Nutrition: 10 Golden Rules

Some rules for feeding a pony properly are obvious, but did you know, for example, that feeding roughage before concentrate in the morning reduces the risk of stomach ulcers? There are other key principles to keep in mind when feeding. In collaboration with Equifirst Here are 10 tips for feeding your Welsh pony properly.

1. Good-quality and sufficient roughage

By nature, a pony spends 14 to 16 hours a day eating. Its digestive system is designed to process a continuous supply of fiber-rich feed, such as hay, haylage, and silage.

Therefore, make sure your pony gets enough high-quality forage. Since the quality of forage can vary greatly and it is sometimes difficult to assess its quality, you can have a forage analysis performed.

This way, you’ll know exactly what you’re feeding them. A general guideline for the amount of roughage is about 1.5 kg of roughage per 100 kg of body weight per day. A Welsh Section A weighing about 200–300 kg should therefore be given about 3–4.5 kg of roughage per day. A Welsh pony weighing around 400 kg should be given 6 kg.

2. Fresh water

Make sure your pony always has access to fresh, clean water. Whether in the pasture, the stable, or the paddock, clean drinking water should always be available. Horses drink between 15 and 30 liters of water per day. The amount depends greatly on the temperature and the level of activity required. Do not give too much cold water at once, and keep a close eye on the water temperature in the summer.

3. Gradual transitions in feeding

Any change to a pony’s diet should be made gradually. Switching to a new concentrate typically takes about 7 to 10 days, during which the old concentrate is gradually phased out and the new one is gradually introduced.

Know what you're feeding your animals, take a critical look at their diet, expand your knowledge, and always consult an expert when in doubt

The transition from the barn to pasture or from pasture to the barn should also be done gradually to prevent metabolic problems. In addition, the digestive system may react to a change in forage. Therefore, make a gradual transition from the old to the new forage.

4. Small portions per meal

A horse has a very small stomach, with a capacity of about 8–15 liters, which accounts for only 71% of the total volume of the gastrointestinal tract. Because the stomach is so small, it is better to divide the concentrate feed into several portions throughout the day.

You can also slow down digestion by mixing roughage and concentrate. This forces the horse to chew more thoroughly, which is better for digestion.

5. Feed several times a day

Ponies do not have a gallbladder, which means that digestive juices flow continuously into the small intestine. To keep the digestive process going, it is important to feed small portions more frequently.

Divide the concentrated feed into 2 to 4 meals per day, and do not let the horse go more than 6 hours without food. For horses with stomach ulcers, this should be limited to a maximum of 1 hour.

So, feed roughage at least three times a day. Also, try to stick to a regular feeding schedule.

6. Start the morning with roughage, then move on to concentrate

If a pony does not have access to hay or straw at night, it is best to get its digestion going in the morning with roughage and only then feed it concentrates.

Roughage stimulates saliva production and kickstarts digestion, which helps the horse digest the concentrate more effectively. Since the pony will be less hungry after eating the roughage, it will also chew the concentrate more thoroughly.

In addition, you reduce the risk of stomach ulcers, because eating concentrated feed on an empty stomach significantly lowers stomach acidity.

7. Do not feed concentrated feed immediately before competition

Do not feed large amounts of concentrated feed right before work. Do not feed any concentrated feed within 3 hours of performing heavy work. You may, however, feed a small amount of roughage beforehand.

Working on a full stomach is uncomfortable and can also cause a drop in blood sugar levels about two hours after eating. This can impair performance.

For light work combined with small amounts of concentrate, it is best not to feed concentrate within 1 hour of work.

8. Feed sparingly

Be careful when feeding extra treats, such as muesli, carrots, apples, and other treats. A pony benefits from a diet with as few changes as possible. A consistent, high-quality, and balanced diet is best. Extras and treats can disrupt the diet and cause the horse to be overfed.

Under normal circumstances, additional minerals and vitamins are not necessary. Only in special cases can supplementing the diet have a beneficial effect. Make sure the foundation of the diet is sound, so start with high-quality forage and adjust the amount of concentrate accordingly, taking into account your horse’s performance and condition. You can then determine which supplements your horse needs if the balanced diet shows a deficiency.

9. Teeth

Good digestion starts with healthy teeth. If a pony’s teeth are not in good condition, this can lead to reduced nutrient absorption.

Therefore, have your horse’s teeth checked regularly by an equine dentist, at least once a year. Checking the teeth is especially important for older horses.

10. Deworming

Worms are a common problem in ponies and can negatively affect a horse’s health. Ponies with worms can lose a lot of weight because they are no longer able to properly absorb nutrients from their food.

Make sure to deworm your pony regularly and rotate the deworming medications to prevent resistance. Having a fecal exam done will help you determine the best way to deworm your pony.

Source: Equifirst