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Pets @ HPF Just Fish @ HPF
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Barn Management
Pets @ HPF Just Fish @ HPF
Livestock @ HPF Poultry @ HPF
Pam Hunter is a published author and a Medical Terminology Specialist, as well as a Written English Professional. Pam has 20 years experience creating websites and writing content for her own 30 websites. Pam is the founder and owner of Pam Hunter Enterprises which includes this website, Iviehost.com and PHEhost.com
1-360-301-4421
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Horse Training Success.
Solve Your Horses Bad Habits With These Horse Whisperer Training Techniques.
Proper Feeding of Ponies
Hunter's Pony Farm, and its affiliated sites, offers this information as a service to our readers, we are not veterinarians, and take no responsibility for errors or consequences of using this information. If you are concerned about your animal, you should consult a licensed veterinarian immediately.
Here are questions from visitors about pony care and my responses... Pam Hunter
Care Q & A Feeding Ponies
Question:
HI, I AM A FIRST TIME OWNER OF A PONY AND A ARABIAN HORSE.WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS,HOW MUCH HAY SHOULD MY PONY GET IN THE WINTER,IM AFRAID OF OVER FEEDING HIM.ALSO IF YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE AS HOW I CAN GET HIM FROM PULLING OUT MY HORSES HAY AND PEEING ON IT,I KNOW MY PONY WILL EAT CONSTANTLY IF WE LET HIM.THE AREA WHERE THEY ARE IS ALL MUD NOW,WANTED TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS AS TO WHAT WE CAN DO.I WAS TOLD TO GET WOOD CHIPS THEN WAS TOLD BY SOMEONE ELSE NOT TO DO THAT,WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE ANY ADVICE YOU HAVE. Vicki
Answer from Pam Hunter:
Hi, Vicki,
How much hay your pony gets in the winter depends on how cold it is, what kind of shelter you have for him, and if the shelter you provide is dry or muddy. If he is in a muddy, wet area and can't find a dry place to lay out of the cold and wind, he will need much more feed than if he can get out of the wind and cold and into a dry place. Your pony will grow a thick coat to keep him warm, but you still need to feel his sides and backbone to see if there are any signs of bonyness. If his backbone is sticking up and his ribs are not covered with a layer of fat then he is too skinny. Also, horses and ponies eat all the time, that is how they survive. Your pony should have as much medium quaility grass hay as he wants. But, NOT alfalfa, timothy or other high protein hays. If you are feeding those kinds of hays then he should only have 1/2 to 1 small leaf a day with as much medium quality grass hay as he wants. Also, fresh water and salt. If you are feeding grain, too, then it really depends on what kind of grain you are feeding as to how much he needs. I wouldn't give him more than a pound or two a day. It is best to divide the feeding into two feedings and just divide the amount you give him in two and feed onece in the morning and once at night. Don't forget to worm him and your arabian.
As far as the muddy area goes... some people use wood chips, but if your horses are standing in it all day they can get an infection in their feet from the wood chips decomposing. Also, it isn't good for the horses to be standing in mud all day. They can get thrush, and other fungal infections from having their feet wet all the time. If you can't move them to a dryer area, and you can't enlarge their area so they aren't in the mud, then I would think about getting a load of dirt to dump in there to raise the level of the ground so the water can drain out. This way the ground will not be so muddy. Other than that, I don't know what to tell you unless I saw the area first hand. Pam Hunter
Question:
Hello, my name is Debra, and we just recently made a male pony a new member of our family. I was told he was about eight years old and seemed in good shape and health. I am writing to see how you feed your ponies because I was told that ponies didn't need any feed - just a very little grass and hay or they will founder very easily?. I grew up with horses - no ponies- and I know how to care for a regular sized horse but have my doubts about feeding this little guy properly. He stands only about 31/2 feet tall but acts like he is starving ALL the time. I figured I would try the gradual process to figure his needs as well as ask everyone i come in contact with that has pony knowledge.
I started giving him just small parts of flakes of hay three times a day with grazing on grass about 1/2 hour at least once a day and of course always fresh water. I then felt like it wasn't enough and the horse person in me kept yelling to give him oats, so currently I am giving him a handful of oats first thing in morning and then last thing at night. And of course the children like to feed him treats from small pieces of carrots and apples to the actual horse treat with carrots, apples etc in it.
