29 August 2008 10:08
I’ve just bought a 14.2hh Welsh sec D mare who recently bred a foal.
She’s out in the day and is fed Alfa-A, Horse and Pony Cubes, carrots and apples, and three sections of hay. She’s started to lose her pregnancy belly and tone up as she’s ridden every day. Am I feeding her properly?
I am also looking into putting her on to some supplements, including Hormonal Mare and Everyday Vitamin and Mineral. Would these benefit her?
Answer
By Your Horse
Nutritionist Katie Williams replies:
You need to give between 1.75kg and 2kg of Horse and Pony Cubes per day, with 1kg of Alfa-A. This would theoretically supply the vitamins and minerals she needs, so you wouldn’t need to use the Everyday Vitamin and Mineral supplement.
However, she may put on some weight if she is a good doer. If you do choose to use the supplement, use as little of the feeds as you want to reduce the energy intake, because the supplement should provide the essential nutrients she needs.
There are other ways you can feed her that might be more cost effective and useful in stopping her from putting on too much weight. For example, try a balancer like Top Spec or Baileys Lo-Cal alongside Alfa-A Lite, which has a lower energy value than Alfa-A. The balancer would replace the supplement or the Horse and Pony Cubes, as it provides the essential nutrients she needs. Hormonal Mare is for mares who are fizzy, moody or erratic – if she fits this description then you may want to try her on it.