Feeding ponies correctly: Needs-based feeding for frugal ponies

Ponies are said to be extremely robust and hardy. However, their robustness should not be taken to mean that they have no demands on their feed. Just like large horses, ponies also have their own requirements for high-quality, needs-based feed. The difference to other representatives is that most ponies are good-doers and therefore require less quantity – quality is crucial. Pony feed must be of high quality and concentrated.

The basis of good pony feeding: Forage in the form of good quality hay

The basic principle in horse feeding is that horses need 1.5kg of roughage per 100kg of body weight. If this principle also applies to ponies, you still need to keep a more critical eye on the ratio of feed intake to energy consumption of the pony. Most ponies are good-doers: even with low feed intake, they develop a dense coat and a lot of sub-fatty tissue to keep them warm. Due to their strong skin insulation, they have a low energy expenditure and therefore do not need much feed.

Here, however, they are kept on rich pastures, receive a lot of hay and at the same time have little incentive to move. This quickly leads to the ponies becoming overfat, which upsets their fat and hormone balance. Obesity can ultimately be one of the causes of itching (sweet itch) and laminitis.

Vitamin and mineral supplements for ponies – The importance of minerals for ponies

Overweight ponies, which are supposed to lose weight with the help of a light reduction diet, quickly suffer from a mineral and vitamin deficiency. In their original homeland, they were able to cover their need for vital nutrients with mosses, lichens and herbs, despite the sparse grass. In our latitudes, they have lush grass with little biodiversity. Special attention must therefore be paid to the mineral nutrition of ponies. Small amounts of concentrated feed and roughage can lead to a deficiency of zinc, manganese, copper and selenium in particular. A mineral deficiency in ponies can be recognised by a drop in performance, dissatisfaction, fatigue, musculoskeletal and immune system disorders, e.g. faecal water or sweet itch.

If the pony receives less than 0.75kg of mineralised concentrated feed, a vitamin and mineral supplement is essential. Its ingredients should be highly bioavailable in that they occur in organic compounds. Many conventional vitamin and mineral supplements also have a high calcium content, which inhibits the absorption of other minerals. The calcium requirement is already sufficiently covered by the intake of hay and straw. To ensure that the vital substances can be absorbed by the pony, the calcium content should be as low as possible, while all other substances are present in organic form.

Our Tip: The Original Landmühle Vitamin and Mineral Supplement Metabolism Premium is suitable for ponies and cobs. For ponies that suffer from sweet itch, Original Landmühle offers Sweet Itch Premium, a supplement made from metabolism-promoting herbs. You can find more supplements for metabolically sensitive ponies in our horse feed category Supplements for metabolism.

Concentrates for ponies

Hard feed should only be fed to ponies when the energy supply from the basic feed is no longer sufficient. In most cases, this is only the case for sport ponies that are used in competition. Hard-working school ponies can also benefit from a mineralised concentrate. A light bucket feed with a low sugar and starch content is often sufficient to compensate for the lack of energy. Hard feed for ponies should be molasses-free and provide plenty of structure for chewing.

Oils and feeding ponies

Oils should only find their way into the pony bucket in small quantities. Feed oils, especially linseed oil, are often fed prophylactically during the shedding period. However, as they contain a lot of energy, which the pony is often unable to utilise, they should only be used sparingly. During coat change, 30 to a maximum of 50g linseed oil is completely sufficient for ponies. Linseed oil supports the formation of prostaglandins, which combat inflammation and stimulate the metabolism.

It is even better to give preference to whole fruits, i.e. linseed, sunflower seeds and black cumin. These still contain many minerals that the pure oil no longer has.

Special topic: Feeding Icelandic horses

Icelandic horses are one of the pony breeds most frequently affected by sweet itch. The constant itching can have various triggers, but in general the metabolism and immune system are overtaxed. The unfavourable feed situation in our latitudes, which Icelandic horses are not used to from their homeland, may be partly to blame. On the isolated island, Icelandic horses have a large supply of mosses and herbs, but not an oversupply of fructans and proteins. An excess of energy and protein and an inadequate supply of vital substances in their country of import lead to an overload of the liver in Icelandic horses. Furthermore, both artificial (additives, fertilisers) and natural (mould spores in hay) pollutants affect the liver. This can be the reason for sweet itch and laminitis, which are frequently seen in Icelandic horses.

The feeding and care of an Icelandic horse can therefore look like this:

• Properly fertilised pastures to keep the fructan content in the grass low
• Pastures with a wide variety of plants
• Low-starch and low-sugar feed, preferably grain-free feed
• Targeted supply of minerals, the need for which is determined via a blood count
• Addition of zinc and manganese (if there is a deficiency)
• Other important vital substances: vitamins A, E, B, biotin, organic sulphur (MSM)
• Avoid excess weight

Another cause of sweet itch is the bites of black flies. Feeding vitamin B and garlic is recommended to promote insect defence from the inside. The resulting body odour of the horse can prevent the onslaught of sweet itch-causing mosquitoes. In addition, an effective insect repellent and a sweet itch rug for Icelandic horses are helpful or even necessary.