Dr. Getty,
I have a question that has been bothering me for a while.
I have a friend who is boarding a pony for my child. He is a very kind person but I don't think the feeding regiment being used is enough or correct. He has 19 horses, scrub pasture, 5 stallions and 1 gelding in the barn. The other horses are 4 mares, 2 geldings, 2 two yr. old colts, and 3 six month old fillies running loose on aprox. 18 acres, but most of it is woods. (May be about 2-3 acres of cleared unseeded land). The horses are all fed the same: 3/4 scoop (I assume this is a standard feed measurement that is purchased at the feed store, looks to be aprox a gallon or so) of sweet feed, and 3/4 scoop of whole corn twice a day. Hay is grass (or usually grass) and each horse is given about 3-4 leaves once per day, exept for the barn horses. They get hay twice per day (same amount). 1 Stallion, one gelding, one 2-yr old uncut colt and three nursing mares look like a level 1-3 on the "scale", (although the stallion is improving greatly since starting a daily wormer). All of the stalled horses look nice and round the way they shouled except for the improving stallion. One pastured mare and gelding look like a stage 7-8 (the dominant horses) and most of the other pastured horses look at about a stage 3-4. (protruding withers, thin neck very visible ribs,and a borderline concave rear). Can you provide directions (written and simple to follow) about types of hay needed, and amounts of grain/s that could be universally used with these horses to improve overall conditions? My daughter's pony was fat and round (7-8 on the scale) and now her neck is thinning and her ribs are slightly seen but easily felt, (about a 5 now in just 4 months). This friend loves these horses, but I don't think we are as educated on nutritianal needs as we should be with that many horses varied in age. Most of them are walking horses. We have a place close that we can get hay tested. We need to know what to look for. They are all wormed every 2 months rotating safegard and Ivectin. A boy comes to feed in the mornings, but he does not separate them and give them time to finish all of their grain individually like we do at night. Mineral/Salt blocks are not kept at the barn or pasture either and the horses are all nawing the barn wood, eating the sawdust bedding and rubbing their tails on anything available. This problem has been eating me up for a while, but these animals are not mine. Only the pony is ours. A book suggestion would be very welcome or a feeding program from you would be appreciated. I need to get a cost though, for your expertise. Thanks for any imput.

Where are you from? Midwest US and Cold!

How did you locate this forum? search words diet, nutritian

Oops! its lregenberg again - I realized I said gallon in the above question, I mean't quart as far as the grain goes. Sorry!

Where are you from? Midwest US and Cold!

How did you locate this forum? search words diet, nutritian

Hello Iregenberg,

The fact that some of the horses are doing better than others is a clear indication that there are individual needs that need to be addressed. Your friend has horses in varying life stages and their nutritional needs vary.

So, I understand your concern about your pony. It is probably good that she’s lost a bit of weight (since a scale value of 8 is too high) but, the way she has lost the weight does not appear to be the most healthful.

So, here are a few guidelines that you may find helpful:

1. Provide a mineralized salt block or at least an iodized salt block. The fact that the horses are eating sawdust indicates a mineral imbalance. It could also mean that they are hungry, hence,

2. They should be provided with good quality hay all day long, if the pasture is inadequate. Horses’ digestive systems are designed to have forage available throughout the day. Otherwise, they are prone to developing ulcers.

3. Have the hay analyzed for its protein, calcium, and phosphorus content, at a minimum.

4. Their rubbing tails could be a variety of problems, anything from insect bites to unsanitary conditions. Good hygiene is very important for mares – they develop smegma between their teats just like geldings and stallions do in their sheaths and this needs to be cleansed periodically. If the mares are rubbing their tails, it may be due to a very intense itching that they are suffering from on their udders.

5. I do not recommend corn, ever. Especially whole corn. It is not digested adequately and ends up in the hind gut, where the risk of laminitis is very high. Feed oats instead, if you must feed grain. But, if these horses are not being exercised, I prefer feeding a high quality forage mixture of grass hay, legume hay, and stabilized rice bran.

These are some general guidelines. I hope they are helpful. You asked about a cost to get some more detailed information. An economical way to go would be for us to arrange a live phone visit. That way, I can give you more specific information for your pony based on her particular needs and your health concerns for her. Just let me know how I can assist you.

Thank you so much for writing.

All the best,

Dr. Getty

Thank you for your help. I would like to arrange a phone visit, is there a way that I can arrange this without putting my number on the net? Can I call a number of yours and leave a message so that you may return my call?

Where are you from? Midwest US and Cold!

How did you locate this forum? search words diet, nutritian