She came to me at the end of last October and was off the scale on the weight tape, it is coming off and now she's in work I'm confident it'll keep dropping...unless she gorges once the grass comes through

I'll take a look at the lamigel thanks! Do you order directly from them?

 

[MollyFell]

why are you looking for a calcium free balancer, if you are looking to feed Equidgel which is Alfalfa based?

Am I not right in thinking that the calcium in equimins stops the magnesium from working it's magic? Equidgel has been recommended after the impaction, I've not done a awful lot of research into that yet

 

[milliepops]

but alfalfa is relatively high in calcium, hence my question.

 

[MollyFell]

I wasn't aware that equidgel/lamigel was high in calcium having not really looked into it too much as yet, but I'll take a hydrated pony over a calmer one! Thanks for the heads up

 

[shortstuff99]

The lamigel is low in alfalfa, so maybe a better choice. You could always send them a message to ask?

 

[The Xmas Furry]

I hope you manage to shift the weight.
I find with a sharp Fell, it helps to give them a small net to help fill the belly, before you ride. Getting regular steady exercise will help with weight, can you get her out working most days?
Think about a grazing muzzle when the grass comes through, I've used them during the day whilst on longer grass and then put into a bare paddock at night with soaked hay.
Good luck

 

[MollyFell]

I hope you manage to shift the weight.
I find with a sharp Fell, it helps to give them a small net to help fill the belly, before you ride. Getting regular steady exercise will help with weight, can you get her out working most days?
Think about a grazing muzzle when the grass comes through, I've used them during the day whilst on longer grass and then put into a bare paddock at night with soaked hay.
Good luck

Thanks! It is coming off, she's lost well over 50kg so far and is on her second girth, having missed out two sizes in between She's only been in work for 5/6 weeks, hopefully that'll compensate for the grass but if not, will look into muzzles. I've used them previously, might get her a green guard as I find the other types tend to rub.

I'm not much into schooling but we have fairly decent hacking from the yard and will box over to my friend's place as often as I can, she has the BEST hacking - hills, ditches, xc jumps, a lake to swim in...absolute heaven