Feeding my fat grass kept pony

[chickflick1066]

Hello.

Do horses who are out on grass 24/7 need extra feeding - even if they are getting fat from the grass if they are in exercise?

Reason I ask is that my Stumps is out on grass 24/7 and has a muzzle on as much as possible - but usually only 8hrs which isnt really enough....
She is now usually ridden 4-7 days a week - mainly hacking for upto 2hrs max or just over or under an hour in the menage or lungeing etc.

Does she need extra feeding - I wouldve thought no but I am no expert...shall I phone a nutritonist (sp)?

[chev]

If she's not losing weight then no, she doesn't. She might, however, benefit from a general vitamin/mineral supplement - either in a handfult of chop (like HiFi Lite) or as a lick in the stable/field.

Nutritionists are great but be wary of consulting those who work for feed manufacturers for example - they sometimes advise feeds you don't honestly need to promote the company....

[Holly B]

We keep our two native (very!) good doers at grass 24/7/365, and they easily get enough energy from the grass during the summer! They just get the occasional carrot or handful of chaff after a ride, and if I gave them anything extra they would simply become too fat. Not all fields are as good as others, but if your field seems to have a decent mix of different plants and grasses she should get all the nutrients she needs. If you're unsure, a mineral lick would be a good idea, though some horses just ignore them! You could try phoning a nutritionist for a second opinion, but, like chev said, be wary! :)

[JustJas]

No do not feed your horse if it on grass and looking well- it could end up laminitic. If you have to muzle horse obviously a very good doer.

Decent grazing will feed a horse- give it a mineral/salt lick as well.

What breed is horse?

[chickflick1066]

Dales x - general heinz 57 cob!

[happy herman]

i agree your pony doesnt need additional feed if she's getting or staying fat on the grass however ALL horses/ponies need access to a good mineral and salt mix either in a block or in the loose minerals.

[nat17]

All mine get is a handful of good doer with a vit and min supp in it, but thats not everyday. Woulkd love to get a lick in the field but there are 10 horses and no one else will take it in turns.

I put a salt lick in last year and Podge being Podge ate it in chunks!! It was gone in 3 days I think!! :rolleyes:

[zola is gr8]

:eek: OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!! :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: If i fed my pony aswell as her being out on grass 24/7 (appart from being ridden) then she would have to be put down!!!! :( :( :(

[eventerbabe]

chickflick, i echo what chev has said. if she's not losing weight then don't worry about feeding :) BUT if you were wanting to give her a vitamin supplement, a small handful of hi-fi lite and the supplement would do her no harm at all. my welshie has only ever been fed that, even when she was being ridden 2 hours a day 5 days a week and competing at the weekends. its amazing how they hold their condition.

nutritionists do tend to try and push their own products at you when you don't really need them. for my good doers i've always used hi-fi lite. i find dengie products to be really good quality, unlike some other feeds i used to see in the yard feedroom!!

[Dales_Lover]

It depends if your pony is showing whether she needs extra vitamins and minerals.

Ebby (full Dales) is on grass with a handful of Happy Hoof (which she has because it has a vit and min supplement in it). However the last couple of days she's told me that she needs more vitamins and mininerals, so I'm upping her feed a tad.

If Stumps has a muzzle on, I would give her lick or a small amount of chaff with the vit and mins in like Chev said just in case she isn't getting any.

Are you muzzling in the day, and then off at night?

[chickflick1066]

Haha, Podge sounds well funny :p

DalesLover, yeah she has the muzzle on day and off at night. She has it on from about 8 till 9 at night.

Thanks all for your advice :)

[nat17]

Its called Stooopid chickflick1066 :D :D