Horse nutrition and feeding

Horse nutrition and feeding advise

How much food does my horse need? - Feeding a pony

A hardy type horse or pony such as a cob or welsh mountain that lives out and not in work.

Horse nutrition and feeding

Hay should be sufficient to maintain condition during the winter months.

In the summer months if the quality of grass is very good, to reduce the risk of laminitis you will probably have to restrict his grazing thus preventing him from gaining too much weight.

The finer type horse or pony that is not in work and lives out.

Thoroughbred type horses and fine ponies will need hay plus concentrates, roughly 80% hay and 20% hard feed such as cool mix.

Keep a close eye on the horse and split the feed into two morning and night feeds.

My pony is on box rest - Feeding a pony

Any horse or pony confined to a stable and not in work should remain on hay alone.

Feeding the horse My lead rein pony lives out and is in very light work.

Hay should be sufficient for this type of pony.

If you want to give the pony something when he comes to call a chopped up apple or carrot is a great way to say thank you and will also keep the pony sweet.

During the winter months a horse’s condition must be closely monitored.

Some ponies grow a very long thick winter coat and this can easily disguise a pony that is loosing ground fast.

My pony is very forward going and fizzy.

Good quality hay should be sufficient for sharp ponies.

I would only introduce hard feed if the pony started to loose condition and then it would only be of a small amount of non-heating food.

There are many small jumping ponies that run on adrenalin, feeding them hard food would be like putting fuel on a fire.

You can reward these types of ponies with a juicy chopped up apple or carrot.

How much hard feed you give the horse will depend on how much exercise the horse has and the type of work required.

There is no hard and fast rule when it comes to feeding apart from the fact you need to make a proper assessment and take into account the condition and health of the horse along with size and breed.

Age and temperment must be considered, not forgetting the rider’s ability.

How much hay and hard feed should I give to my horse?

This is guideline information that should be tailored to suit the horse.

Not in work – Hay only

Very slow light work such as gentle walking – 85% hay and 15% hard feed.

Light work such as walking and trotting – 80% hay and 20% feed.

Medium work such as schooling and jumping – 70% hay/grass and 30% concentrates.

Hard work such as Endurance riding, Cross-country, Hunting or Eventing around 60% hay and 40% concentrates.

Field shelter - Horse nutrition and feeding

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