|
Post by skint on Jul 5, 2007 12:24:46 GMT
Just wondered if anyone has any ideas for putting a bit more show bloom on a pony. He is never a particular good doer and has been on Baileys endurance mix for the past two year which seems to suit him. I put him on baileys outshine about 6 weeks ago but to be honest it hasnt made much different.
Dont get me wrong he is well covered and looks well but just seems to be missing that bit of sparkle this year. The weather hasnt helped I dont think as he hates the rain and cold.
Any tips and ideas welcomed
|
|
|
Post by lolly on Jul 5, 2007 12:39:32 GMT
Two weeks ago I said the same about our D so have changed him on to conditioning cubes but although its still early days the only thing they seem to have achieved is making him uptight.
I would welcome advice on how to get weight and topline on him while at the same time keeping him chilled
|
|
|
Post by nffan on Jul 5, 2007 12:40:16 GMT
Have you tried changing him to Balanced Horse Feeds Show Mix I find that gives cindition without weight..
|
|
penny
Junior Member
Posts: 176
|
Post by penny on Jul 5, 2007 15:00:14 GMT
Have had same problem with ours. We use Top spec conditioner but still having probs keeping condition on with all the travelling. Phoned the top spec help line and they recommened feeding soya oil ( up to 400mls ) as he has had touch of laminitis in past. I think he is beginning to look better and has kept his sane attude. So I recommend you give them a ring as very helpful.
|
|
|
Post by busybusy on Jul 5, 2007 15:51:12 GMT
Forgive me if you have already done this, but do check his teeth and have a worm count done. We had a horse who just lost his oomph and was a bit awkward to ride all of a sudden. Although he had the horse dentist just 5 months previously, we got him out again. He found a badly cracked tooth (back molar - could not be seen without dentists gag - no exterior signs of anything wrong!) . The tooth required surgery, and 3 weeks off. Within 6 weeks he was back to his usual self. The same horse (!) also had previously suffered a little weight loss. We have a strict worming regime and regularly poo pick the paddcok. I had all our horses worm counted. The other 3 came back below 50 epg (classed as nil).....and this chap was over 1000!!! At this level there is a real risk of worm induced colic. Turns out he is intolerent to most wormers. With good advice we got his count down quickly and has stayed low! I now worm count 3 times a year and only worm either when necessary or for tapeworm and red worm larvae!..Just a thought.....
|
|
|
Post by lolly on Jul 6, 2007 10:59:07 GMT
Worming/teeth bang up to date, but as he is four YES he is cutting teeth
|
|
|
Post by Copra on Jul 6, 2007 11:35:27 GMT
I have the same problem and I have just put mine on Copra. Have been told it is excellent.
|
|
|
Post by Chardonnay on Jul 6, 2007 12:28:39 GMT
|
|
|
Post by armada on Jul 6, 2007 18:07:42 GMT
Have just started one of our mares on baileys conditioning cubes, usually find they do the trick, but oil, I swear by it, we used to feed the expensive soya oil but then during the winter switched to veggie oil from asda and to be honest, have'nt seen any drop in condition or coat sheen whatsoever. Ours are mostly cereal intolerant so had to find alternatives, they are looking great this summer, and have had nothing but positive comments regarding their condition.
|
|
|
Post by proudwilliam on Jul 6, 2007 19:13:11 GMT
We also feed vegtable oil which we buy in drums from Makro!! also very good quality haylage.
|
|
|
Post by aly on Jul 7, 2007 9:08:24 GMT
we wouldn't use anything other than frickers feeds. they are fantastic and have something to suit everything, www.frickersformula.co.uk
|
|
|
Post by bellabella on Jul 7, 2007 15:59:35 GMT
I swear by Soya Oil every time. Have been using it for past 9 years. I started using it whilst feeding a Grass sickness survivor who could not eat/swallow properly for several years, and I made a soupy broth of boiled barley and linseed, added baileys NO1 and loads of Soya oil. Three months after getting her out of vet hospital with every rib and vertibrae showing from her poll to her tail, she won three in hand showing class including condition and turnout.
