When to stop feeding slightly skinny companion?

[Polos Mum]

I've posted a few threads about my little companion, weight not got over the worst of the winter (untreatable teeth issues as underlying cause) - got by on barley rings, linseed, and oats helped the most on top of sugarbeet/ alfa A.

At worst his was probably 2.25 condition scope, now a comfortable 2.5/ 2.6 - we've got nice grass coming through and it's this for a few weeks that's made all the differene. I've cut down to 1 feed a day of sugarB/Alfa A and oats.

Finally to my question/ internal debate I'm having with myself.
I want him to go into winter with some to spare - so maybe 3.25 score
Do I carry on feeding him now and keep him at 3 ish over the whole summer or ease of hard feed now and just start again in Sept to
He's 14hh companion and prior to this year I've been more concerned with keeping weight off rather than no so hard feeding in peak spring grass feels un natural!!

 

[putasocinit]

Older horses and horses with dental issues main diet should be grass because it is easier to eat, and puts on weight, if he was mine assuming your fields grow good grass i would stop feeding and let nature do its thing, and start feeding again in oct/nov when the goodness from the grass has gone and it is not growing, if your fields never grow good grass then maybe continue to give him a feed of chaff and speedibeet once a day as hay would be difficult to eat and probably not digested correctly so wouldnt get the nutrients out of it.

 

[Polos Mum]

Many thanks, Dr Green is truely working wonders - he looks better than when he was having a huge amout of hard feed. Fields are pretty good even now and with sun and rain will only get better for a while. I have 12 acres to play with and just the two of them - happy to scarifice a hay field if necessary (especially as the pony doesn't get anything out of the hay!!)
Just wondering at what point to get him a touch over weight - logically that is autumn - not just yet - no point in rushing these things.

 

[putasocinit]

Each is different he could be overweight in a months time so you would want to watch him, but if he could be looking good in autumn then start the feeds again, start one a day moving to two when grass has gone, got much colder, play it by ear.

 

[mandwhy]

I don't think you can predict it really. I would probably keep giving him a small feed if he is not going to get overweight on it, just because why not really, makes sure he is getting plenty of fibre if he has teeth problems.

 

[Polos Mum]

Thanks, effectively what I'm doing - I'll use up the feed I have and only buy some more if he starts to drop again.
Fiber wise he'd going grand now the grass is here - next winter I'm going to have to be a lot more inventive to get him through - he does eat speedibeet well so I suspect tubs and tubs of that as a forage replacer - and grass nuts as lots of people seem to rate those.