Feeding a pony that is a fussy eater

[sammy]

and she needs to gain weight.
Have tried 2 different types of hard food and Dee just turns her nose up at them. I am aware that she has probably never had hard food before.
Hay when she was in was fine, apples etc fine but both hard feeds mixed with Dengie and she won't eat it. Have even tried the nuts out of my hand and still a no, no. Have tried them moistened with water, no thanks!
Is there anything I can put on them to make them appertising for her?
Someone will know, or is it just Baileys food she doesn't like?
Problem is, what do I do with these uneaten bags of food.
Beau doesn't need it neither does Abby, who incidently will both eat the Baileys nuts out of my hand!!
I will also get her teeth checked asap

[akehurstannabel]

sandy is hideously fussy and gets bored with feeds as well. At present she is eating masses of hifibre nuts (spillers) build up coarse mix mixed with apple chaff and a big spoonful of dried mint which is supposed to encourage fussy feeders. This will probably work for three weeks or so then I will have to change to something different as she will just stop eating it entirely! Do you have any rescue centres near you who might be grateful for the feed?

[akehurstannabel]

Oh and another thing.....if she will eat it corn oil is really good for putting on weight.

[lancslass]

try letting her taste some molasses off a wooden spoon barbara and if she eats that try mixing her feed with a touch in.
when we get them that haven't had hard feed we just persevere........keep offering, take the hay out for an hour and leave the feed in. it can sometimes take as long as a couple of weeks to get them to eat. keep hold of the feed you have bought and just keep tempting her.
i would also have the dentist asap to look at her teeth. at least you know everything is in order then.

[greydales]

whereabouts are you Sammy? Bring her over here for a few weeks and she will definitely put on weight!!

[sammy]

Thanks ever so much alll.
Thats the good thing about Dalesfans, YOU GET HELP!!!!!!!!!
Molasses it is. I shall go out tomorrow and get some.
Feed I have, I shall tryand tempt her with, with the addition of the molasses.
If all fails, the feed I have I shall give to my local trekking centre and Dee will come back in and starve LOL!!!!!!!!
I know, I should have bought Spillers Hifibre nuts!!!!
How stupid am I!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Still, she can't be that hungry can she???

[juliansteve]

Youre not stupid Barbara! Cobweb was an incredibly fussy eater - we put her next to Zoey and she'll eat almost anything now - worried she'll get her food! We also put a little honey in at one point and this seemed to work. The Spillers high fibre cubes are a really good feed - no cereal at all so you're not worrying about them getting hyper! You could always get them next time. I liked the Simple Systems aswell but you have to buy large amounts and pay for delivery which was a pain.

[sammy]

Thanks Julia, will try and temp her with a touch of honey to see if she likes that also, keep your fingers crossed. Must admit Beau was next to her and that didn't make any difference, she moved and let Beau help herself, until I said I don't think so!!!

[Daftmare]

I have noticed with these sorts of ponies that they will eat alfa a or readigrass and they often eat better if you tip it on the floor. Then you can mix in bits of feed gradually.

[Debbie]

Blossom was a touch fussy over food when she very first came, and all that I offered was very, very sloppy beetpulp. With the addition of honey, she really hit her stride.

I've also used unsweetened applesauce instead of the honey. Just enough to moisten everything and make it all taste appley.

It really is a matter of perserverance and finding what the pony likes...

[sammy]

Thanks all of you for the advice, it is greatly appreciated and this thread has been viewed 50+ times and 7 replies posted, sometimes wonder why this happens.
Why so many view and don't post, maybe they just don't like me!!!!!!
Although they don't know me!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyway who cares, my pony is eating hard feed and that is down to the help and advice given by you people that did take the time to post, even though you don't know me. So a big, big thank you to
akehurstannabel
Karen, lancslass
greydales
juliansteve
Daftmare and
Debbie
Well I did a combination of things but stuck with the same food, I added a tiny bit of molasses after letting her taste it first on it's own. I added some garlic and after I offered it to her she just pawed at the ground in frustration I think. More like, I want that but I don't know what it is. So I tipped it out on to the ground and still she pawed at the ground and mixed it up herself and then started to eat it. She had a few mouthfulls and did same again and then started to enjoy it.
So we have cracked it, big thank you to you all.
This, is what I think Dalesfans is all about, helping each other whenever you can, no matter who they are. After all very few of us know each other do we?

[lancslass]

thats BRILLIANT news barbara! and isn't it a relief and sense of achievement when they take that first proper mouthful and eat it!

[Debbie]

sammy said:

Thanks all of you for the advice, it is greatly appreciated and this thread has been viewed 50+ times and 7 replies posted, sometimes wonder why this happens.
Why so many view and don't post, maybe they just don't like me!!!!!!
Although they don't know me!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't worry about the people that look but don't reply. Sometimes people don't have experience, and so don't feel 'qualified' to reply. Others have exactly the same problem you do and are looking at the replies hoping it will help their ned too

The important thing is that you've gotten those first baby steps towards her eating ~ hooray!!!!! Well done!!! I'm sure it won't be long and she'll be eating just about anything tipped into her bucket...

[alisonraven]

Great news that she is eating - and don't worry about those that look and not reply - have to admit to often doing this as I don't have much experience but am keen to learn from those who do, so read lots and keep quiet mostly!

THis is a fantastic place for advice and support - long may it continue.

[dalesponyrider]

I have been viewing this thread to read the replies as I wanted to know what the answers would be. I am a first time pony owner and have learned such a lot from other people's questions on dalesfans. The "new" button comes up every time there is a new reply so I will have viewed it quite a few times. It's not that I don't like you! Honest!