|
|
|
Post by runshaw on Jul 7, 2007 17:00:47 GMT
I've heard good results about Frickers and wish i had a nearer stockist but obviously things just aren't meant to be. Incidently i have gone back to feeding straights like the good old days but with a balancer and having good results with feeding cooked flaked wheat bellabella how much soya oil do you feed per feed and is it soya oil you have to add a vitamin e supplement for them to utilise it? These hairy ponies in particular are such efficient little eaters that theres only an odd one that needs more than a fibre based home mix
|
|
|
Post by bellabella on Jul 8, 2007 20:11:02 GMT
Totally agree about the hairies, but I still try to give the good dooers a handful of low cal highfi and decent gloop of oil over and I always have a paddock mineral block too. I have also been told by a master of the Hunt that he uses Soya oil too and after a really hard days hunting, has fed a pint of oil at a time to aid energy recovery.The soya oil puts a great coat and hoof horn on everything, my farrier always comments on their strong, problem free feet, I also have very low work rate to get the best coats too. As for Runshaw commenting on using 'straights from the good old days', totally agree with this one as I was told by one of the countries top breeders of riding Ponies, (and winner of the Templeton Breeders Challenge) that she fed all her ponies on 3 x feeds a day of mollasssed chaff, sugar beet, barley and if they needed a bit more top line, a cup of Baileys No 1 and on the day of a show, oats.
|
|
|
Post by shelleyj on Jul 8, 2007 20:19:45 GMT
This might sound simple but maybe electrolytes could help - if the pony is doing a fair bit of travelling could need a boost?
|
|
sash
Junior Member
Posts: 194
|
Post by sash on Jul 9, 2007 23:59:42 GMT
we have been trying too put some ore condition on my pony having tried calm and condition very unsuccsesfully we put her on saracen re-leve basically calming and conditiong feed it has worked a little but we need more top line and much more calmer! she is now on baileys no 4 (conditioning cubes) and magic calmer will update with results as soon as we have a change...we also may start feeding her some oil as it seems too be very succesfull on here! xxx
|
|
|
Post by faberge on Jul 10, 2007 7:50:01 GMT
Our young Welsh pony was a bit 'stressy' seemed to worry about every thing that was going on when we schooled him, started to use Magic and it has done wonders, does not knock him out at all, just stops him getting agitated about things and allows him to work, does not effect performance at all I have always used Bailey no 4 together with Baileys Lo Cal feed balancer, weight never been a probelm, always use oil bought from Sainsburys, nothing fancy, ponies always have lovely coats
|
|
|
Post by Guestless on Jul 10, 2007 9:11:57 GMT
There's lots of things now to try for a bit of extra condition - my favourite at the moment (cos it helps in so many others ways too) is black sunflower seeds. They're cheap and effective! TopSpec cool conditioning cubes are pretty good too and I'm also a copra fan, but agree not all horses will eat it - my "poor doer" mare will eat 2 scoops in her feed during the winter, but not anymore than that!
|
|
|
Post by npo on Jul 10, 2007 10:28:31 GMT
I have the same problem and I have just put mine on Copra. Have been told it is excellent. Where do you get this from? I have looked everywhere and cannot find it.
|
|
racehorseman turned welsh
Guest
|
Post by racehorseman turned welsh on Jul 10, 2007 10:31:52 GMT
Interesting reading the above. I have been with horses for 40+ years that includes everything from show hunters to hacks to racehorses and now finally Welsh ponies. I really can't remember what and how we feed in the earlier days, but certainly in recent years l have always feed 50mils of Veggie oil in each feed..I have never had a horse or pony come through the winter into the summer with nothing less than a very special shine in their coats, and have always been complemented for that.
As for worming this is a regular routine with 4 differant wormers used throughout the year. I know there are fads about how to worm etc but this routine has always suited us and our ponies and we have never had any problems whatsoever.
As for putting on topline and condition you just cannot beat in my opinion Blue Chip. You definitely see the results in 4-6 weeks. I fully appreciate though that this doesn't always suit every horse/pony. Beware it can really heat them up but for those it suits it is fantastic..although a bit costly !!
|
|
|
Post by Guestless on Jul 10, 2007 10:33:05 GMT
Where do you get this from? I have looked everywhere and cannot find it. Info on stockists on their website www.boomerangcopra.com/
|
|