Tinseltoes
Well-Known Member
There are 2 minitures in a field with nothing but grass to eat,no hay.Ive passed several times and never seen hay there. Yesterday they actually came upto me.What should I do???? I feel so sorry dor them.
What would you do?
- Thread starter Tinseltoes
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wipeout
Well-Known Member
I'd look at the condition of the ponies, are they thin? are they fat? Do they go into a stable at night? Can you see the whole field?
Shay
Well-Known Member
They probably don't need extra hay. It depends on the size of the field and what else they are fed. You don't necessarily have to put additional hay in unless the field is very poor or over grazed. Plus if either of them are laminitic putting additional hay in could make them very ill indeed.
The liklihood is they are absoluetly fine. You certainly shouldn't try to feed them in case they have issues you are not aware of. If they look skinny, wet or otherwise badly kept you might consider calling your local WHW / ILPH helpline and they can go along and have a look. But as long as they look otherwise well and cared for, leave them well enough alone.
The liklihood is they are absoluetly fine. You certainly shouldn't try to feed them in case they have issues you are not aware of. If they look skinny, wet or otherwise badly kept you might consider calling your local WHW / ILPH helpline and they can go along and have a look. But as long as they look otherwise well and cared for, leave them well enough alone.
SO1
Well-Known Member
It may be that they are getting hay in the evening when it is dark so you can't see what they are eating?
Are they thin?
Are they thin?
monkeybum13
Well-Known Member
How big is the field? How thick is the grass cover? Are they underweight/overweight?
As has already been said they may be getting feed at a night or times of the day when you're not there. There may be medical reasons why they do not get hay. They may be coming up to you because they are friendly, not that they are hungry.
When my mare is in her field we give her hay but she doesn't eat it so really there's no point in putting any out.
As has already been said they may be getting feed at a night or times of the day when you're not there. There may be medical reasons why they do not get hay. They may be coming up to you because they are friendly, not that they are hungry.
When my mare is in her field we give her hay but she doesn't eat it so really there's no point in putting any out.
Tinseltoes
Well-Known Member
Its a 1 acre field and the grass is brownish,quite long.There is NO hay there and the gate to his back is shut.
Thing is theres no shelter and as far as I know theres no stable. The other night when it was really cold, I couldnt see them (so small) but my son saw them huggled up against the hedge.When we had all that snow,the field was white and there was no hay there. People ( locals) feed them carrots.
I can see the whole field yes.
Everyone is saying theres no hay.Theres no goodness in the grass now.
They are NOT overweight. Think they are youngsters.
Thing is theres no shelter and as far as I know theres no stable. The other night when it was really cold, I couldnt see them (so small) but my son saw them huggled up against the hedge.When we had all that snow,the field was white and there was no hay there. People ( locals) feed them carrots.
I can see the whole field yes.
Everyone is saying theres no hay.Theres no goodness in the grass now.
They are NOT overweight. Think they are youngsters.
CBFan
Well-Known Member
a lot depends on the state of the field and the state of the ponies... unless the ponies are looking severely underweight (you may be able to see some ribs at this time of year which is IMO natural but much more and I'd be concerned), coats wet, matted and unkempt I'd say that they are managing just fine on what they've got. It may be that they are getting hay late in the evening or a bucket feed or something.