Feeding EPSM Ponies

[harleydales]

I thought I'd start a thread on feeding and options, and see what other people are doing - always good to swap ideas!

Currently Harley is getting a mix of 2:1 Alfa A Oil:Winergy Medium, 600g:300g. He also gets 300g micronised soya beans, to get more oil in without having to use liquid oil which he gets fed up of.

Supplements - Feedmark Benevit Advance and Feedmark Optimuscle, fed at the appropriate level for his size.

Ad lib hay in the field, out 24/7 and rugged pretty much all winter.

I would say he's in quite poor condition, with little muscle and no fat cover. I'm not riding him, and didn't ride last year either, so he went into the winter without much muscle in the first place. However much I feed him he doesn't gain weight in the winter, but does pick up in the summer. My worry is March, when he always looks absolutely awful, when he's changing his coat.

I don't think the feed is wrong, I think it is just the syndrome that is pulling him down. Regular gentle (or whatever they can do) work is key to keeping the muscles working and unfortunately I haven't been able to do that for him over the last 12 months. He's comfortable and happy though, and does kick up his heels with the mares, so I think overall he's doing OK.

[harveydales]

Thanks for the update and glad Harley is feeling well. Always interesting to hear how others are getting on.

I haven't had Harvey's muscle enzymes tested for a long time but I doubt they have changed even though he is looking good - thin compared to most dales ponies but fit, well muscled and he is in quite a lot of work and feeling well.

I am feeding Harvey aprox 2.5Kg Winergy Senior in 2 feeds, added micronized linseed and Pro Hoof supplement together with about 15lbs hay - any more and he leaves it. He lives out 24/7 and is well rugged this time of year (fully clipped).

[harleydales]

What starc, sugar and oil % is Winergy Senior Pam? Maybe it would suit Harley better than the Winergy Medium? Wonder if it would be OK to feed it to Lady too - I can't cope with too many feed bins of different stuff, she gets the Winergy Medium too.

I also investigated feeding straw to an EPSM pony and (apart from the usual potential issues with feeding straw) it is fine as the starch and sugar is all in the grain which has been threshed out.

[harveydales]

The senior has a lot lower starch and only a little less overall energy. I make up for the reduced oil by adding micronized linseed. Seems to work for Harvey.

Winergy Senior:

Energy MJ/kg 10
Starch % 3.5
Fibre % 26
Oil % 5
Protein % 13
Copper mg/kg 35
Zinc mg/kg 125
Selenium mg/kg 0.4
Vitamin E iu/kg

Winergy medium:

Energy MJ/kg 11.1
Starch % 14
Fibre % 18
Oil % 8.5
Protein % 12
Copper mg/kg 35
Vitamin A iu/kg 11,000
Vitamin D iu/kg 1,100
Vitamin E iu/kg 400
Selenium mg/kg 0.4

[harleydales]

Now that's interesting - maybe I'm actually better with the Winergy Low or Senior as they are much lower in starch than the Winergy Medium.

[wdf]

We've been symptom free now for 6 months, our daily feeds (2nr) comprise of . . . . .
HiFi Mollasses free x250g
Simple Systems PuraBeet x50g
Forage Plus Winter Hoof x 1 50ml scoop
Forage Plus Vit E (1800iu) x 1 5ml scoop
Alcar x 1 10ml scoop
Magnesium x 1 5ml scoop
Micronised Linseed x 2 50ml scoops

He's turned out on he's own in a small bare paddock for 10hrs with a treat ball filled with 400g of Simple Systems Lucie Fibre Cubes & net of soaked hay (approx 10lb dry), he's stabled overnight with LRG net of soaked hay (approx 20lb).

He is currently being worked twice a day; 20mins A.M = walk in hand & 40mins P.M = ridden in the school INC trotting! All being well, once it's light enough on a morning I'll go back to doing 1hr hack before work as we rarely see traffic that early & increase the evening work too by adding on shorter hack after schooling. Last year vets said to start adding in pole work by March, which I'm doing once a week just 10-15mins walking over 2 poles.

We now have NO rafter hips, tight flanks or heave lines, we still have a fairly hard crest but it's not as big as it was - now measures 115 on weightape (was 205). Our girth area has been consistent at 392.

I'm so happy to see such a difference in him, my ONLY "niggle" is that he's on he's own with no-one near him either BUT he's sound so that's all that matters for now. Vet did say to try 24/7 turnout but TBH where I am they look after their fields TOO well so am scarred eating the grass would set him off again! It's maybe something to consider in time.