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Post by nic on Jul 15, 2008 19:29:32 GMT -1
Similar to a query put on here already, Spirit seems very energy-less! It got me thinking that as he and Ebony live out 24/7 365 days a year they may be lacking in things that stable kept, hard feed fed ponies have.
Their routine is grass-strip grazed and a handful of chaff in spring summer.
Hay and a handful of chaff in the winter.
I bought them a mineral lick the other day for the fist time in a while and they seem quite keen on it which made me worry they are missing some nutrients?
If anyone has any suggestions I would be glad to hear them, or do you all think Spirit may be energy-less and just need a bit of oomph of something suggested in the other thread?
edited to say spirit does about 3-4 hacks a week of roughly 1.5 hours at a time, but doesnt compete.
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Post by Anna on Jul 15, 2008 19:49:43 GMT -1
We have nearly all (bar three stallions) out 24/7 these days and everything on the place gets a feed of Baileys stud balancer and some hifi-lite every morning, just 0.5lb of the balancer (i think its that quantity) and it ensures they are getting every nutrient and vit they need. That goes to everyone including growing/retired/working etc. Most of the working hard animals then get some sort of condition cubes too. Annie has been working 5 times a week recently hard (be it hacking, schooling or on the gallops) and in fact it was only today I popped her on some extra hard feed (just the condition cubes) just to make sure she's got enough energy to do her job (although she didn't appear to be lacking in energy under saddle its just motherly paranoia  ). Swear by the Stud Balancer to be honest, we know they are getting everything they need, its not mega quantities of feed etc and a little goes a long way. |
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Post by valerie n scout on Jul 15, 2008 20:11:53 GMT -1
my friends Dales lives out 24/7 and he gets..........nowt ! and he has more energy than you can throw a stick at mind, you he isnt restricted at all and i guess they fertilize the fields as she has to move him once they cut hay, after a ride she only gives him carrots or apples she said he is champion on just that, but there all different........ mine are in and out in the summer i like to give them a couple of nights in so they really rest but thats just me ...were all different too x
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Post by Debbie on Jul 15, 2008 20:13:36 GMT -1
I think the hardest bit is that everyone says 'oh turf them out and Dr Green will do them good' but unless you have some way to analyzse that Green, I can't see how you can know if you're covering every base.
Its especially harder when you ask something of your pony. Whist I believe in keeping them out and moving as much as possible, I've always offered some version of a feed to the ridden horses and ponies that have taken me out. Maybe its me being a tad 'wussy' but I like to know they've at least received at least one balanced feed from me in return for a hack.
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Post by bevbob on Jul 15, 2008 20:19:18 GMT -1
I have used global herbs restore before and Bobs always had a bit of an extra spring in his step on that.
I like the global herbs multi vits too as the percentage of vits and mins are quite high towards some.
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Post by valerie n scout on Jul 15, 2008 20:19:22 GMT -1
yes i must admit i do feed the boys once were back from a hack, just a way of saying thanks there on happy or healthy hoof one has minerals i dont remember but its the one i bought last, must check the bag before i chuck it and buy more !
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Post by dollylanedales on Jul 15, 2008 21:06:35 GMT -1
Ours are ridden straight from the field, and have no feed other than the grass of course. We do a lot of mileage too. They do get a treat of a handful of happy hoof on their return. They are all on the large side weight wise. I do notice in the summer they are a bit more lethargic, but I reckon thats down to them eating all that grass, and getting full up. I have also noticed that they have more energy first thing in the day, and if you ride at night, they are not as enthusiastic - although they still go of course!
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Post by harveydales on Jul 16, 2008 5:28:21 GMT -1
I think Debbie is absolutely right. Unless you've had your grazing analised how can you know for sure what your ponies are getting. In the wild they would have travelled for miles and miles in a day ensuring they got all the nutrients they need from a wide variety of grasses. Most of us have to keep our ponies on relatively small patches of grass.
Nic - I found the same as you with the mineral licks. For years I've offered them from time to time and the horses haven't bothered with them. But for the last couple of years my lot are VERY keen on their salt/mineral licks. I've had some PH testing done on various areas of our land and also had our hay analised so I know some very odd things are going on.
I feed a balancer to be sure my lot are getting what they need. Also, now Harvey is back in hard work I am finding he really does need propper feeding.
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Post by nic on Jul 16, 2008 6:54:34 GMT -1
Right, thanks all, I thionk it depends on each pony, Ebs seems absolutly fine, although she is not ridden, bt spirit does seem sooooo lazy!! So i think you are right and he needs something. Interesting what you have said about the mieral lick harveydales....
Now I have to decide who's advice to follow lol......urrmmmm so something to give him energy and make sure he is getting everything is what I need, now I dont know what to pick lol!
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Post by olivia on Jul 16, 2008 13:02:12 GMT -1
There are balancers available for good doers which might work for you. Two off the top of my head are Baileys LoCal and Blue Chip Lami Light. Both have very low calories, but are very dense in nutrients/vits/mins. They are quite expensive per bag, but as you feed relatively small quantities it's not too bad.
Olivia
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Post by loopylou on Jul 17, 2008 19:04:23 GMT -1
Nic, i have just started Sparky on Baileys Lo Cal Balancer, so he should not put the weight on with it, but gives him everything he needs, and hopefully a little more energy without the fizz. This feed is very expensive (in my eyes) compared to others at around £22, but you only need to feed around 1 1/2 mugs to the size of our ponies, which means it will last a lot longer and probably work out cheaper in the long run.
Once Mag's starts getting to the end of her feed i will get her a balancer for youngsters as well, so i can introduce her to it, before her old feed runs out, as the one she is on now, i am worried will not help the waist line, but i feel being a baby it is important to get the right balance of vits and minerials.
P.S. i hope you are ok??? We will catch up soon.
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Post by dalesponyrider on Jul 18, 2008 5:55:59 GMT -1
D is a pony that lives on fresh air really and is a VERY forward going pony that could become very silly on hard feed. In the past, when she was in hard work and needed some extra I had her on Bailey's lo Cal. It didn't heat her up at all. Then Karen told me about soya oil which I got from Tescos. That was great, started her off on just a dash and built it up gradually. She only got more when I was working her - I adjusted the quantity according to the work she would be getting. That didn't seem make her silly either.
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Post by jec248 on Jul 18, 2008 9:07:16 GMT -1
Magic got 1/2 a mud of baileys Low Cal feed balancer but I have bought her some Top Spec Senior this time because its got MSM and glocisamine in it . She is 20 and is ridden about 4 times a week (if its not raining!!) Although it is expensive it seems it lasts ages.
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Post by nic on Jul 18, 2008 12:06:49 GMT -1
Right I think most of you have said Baileys lo cal so I will go for this, thanks everyone  Is the soya oil for energy then? Hi Loopy, yes we will hopefully catch up.....one day!!! |
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