Giving a pony a

[SJ]

I would be very grateful for suggestions on what to feed a pony to give her just a little more energy now her jockey is more competent.

We have had our 12.2 ExmoorX for 3 years she is ridden by my daughter who is now 10yrs and a pretty competent jockey, capable of sitting on most pony antics. The pony is generally very well behaved and for the last few years we have deliberately kept her quite soft. She is now in summer mode, out at night and in during the day and no extra feed. She can be rather economical with her energy, almost lazy unless it suits her. This is obviously partly her nature but as we are now hoping (F&M willing) to do quite a lot of PC stuff, local shows, PC camp etc. I thought it might be time to start giving her some extra feed. Although not overweight, she is stocky type, she is worked regularly, not laminitic but doesn't need to put any extra weight on.

Any help would be appreciated, on what type, how much, and what results could be expected.

Many thanks
Sara Jane

[Maci]

I'm not an expert on this, but here's what I observe! My instructor/stable owner gives her horses grain two times a day to "liven" them up. She uses a scoop like you would find in a bulk food store, and according to the size of the horse/pony and how much she wants him to have energy, she either gives them a full serving using a big scoop, or a small serving with a small scoop. My horse, a 16hh Quarter Horse, gets a big, heaping scoop.

Oats Also Give Energy!
Hope This Helps Some!
Maci :)

[Cathy Reynolds]

You need to add something to give her controlled 'fizz' but without weight gain. BIG PROBLEM. Suggest you contact the feed copmpanies and get an equine nutritionist to advise - they are competent and properly qualified, most of them.


Also, how fit is the pony? Even getting it fitter will introduce more 'pep'. Try some fast lungeing, and some pole work on the lunge to encourage her to MOVE!! but stay balanced. Lots of road work, and find some hills to trot up.

[SJ]

Thanks for your replies.

I'm glad oats/barley aren't the only the option, I hadn't realised you could give energy giving supplements which wouldn't add weight, sounds like a good idea. I think your're right about asking a nutritionalist. We did give her a few oats last summer but were reluctant to give her too much because of the weight issue. In the winter she has two feeds a day of chaff,soaked beet and ordinary pony nuts plus hay.

The pony has been doing lots of road work because of F&M but no hills - we're on a flood plain and rather flat. She can produce plenty of energy when she's in the mood (i.e. when hunting), its just my daughter would rather she was in the mood more often and required less encouragement.

[LindaAd]

When my daughter had a pony liek that (a Welsh section B) her instructor said recommended Alfa A - she said any sort of hard feed risked laminitis with native types. It worked brilliantly with Amber, who was also a very laid-back type; Kate did junior and senior pony club camps with him.

[lamprellsarah]

i have just started showing chaff by spillers, it's got added sota oil, which gives a lovely shine and is made to give a bit more energy to showing ponies.

[fionahogg]

I wouldn't feed oats - or any sort of 'pure' concentrate - to a native like yours. It can increase chances of lamintis, and usually just encourages weight gain as opposed to extra energy in natives!
I would definitely get her as fit as you need her and re-evaluate feed on the way. Don't increase feed before exercise - obviously this will lead to weight gain and at worse azoturia. Contact one of the feed companies and see what they recommend. Usually a native in relatively hard work tends to be fine on a good quality chaff (such as Alfa-A or Hi-Fi), a few handfulls of cool mix and a good vit & min supplement.
It sometimes isn't necessary to increase feed when the horse becomes fitter and more energetic. It all depends on the horse.

Hope this helps!

Fiona.

[SJ]

Thanks so much for all your informative replies. I'm using your collective knowledge to broaden my own before I attempt to suggest to the owner of our livery yard that we adjust the pony's feed, I have to tread very tactfully as she is very knowledgeable but like many old 'dyed in the wool' horse people, very set in her ways and not very amenable to comparable newbies suggestions! I have asked around the yard and Apha A is certainly being used on some of the horses so I might try that route.

Will keep you posted.

[DaveB]

Baileys have representatives which will come and assess your horse and advise on nutrition and feeding. These visits are free of charge, the only catch being that they will obviously reccomend baileys which is OK unless on a budget. I cannot remember the name of the rep that was at our yard, but I will be digging out her number anyway for Claires new nag.
You also get free samples (about one feeds worth!)
I will dig out the number and anyone who wants it can Either post or mail me at dav.bates@btinternet.com and I will pass it on.

[Wally]

You cannot change the basic personality of a horse with feed. You can make a fizzy horse fizzier by feeding high energy food, but if you basically have a quiet energy efficient (and saving!) pony you will not make her fizzy by extra feed.

We had a riding school horse where I learned to ride that used to drive instructors and clients alike mad with his lazy ways. One day the cheif instructor decided to see what happened when she fed him pure oats for a week, the answer was nothing he neither speeded up of showed the slightest interest in his work!!

[lamprellsarah]

i wouldn't say that a different type of feed with more energy doesn't work. for some horses/ponies it might not, but it works for my horse who used to think that work was not worth doing and if she could get alway with doing nothing she would. since feeding her showing chaff she seems more forward going and listens to my aids more.:D

[SJ]

I'm not at all surprised Wally but I think you know your native ponies!

Based on everyone's advice and a long discussion with our yard owner who knows our pony well we have been feeding her a 'compromise' short feed of oats, Alfa A and sugar beet. She has also had quite a bit of extra road work and lunging. We took her to her first PC show this weekend. It has made no difference whatsoever, she jumped her usual neat double clears but oh! so slow against the clock. Economy should be her middle name, she puts in the least possible effort between fences and canters the fewest strides prefering to trot. She seems to like shows and all the attention but simply has conservation of energy down to a fine art. I think its her nature and really no amount of feeding will really make her want to go fast, she obliges just enough at everything but never gives any more - except when SHE wants to i.e. out hunting. My daughter is riding her heart out and although we adore this pony to bits and I could l never part with her it is beginning to get frustrating. Has anyone any other suggestions, several people have murmured spurs at me but although we might try them I'm reluctant to go this route.

Otherwise does anyone want a bombproof, safe sensible goregous lovable 12.2 pony on loan in return for the same but 13-13.2 with a whizzier temperament?

Sara Jane