It is a fallacy that ponies don't need proper
hay, grain and care like "big" horses.
Some people believe that a pony can live in the
backyard with little or no care, being ridden
to various degrees - from never to daily.
Ponies have the same nutritional needs as big
horses. The good part it they don't usually need
as much! Depending on the size and use of your
pony, it can be strong and healthy with pasture, 1-2
leaves of good quality hay, a quart of sweet feed
or oats a day, regular worming and vet checks
including vaccinations and a yearly Coggins test
if your child shows. The more your pony is ridden,
the more it needs to eat. Most feed bags have
feeding recommendations on the back according to
the weight and use of the animal. If you keep it
on grassy pasture it will not need as much
hay and grain as it would if you keep it in a
stall or small paddock or corral. In the winter,
it will need more feed and, of course, they need
shelter year 'round. Be sure you give it
fresh water every day, horses need a lot of
water, especially if you feed alfalfa hay or high
protein concentrated feeds.
Be sure you worm your pony regularly. In the
fall when bot flies are active use a wormer
that kills the migrating larva (Zimectrin, or an
equivalent brand). If you are unsure, ask your vet
for his or her recommendations. Bot fly larva
can cause a horse or pony great pain as they
migrate from the mouth through the tissues into
the stomach and back through the body eventually
emerging through the skin. Your vet can give you
detailed information about parasites, prevention
and worming. A wormy equine can't utilize the feed
you give it properly. Worms cause the pony to be
listless, have a rough coat, bloated stomach,
weight loss and even die. You will find more
information about worms and other parasites in
this newsletter in upcoming issues.
There are many, many books and magazines that
deal with the care and feeding of equines. There
are also many fads and fallacies. Use common
sense and your vet as a resource. Find out what others
do, keeping in mind that some people don't
give their ponies any care except grass...I DO NOT
recommend this!
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