What should I feed my pony? He is just a pet and will not be ridden or worked. Just roaming around the yard.

Question

I have found stuff that should be fed to horses, but I am not sure if ponies should have a different diet. Wikipedia has not helped much. I have googled it also, with no luck.

I forgot to add that I live on 35 acres and _ALOT_ of grass. I fed it an apple and 3 sugarcubes this AM. It has already mowed down a pretty good patch of grass, I was just wondering if it needed more than just grass to be sustained. It was a birthday gift from my father in law who has owned horses before. I was just curious, it isn't like I have the pony tied to a cinderblock and am totally clueless. I didn't intend to leave that impression!

Answer 1

Unless he's losing too much weight he doesn't need more than a about a half cup of grain a day as a treat. Maybe less depending on his size, in the winter he may need 2 - 3 flakes of hay if the pasture dias off. His back should be flat not bulgy, you should be able to feel but not see his ribs, his belly should be above his knees. Have fun and spoil him. Be sure to get his feet trimmed every 8 - 10 weeks for his health and comfort.
Couldn't email back!
Horses feet grow just like finger nails. When they get too long it becomes hard to walk and they'll get sore like bending a nail backwards. A farrier trims back the edges and files them smooth. It costs $ 15 - 25 depending on where you are. Most ponies get done every 8 - 10 weeks some sooner some can go longer.
Founder is a hoof problem usually caused by over eating. The hoof wall separates from the bone inside causing a lot of pain. I wouldn't worry about treats or too much grass. Grass can be a problem in the early spring when it starts growing. You might want to make a small fenced area as a "diet" pasture if he needs it. Some ponies can eat non stop some just need a scoop of grain to cause a problem. If there's one thing true of all ponies it's that they're tough little boogers. Things to avoid are large amounts of grains, rich leafy alfalfa and clover hays (you want long grasses) and sudden amounts of grass. Introduce new things slowly. Our pony is a sucker for poptarts! Any other questions feel free to ask

Answer 2

What did the pony eat befroe it lived with you?
Changing a horse or pony's diet too quickly is a good way to get them sick. So I would feed it exactly what it was eating before it came to your house and then change the food to what you want to feed over a couple of weeks time period.
Ponies tend to get fat easily, so go easy on grain and treats.
most equines need 1-2 % of their body weight in hay each day.
so my 1,000 pound horse needs 10-20 pounds of hay, pellets, etc.
Most horses/ ponies will be fine if they are grazing, but if they are not used to it or if there is a lots of new sweet green grass, or if there are any poisonous plants out there, it could be a problem.
Regular lawn grass is not horse food.
Good luck with your new pony.

Answer 3

Ponies should be on a diet much like horses, but with a few differences. They eat less, and if not worked should not nessisarily be on hot (grain) feed. If the pony hasn't been in rich pasture right before you got him, he is in danger of foundering from eating the lush grass.

It is time to call your vet, and join the local 4-H. They will help you to determine exactly what your pony needs right now, and help you learn what to feed him, and how to care for him.

Even though he is a pet, he should be ridden or worked. Just roaming around the yard isn't enough exercise for him; to be healthy he needs you to be in charge of his exercise plan.

Good luck, and call 4-H (through your local county extension agent) right away.

Answer 4

you can give him hay or grain. we have a pony named trigger and hes in a pasture with normal sized horses and eats the same thing as they do so i dont think they have a different diet. because our pony hasnt had any problmsand hes been in there for quite a while. Hope you find something! ooh. and carrots and apples are always nice too :]

Answer 5

All of the above, ex, forage, hay, etc. are good, and use fresh fruit/veggies as a snack every once in a while. I would throw old heads of lettuce out into the pastture for them! They love that ****. Pony's have the same diet as horses btw. ENJOY, AND RIDE IT!

Answer 6

That become a tremendously imprecise Beatles music! thank you for sharing. We had a pony while my toddlers have been small. He become a genuine soreness interior the neck. consistently getting out of what ever fence we positioned him in and the friends consistently calling us...."your pony is unfastened back!"

Answer 7

Forage/roughage e.g. hay and grass

Concentrates e.g. oats and barley that can come in a compound feed form such as pony nuts which are prepared from a number of ingredients to provide a balanced diet

Also see if local feed stores have food specialized for Miniature Horses, as they have similar diet requirements as ponies.

Answer 8

hay, grass, oats. a natuaral wild horse's diet is mostly grass, and if you so your little pony should be fine with that!
if he isn't being worked then he'll be fine!
you might want to give him the occasional pony mix every now and again, maybe once every 2 days, just as a little booster!

good luck, hope you find the right fodds for the 'lil' guy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 9

I always let them graze and added supplemental foods like cracked corn with sweet oats. Plenty of fresh water daily and your pony should be fine.

Answer 10

if he is not being worked i would just feed him good quality hay and put a mineral block in his field, my two ponies arent worked and thats all they get the vet advised me to cos the wee shetland got laminitis.