How am I doing?? He seems to be doing great but still acts like he is starving!! The children usually ride at least once a day right now they are four years old. Also how much weight can a little pony like this carry? It seems like everyone wants to ride him and he seems too little to me but everyone says they can handle it. Help?
Thank you for your time and help - it is appreciated greatly. - Debra
Answer from Pam Hunter:
Dear Debra,
Your pony is 10.5 hands high, which is a nice size. Is he a gelding or a stallion? This makes a difference.
Otherwise, I would give him 1/2 to 1 leaf of hay in the morning and 1/2 to 1 at night. It should not be a rich hay, orchard grass is a good choice. I believe in feeding ponies the same way as big horses, just cut it down to 1/3 of what you would give a big horse. Ponies usually founder on new grass in the spring, and alfalfa. Although we feed alfalfa to our ponies, we don't give them very much. Grass hay is best, and you can give him grass hay with pasture all day. Horses and ponies need to eat, they live best on lower quality, bulky feeds like grass hay. Rich pasture and rich feeds can lead to obesity. Your pony should weigh about 500 pounds. You can figure out his current weight using our weight chart here care/weightchart.html
You can also read more about feeding your pony here care/weightchart.html
Your pony should not have ribs showing. He should not have his hips sticking up. Be careful not to give him too much oats, but a pound a day would be OK. Just watch out for the new spring grass. Give as much dry grass hay as he wants within reason. 1/2 leaf to one leaf twice a day should be enough since he is being ridden.
I hope this helps. Let me know if you need more information.
Pam Hunter
Question:
own a miniature horse he weighs about 350 pounds give or take a few pounds just wondering how many pounds of oat hay a day will keep him healthy plus I currently give him 6oz of grain? Not alot of information on them so I try to follow pony charts. Thank you, Will take any info you might offer.
Answer from Pam Hunter:
Hi, I would give your pony a leaf of oat hay in the morning, and pasture the rest of the time. The grain you give is fine, a nice treat and suppliment to his hay. If he is on pasture, don't worry about giving him more hay. If he is in a dry lot, no pasture, then in the winter I would give another leaf at nite. Horses eat about 24hrs a day. If he gets fat too fast, then reduce the amount of hay by 1/2. I don't weigh my hay, even though all the books say weigh it. It is a pain to weigh it out when you have 12 horses! - Pam Hunter, I am not a vet and don't give this advice other than from my own experience as a horse person.
Here are questions from visitors about pony care and my responses... Pam Hunter
Care Q & A Feeding Ponies
Question:
HI, I AM A FIRST TIME OWNER OF A PONY AND A ARABIAN HORSE.WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS,HOW MUCH HAY SHOULD MY PONY GET IN THE WINTER,IM AFRAID OF OVER FEEDING HIM.ALSO IF YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE AS HOW I CAN GET HIM FROM PULLING OUT MY HORSES HAY AND PEEING ON IT,I KNOW MY PONY WILL EAT CONSTANTLY IF WE LET HIM.THE AREA WHERE THEY ARE IS ALL MUD NOW,WANTED TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS AS TO WHAT WE CAN DO.I WAS TOLD TO GET WOOD CHIPS THEN WAS TOLD BY SOMEONE ELSE NOT TO DO THAT,WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE ANY ADVICE YOU HAVE. Vicki
Answer from Pam Hunter:
Hi, Vicki,
How much hay your pony gets in the winter depends on how cold it is, what kind of shelter you have for him, and if the shelter you provide is dry or muddy. If he is in a muddy, wet area and can't find a dry place to lay out of the cold and wind, he will need much more feed than if he can get out of the wind and cold and into a dry place. Your pony will grow a thick coat to keep him warm, but you still need to feel his sides and backbone to see if there are any signs of bonyness. If his backbone is sticking up and his ribs are not covered with a layer of fat then he is too skinny. Also, horses and ponies eat all the time, that is how they survive. Your pony should have as much medium quaility grass hay as he wants. But, NOT alfalfa, timothy or other high protein hays. If you are feeding those kinds of hays then he should only have 1/2 to 1 small leaf a day with as much medium quality grass hay as he wants. Also, fresh water and salt. If you are feeding grain, too, then it really depends on what kind of grain you are feeding as to how much he needs. I wouldn't give him more than a pound or two a day. It is best to divide the feeding into two feedings and just divide the amount you give him in two and feed onece in the morning and once at night. Don't forget to worm him and your arabian.
