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Post by mickey on Jan 10, 2009 21:18:03 GMT -1
I've never had this dilemma before- Mickey only has feed to put his bute in and keep him quiet!! Ozzie was fairly round when he arrived but now he's gone to being stabled overnight and doing some work he's dropped some weight.  That's the most recent pic- I know he needs muscle as well but don't really want him to drop much more. he currently gets a small scoop of speedibeet and happy hoof twice a day with codlivine supplement once a day. Does this sound ok? He's also getting more hay- though he's not a greedy pony and will stop when he's full rather than shovel it down regardless. Mickey meanwhile gets half the above, and looks like a beached whale! |
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Post by harveydales on Jan 11, 2009 6:25:59 GMT -1
Ozzie has still got a lot of growing and maturing to do so it's not suprising he has dropped a bit of weight but I wouldn't worry too much as once the grass starts to come through he will soon pick up again. I would say he looks about right now and your feeding is much the same as I used to feed. You could always up the speedibeet if you are concerned. Now Harvey is in hard work and my other 2 are oldies I have changed my feeding but that wouldn't be relevent to you and Ozzie.
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Post by Debbie on Jan 12, 2009 19:23:57 GMT -1
I was absolutely alarmed by the amount of weight Blossom dropped when she was in training last year, but she rebounded and went straight into a growth spurt when she came home.
Perhaps he just needs some oil and a little more fibre, like soaked beetpulp to give his body the extra calories he's needing for now.
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Post by mickey on Jan 12, 2009 19:44:29 GMT -1
I've never fed oil- which one? how much? Speedibeet is a form of sugarbeet which I have increased slightly- might up it a bit more. Im wondering if its more growing (wishful thinking!) than exercise / lack of food. He isn't doing much work at the moment- I've lost enthusiasm as Ive convinced myself Im too big for him  |
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Post by taffydales on Jan 12, 2009 21:41:21 GMT -1
I feed soya oil, but alot of people use supermarket sunflower or vegetable oil its quite a bit cheaper and I would guess does the same job, my vet commented recently on the condition of all my ponies coats, so i think it does help.
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Post by greydales on Jan 12, 2009 22:34:05 GMT -1
Mine are currently out on nothing but are all looking well covered; if I think they are starting to drop off then I will up the extra feed, starting with haylage only. The ridden ones (Cherry and Dancer) get extra feed if they are worked. If it was me I'd just up the amount of fibre feed and see how he fares. Some of the ponies don't hold condition as well as others, Cherry was looking quite lean when she came back from training, and doesn't tend to have a grass belly like Dan and Dancer do. It also depends on their temperament and whether they are stressy ponies or not. Ozzie isn't looking too bad, how old is he? Try giving him a bit more beet and perhaps add some hi-fi cubes to the mix and see how he gets on  |
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Post by Debbie on Jan 13, 2009 11:08:10 GMT -1
I was thinking the same, Gill, Ozzie really doesn't look that bad. Blossom gets a teaspoonful of coconut oil with her morning feed. She's not in any form of work, though. Galahad gets a full tablespoonful because he's elderly and needs the extra calories. I don't think the vets are ever that picky, its just whatever vegetable oil you can lay your hands on. I have heard some things about corn oil causing an inflammatory reaction to joints, however, so I avoid that now. Its what caused me to go with the coconut oil. There again, the coconut oil is easily available to me and lasts me ages. I'd start with a teaspoon or two and see how he does. After about three days to a week, you can see if he needs more and can gradually up the amount to say a tablespoon or however much he needs. As for convincing yourself you're too big for him, you might give him some time off to grow on a bit. Maybe do some longreining with him instead? He's still got all of the rest of this year til round his birthday to be growing upwards, might as well give him the chance to grow. I'm sure your YM would have another horse you could jump in the meantime.  |
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Post by mickey on Jan 13, 2009 18:50:14 GMT -1
Gill- he's 3- 4 in May. I was debating some cubes of some description. Debbie- Ive never heard of coconut oil as an oil, will search co-op tomorrow Nothing else on the yard to ride- hence looking for another horse to do things with now. I gave up any plans of jumping Oz a while a go. |
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Post by valerie n scout on Jan 14, 2009 17:11:23 GMT -1
our 2 get Happy or Healthy hoof,whatever the feed merchant has in.Tomas has a mug of cool mix they both get sugar beet 2 feeds a day.He has an awful lot of growing to do even if it it only widthways x
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Post by Debbie on Jan 14, 2009 21:35:49 GMT -1
 That's a real shame your YM doesn't have a single thing for you to jump with. Granted this time of year the ground's often not in the best condition for jumping.... Were you able to source some oil? I'd only encountered spendy coconut oil in the health food stores, but the Amish in our area seem to have picked it up as a really healthy alternative oil to cook with. They bring it in by the 55 gallon drum!
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Post by mickey on Jan 14, 2009 21:42:27 GMT -1
I haven't had chance- my manager came in to see me so didn't get time to escape at lunch! Am off tomorrow though, but full of cold so will see!
YM's all jump 1.20m with ease, one at warp knot speed and the other isn't a point and steer job either!! We have school so the ground is ok... got someone keeping an eye out for a suitable jumper so we'll see!
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Post by Debbie on Jan 14, 2009 21:48:48 GMT -1
 Hope you get over the cold quickly And best of luck with your jumper search 
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Post by mickey on Jan 14, 2009 22:08:52 GMT -1
Thanks- was bound to happen working in a pharmacy, fairly impressive that the last time I had a proper cold was the day before the registration exam (the day Ozzie arrived!)
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Post by valerie n scout on Jan 15, 2009 18:29:58 GMT -1
wish you live nearer to me Scout is a good jumper but i dont have the confidence to do it,mind you hes a bouncy boy with it too x
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Post by harleydales on Jan 15, 2009 18:46:07 GMT -1
Mine get pasture mix, fibergy and grass nuts plus vit/min supplement - Harley and Apollo and old Jenny get about 2lb dry weight each and Monty gets about 1lb. They all get hay at noght as well and are out 24/7.
For weight gain you can't beat plain old grass nuts - the difference in Apollo and Jenny since they have been on them is amazing! And they are cheap, £6.50 for 25kg.
Tesco sell pure soya oil at a fraction of the price in the saddlers.
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Ridgelane Duke 
Country Rose
That's a real shame your YM doesn't have a single thing for you to jump with. Granted this time of year the ground's often not in the best condition for jumping.... 