Practical Feeding Advice for Horses and Ponies.
Feeding the pony
Ponies have evolved to live off a small amount of mainly fibrous feed when at rest and consequently are excellent converters of food, converting glucose to fat rather than using it immediately for energy for exercise. Remember the following points when feeding ponies.
During the Spring and Summer - ponies are more prone to laminitis than horses. Diets high in fibre and low in soluble carbohydrates (starches) should be fed. Avoid turning ponies out on lush grass. Badminton High Fibre Complete and Triple Crown Evenkeel are ideal for natives, good doers and laminitics.

During Autumn and Winter - as most ponies are capable of wintering out, supplement a forage based diet with a high fibre cube or mix. Again, Badminton High Fibre Complete and Triple Crown Evenkeel are ideal for natives, good doers and laminitics. These products are low in starch and high in fibre.
Feeding the leisure horse
What defines a leisure horse? Perhaps those that are in light work during the week but probably compete at weekends. When choosing a feed, consider your horse's temperament but take into consideration that for light work, fibre is the most important nutrient source as it is a slow releasing energy source. Most concentrate feeds are fully balanced with the minerals and vitamins required and contain cereals for a source of fast release energy.
There is a vast variety of feeds that could be recommended for leisure horses but when choosing a feed it is important to accept that feeding will not change a horse's character - it may exaggerate his natural behaviour, but won't change laid back cob into a thoroughbred or vice versa! Consideration needs to be given to the energy source to suit the particular horse or pony. Click here to visit the Badminton Leisure Range, which offers you a wide selection of products.

Feeding the older Horse or Pony
Horses and ponies, like humans, become old at different ages. The older horse requires a higher protein level in order to maintain muscle and body condition. This does need to be good quality. Choose a balanced feed such as Badminton Veteran Mix, which has designed with the older horse or pony in mind. It contains:
· High in quality protein from full fat soya
· Contain high digestible fibre sources
· Contain digestion enhanced cereals i.e micronised
· Have the appropriate mineral and vitamins to balance the ration

Fibre sources should be in high digestible fibre such as cellulose and low in digestible fibre such as lignin. Badminton High Fibre Complete can be fed, soaked into a mash, to horses and ponies with poor teeth.

Feeding to provide Weight Gain
Horses tend to lose weight in the winter and need to be fed sufficient supplementary feed in addition to any available grazing. If weight remains low, even when supplementary feeds are provided, consider the following:
· Are the horse or pony's teeth in good condition? Sharp teeth cause pain and often a reluctance to eat.
· Check the worming programme. Carry out a comprehensive worming programme regularly.
· Is the hard feed adequate for the work being undertaken?
· Is plenty of good quality fibre being provided?
· Are droppings normal?
Badminton Conditioning Cubes are low fibre, high calorie fully balanced cubes which will improve condition. They will supply extra energy, protein and nutrients without the over-excitability. Alternatively, choose Triple Crown Triple Top-Up feed balancer.
Feeding to assist weight Loss
Even horses and ponies on a weight loss programme should receive a good quality diet in order that the correct nutrients are provided. Starving should not be undertaken as it can create both digestive and behavioural problems.
Grass should be restricted and hay limited to a minimum of 1% of bodyweight. Ideally, feed a low energy mix such as Badminton Lite 'n' Dry Low Energy Mix. If you find the necessary energy is not being met, change to a higher energy feed such as Badminton Working Mix but reduce the quantity.
Increase exercise and undertake regular weigh-in's to monitor weight loss. Just like humans we have to be patient - slow steady process will not stress the horse or cause digestive upsets.
Feeding the event or endurance horse
Eventers or endurance horses require stamina in order to carry out the distances required in these disciplines. Aerobic type energy is utilised, mainly, by event and endurance horses. This energy produced in the presence of oxygen. The horses are trained to make effective use of body fat reserves as a source of energy in order to conserve glucose reserves for extra bursts of energy, an example of this is hill work or at the finish of the competition. When glucose has been utilised, fatigue sets in.
The ideal type of feed is a high digestible fibre diet such as Badminton Working Mix. Stamina is maintained as the fibre is digested to give a slow release energy over a longer period of time.
High oil diets have been shown to be beneficial to endurance and event horses and between 6-8% of hard feed can be fed as oil. Oil is easily digested from the small intestine with training and this will be utilised as energy in preference to glucose from starch. Glucose is therefore conserved allowing the horse to work longer before fatigue sets in.
Feeding the Showjumper and Dressage horse
Both types of horse are requires to be alert throughout the season. They do not require the maintenance of stamina as the eventer or endurance horse and normally would carry more condition. They tend to be more well muscled and require bursts of energy when asked.
Feeding can vary and often depends on temperament and attitude. For laid back characters, a higher starch diet (quick release energy) such as Badminton Competition Cubes or Badminton Competition Mix, should be fed and for the more highly strung type, a fibre based (slow release energy) diet such as Badminton Dressage Mix on Badminton Working Mix can be utilised.
Feeding Breeding Horses
The gestation period for broodmares is 11 months and during this time, the mare will go through two stages:
· Early gestation - covering the first 8 months
· Late gestation - covering the final 3 months
and once the foal is born, she will enter two further stages:
· Early lactation - covering the first 3 months
· Late lactation - after weaning
The pregnant mare needs no extra nutrition for the first 8 months. Feed should be at maintenance levels except if the mare is a poor doer. It is important that the mare does not get overweight.
Introduce Badminton Stud & Yearling Cubes or Badminton Stud & Yearling Mix gradually as the mare reaches late gestation. Between 20-30% of the entire feed ration should be fed as concentrates
During early lactation, the energy levels should rise to twice those of maintenance with protein levels up by 2-3 times. This is to supply the necessary amino acids for milk production and growth in the foal. Calcium and phosphorus levels rise by up to 3 times the levels required for maintenance.
The mare can produce up to 5% of her bodyweight of milk a day and during the first week of lactation, the foal may suckle up to 100 times a day. Her energy requirements are now similar to that of a horse in medium work.
During late lactation, the mare does not require such a high nutritional input. The foal should be eating concentrates and only using the mares milk as a "top-up".
Stallions are at their most fertile during the spring and summer and during the covering season, nutritional requirements will rise. Energy and protein levels can rise by 25% while mineral and vitamin requirements rise between 10%-20%. Vitamin A directly affects sperm production and lack of it will cause possible lack of sperm.
Out of the covering season, stallions should be fed at maintenance, unless they are undertaking some form of work.
Foals are normally weaned between 4-7 months of age. The achievement of optimum feeding for youngstock is essential as avoiding growth disorders is paramount.
Foals nibble grass and the mare's concentrate feed from an early age but upon weaning it is important not to overfeed. Lower starch levels are preferred for foals and youngstock to avoid bone development problems.