What would you recommend I feed?

angellauren

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I'd like some help with choosing feed for my 2 boys. They are currently both just living off hay/haylage and grass which in theory isn't problem. They both have a salt lick each also in their stables.

I've got one almost 6 year old New Forest pony who is a fairly good doer but with the Winter we've had and the huge lack of grazing doesn't look as good as he usually does right now and I'm planning to bring him back in to light work very shortly.

I also have a Welsh x Oldenburg who is turning 1 years old this month and recently came off the side of a mountain and doesn't look fantastic and now his Winter coat is coming out, I can see the extent of how poor his condition is, don't get me wrong, he's not an RSPCA case but he's quite ribby! He was very wormy etc and both will be getting done this week before moving in to a new paddock.

Would you continue with the baby just on grass and hay? I was thinking about giving him something a little extra to nibble on just to encourage his condition along, I know the Spring grass etc shall help but what would people suggest?

Also, for the New Forest? I don't want anything heating but a little extra energy wouldn't go a miss.. Fellow New Forest owners may understand what I mean - he's not lazy but isn't full of it either which can make it hard work!
 
To be honest, if they are both moving onto fresh (rested) grazing, I would not be introducing any new feed for now. I'd give them at least a month on new grazing before considering adding anything. Both are of the type who could easily develop laminitis if they get even a smidge too porky....

ets... It sounds like the NF is lazy in the mind rather than in the body so to speak and no amount of feed will improve this... I may be wrong... why not slip him a cup of oats a day and see what affect they have on him?
 
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