As far as the muddy area goes... some people use wood chips, but if your horses are standing in it all day they can get an infection in their feet from the wood chips decomposing. Also, it isn't good for the horses to be standing in mud all day. They can get thrush, and other fungal infections from having their feet wet all the time. If you can't move them to a dryer area, and you can't enlarge their area so they aren't in the mud, then I would think about getting a load of dirt to dump in there to raise the level of the ground so the water can drain out. This way the ground will not be so muddy. Other than that, I don't know what to tell you unless I saw the area first hand. Pam Hunter
Question:
Hello, my name is Debra, and we just recently made a male pony a new member of our family. I was told he was about eight years old and seemed in good shape and health. I am writing to see how you feed your ponies because I was told that ponies didn't need any feed - just a very little grass and hay or they will founder very easily?. I grew up with horses - no ponies- and I know how to care for a regular sized horse but have my doubts about feeding this little guy properly. He stands only about 31/2 feet tall but acts like he is starving ALL the time. I figured I would try the gradual process to figure his needs as well as ask everyone i come in contact with that has pony knowledge.
I started giving him just small parts of flakes of hay three times a day with grazing on grass about 1/2 hour at least once a day and of course always fresh water. I then felt like it wasn't enough and the horse person in me kept yelling to give him oats, so currently I am giving him a handful of oats first thing in morning and then last thing at night. And of course the children like to feed him treats from small pieces of carrots and apples to the actual horse treat with carrots, apples etc in it.
How am I doing?? He seems to be doing great but still acts like he is starving!! The children usually ride at least once a day right now they are four years old. Also how much weight can a little pony like this carry? It seems like everyone wants to ride him and he seems too little to me but everyone says they can handle it. Help?
Thank you for your time and help - it is appreciated greatly. - Debra
Answer from Pam Hunter:
Dear Debra,
Your pony is 10.5 hands high, which is a nice size. Is he a gelding or a stallion? This makes a difference.
Otherwise, I would give him 1/2 to 1 leaf of hay in the morning and 1/2 to 1 at night. It should not be a rich hay, orchard grass is a good choice. I believe in feeding ponies the same way as big horses, just cut it down to 1/3 of what you would give a big horse. Ponies usually founder on new grass in the spring, and alfalfa. Although we feed alfalfa to our ponies, we don't give them very much. Grass hay is best, and you can give him grass hay with pasture all day. Horses and ponies need to eat, they live best on lower quality, bulky feeds like grass hay. Rich pasture and rich feeds can lead to obesity. Your pony should weigh about 500 pounds. You can figure out his current weight using our weight chart here care/weightchart.html
You can also read more about feeding your pony here care/weightchart.html
Your pony should not have ribs showing. He should not have his hips sticking up. Be careful not to give him too much oats, but a pound a day would be OK. Just watch out for the new spring grass. Give as much dry grass hay as he wants within reason. 1/2 leaf to one leaf twice a day should be enough since he is being ridden.
I hope this helps. Let me know if you need more information.
Pam Hunter
Question:
own a miniature horse he weighs about 350 pounds give or take a few pounds just wondering how many pounds of oat hay a day will keep him healthy plus I currently give him 6oz of grain? Not alot of information on them so I try to follow pony charts. Thank you, Will take any info you might offer.
Answer from Pam Hunter:
Hi, I would give your pony a leaf of oat hay in the morning, and pasture the rest of the time. The grain you give is fine, a nice treat and suppliment to his hay. If he is on pasture, don't worry about giving him more hay. If he is in a dry lot, no pasture, then in the winter I would give another leaf at nite. Horses eat about 24hrs a day. If he gets fat too fast, then reduce the amount of hay by 1/2. I don't weigh my hay, even though all the books say weigh it. It is a pain to weigh it out when you have 12 horses! - Pam Hunter, I am not a vet and don't give this advice other than from my own experience as a horse person.