What would you feed...

[Cop-Pop]

...a Section A show pony being worked 4 - 5 times a week either lunged or walked in hand up the hill (if being walked/trotted then lasts at least an hour). Current grazing v poor and unlikey to improve.

I'm curious to see what others would feed as some people seem rather suprised at my choices

 

[lhotse]

That would depend on her body condition. Is she out 24/7 or partly stabled. Stay away from mixes, ponies do incredibly well on forage, it's what they are designed to eat. HiFi light and speedybeet, with a broad spectrum vit/min suppliment. If you want to add something extra, then choose one of the many fibre based feeds out there.

 

[Cop-Pop]

Forgot to add that part

She's slightly light and currently out 24/7 though few days before a show starts coming in at night.

 

[lhotse]

I would feed her something like D@H high fibre cubes then, and plenty of hay in the field. http://www.dodsonandhorrell.com/products/horse/leisure/high-fibre-nuts/
You could also add some oil to her feeds as that is good at putting weight on without the problems of feeding grains.

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

I agree with Ihotse - our ponies get hifi lite and speedibeet and ad lib hay when the grazing is sparse - and is stopped just before the grass starts growing as we have good old pastyre grazing (so this year they stopped being fed about 3 weeks ago). Will only be fed in the event of work or with wormer. Ponies are Sec A show pony, mini shetland and Sec B jumping pony - all in good condition but ever wary of laminitis (which they have never had)

 

[cm2581]

Prob ad lib hay unless gets too fat and something like baileys outshine for condition and good coat for showing without risking laminitis. If anything more was needed I'd start with high fibre cubes and then move to alfalfa if need be. Just cos its a native doesn't mean it has to be a good doer! They aren't all! I'm intruiged to know what ur feeding now!

 

[scotsmare]

When we had small childs section A, she got chaff, pony nuts and sugar beet (did pony club and county level showing) with a bit of outshine thrown in during the summer

 

[TGM]

If it was mine I would start with plenty of good quality hay, and a vit/min supplement or a balancer with a small amount of chaff. If that was not enough to keep on condition then I would add some fibre and oil based feeds - perhaps some Speedibeet, Alfa A Oil, dried grass products, high fibre cubes etc. I wouldn't feed any traditional cereal-based mixes or cubes.

 

[clopper]

D&H calm and condition, hifi and ad lib hay/haylage - thta's what we feed our SP

 

[kellyeaton]

high fibre cubes and molli chaff bloom very low in starch and sugar but high in fibre and oil for his is showing bit!