Advice re feeding horses

[pelican8000]

My pony is extremely over weight. She is kept on full grass livery, and I have used a grass muzzle to keep her intake down. However I have just found out that the livery owner is giving her hard feed. When I asked her to stop doing this, she said that as she was only on grass, she needed extra supplements. I thought that because of her weight issue she shouldnt be getting anything more. Who is right / wrong? Thank you.

[lankeela]

I would have thought that small regular hard feeds would be better than free access to grass. There is more goodness in hard feed, but more bulk in grass.

[Nickynoodles]

Dont start me on this one!!! - I have an aged New forest mare and spent most of last year with the dreaded muzzle!

This time of year there should not be too much in the grass but if you have used a muzzle, then she will gorge herself on whatever she can get - Is she stabled at all??

Many people find that giving bog standard hay will fill up the pony without putting on too many pounds. Remember never to give haylage though as this is far too high in sugar and could make her laminitic.

If you are worried about supplements, then I would recommend a broad spectrum vitamin/mineral supplement added to some sort of chaff (I use Hi-fi lite - low sugar) and then if wanted some cod liver oil and even speedy beet in the real cold winter months.

Any other questions, please ask

[Nickynoodles]

Forgot to add: No one should be feeding your pony but you!!! This lady is bang out of order - Is she wetting the feed adequetly for instance? say the horse gets colic and you don't tell the vet what she has eaten, as you don't know!!!

She is definately in the wrong!

[horsestache1]

Strongly agree with Nicky, no one should be feeding your pony without your say so, as you have no idea what the pony is being given.

Are you giving your pony enough exersize? riding not just turn out. A hour a day hacking plus some schooling will soon get its weight down.