Feeding advice for fatty :-)

[Sol_Gemma]

Hi! I *might* be getting a new pony and need some advice please. She is kept at the same yard as my old boy and im riding her atm. She is 14.2-15hh 15 year old welsh x morgan. At the moment she is overweight, i don't know the proper terms but she has fat covering her bum, shoulders, back, chest etc. She has only been hacked out every now and then and lives on grass, no other feed. Im hacking her out at least 3 times a week at the moment and will increase her work as she gets fitter, but am thinking she will need some feed as well as grass so she gets all the nutrients she needs. Would some kind of pasture mix/cubes and chaff be enough, or would that be too many calories bearing in mind the grass so a low cal feed balancer with chaff would be better?? Restricting her grazing wont be an option :confused:thanks!

[acw295]

I wouldn't feed her anything to be honest to start with. Just up the exercise -frequency then intensity and take it from there. If she really lacks energy then try a balancer with a bit of chaff to slow the eating down. You'd be surprised ow much get up and go grass alone can give.

My Welsh D x was on no feed at all until she hurt herself - she now has to have a small feed twice a day to put her medication in. In winter she'll have Hi-Fi and Lo Cal Balancer but she can work 6 days a week (mixture of hacking, schooling and maybe a few teeny jumps one day) on just grass in summer if the grass is good. If you are worried about vitamins provide a lick rather than feed.

If everyone else on the yard is feeding and you feel you need to give a feed just chop up a carrot with literally a sprinkling of chaff - they don't care as long as they have a bucket. Hi Fibre cubes are very good as there's not much in them so you coudl give a handful of them. Molly had some of those in a snack-ball when she was in 24/7.

I'd use a muzzle if you can't restict grazing - Molly has hers on during the day now, rather than 24/7 as she is being worked daily - but if I have to work her less it'll be on longer.

Less is more with fatties!

[puzzles]

Likewise!

If you can't restrict her grazing then more exercise is all the more important!
Try to ride her every day if you can, for 1/2 an hour in walk building up to trotting and riding for longer periods, some schooling etc as she gets fitter. Regular but short, steady exercise is best for developing fitness and encouraging weight loss at first, ratehr than irregular long stints.

Good luck with her!


:-)

[Sol_Gemma]

Thanks for replies :D

[birat]

If you are concerned that perhaps she isnt getting sufficient nutrients then perhaps give her a general supplement in a handful of chaff, altho if her grazing isnt restricted she will probably get most of what she needs from good grass.

I have a v good doer and was advised not to feed a balancer because they aid the gut to take on more calories from their feed which can sometimes cause them to put on weight. I had mine on lo-cal and it was all he had yet I couldnt get the weight off him. The minute I put him on a supplement it was easier.
Good luck

[Sol_Gemma]

Thanks Birat, could you recommend a supplement at all?