So, I bought a new pony and I am trying to figure out the best feeding program for him.
Pony currently lives out in a dry lot babysitting a yearling. He has 24/7 access to an orchard grass round bale in a net, and they give him a handful of alfalfa in the mornings/evenings to keep him from trying to steal the yearling’s food. They have been keeping him with 24/7 hay access for the last 6 years. He isn’t in work, and while not morbidly obese, he could stand to lose some weight. He’s a 15 year old 10hh Shetland. According to the previous owner he’s not chubby when he is in work.
New situation will have pony living alone in a stall/run combo that is about half the size of his current set up. Run is roughly the size of your average round pen. It’s on the end so it bulges out. He’ll have neighbors so not completely alone, just no playful baby companions to occasionally encourage him to move. He will be back in work though, and the plan is to get him out and driving 4-5 times a week, after a leg up period. Turnout is limited. I don’t feel comfortable trying to work him into one of the full size horse herd groups that go out together 3 times a week, which leaves me with 1 day a week and whenever I can squeeze him into the empty arena/turnout. There is grass in the turnout, so I am 99% positive he would spend his entire turnout time eating even if I could get him out more.
I would like to continue the 24/7 access to orchard grass, and cut the alfalfa snacks. Barn is self care, so it would be easier for me, though there is a co-op I could work with that would throw the hay I set up in advance. I also like the idea of him always having something to munch on, as it is what he is used to. I am worried that with a smaller area he won’t move as much, and might not lose weight.
Thinking an orchard bale in a slow feed net/feeder 24/7 in the stall and a daily ration balancer that doesn’t add a lot of calories and adjust from there.
