what do you feed your colt or filly?

[CatherineJ]

Having just recently purchased a weanling, I am very particular about what I feed him so that he will grow healthy and have strong bones. Anyone have any good tips on feeding a growing baby?

[peppysan]

Hi Cathrine,

Ok, our babies get 1 1/2 lbs 14% sweet feed twice a day with a 1:1 Ca/P mineral supplement. They get 2nd cut grass hay NO ALFALFA, free choice and of course water at all times. Our hay land has a correct Ca/P ratio (1:1) but the overall amount is low, hence we supplement 2 oz of 1:1 in the grain (1 oz per feeding) to raise the total.

Weanlings need a good supply of quality protein to grow but over feeding them on high protein grains, large volumes of concentrated feeds and high calcium alfalfa is detrimental to their bone growth.

Good luck and pictures please! What do you plan to do with him?

[dmstewart]

We left our filly with her mare for about 7 months. She drank milk and naturally ate an increasing amount of grass. After 7 months we weaned her.

We have lots of good quality grass. Also provide free access to salt (natural stone) and a good quality mineral stone. Always access to water and during summer on pasture about 16 hours per day.

Our filly is now 2.5 years old, strong and healthy as one could hope.

I personally tend towards a 'natural' style of maximum grass, pasture time and small herd. Don't like grain or food supplements much and think that a lot of the push on supplements is the result of marketing by the feed and supplement industries. After all, horses have evolved to live on pasture so as long as one gives lots of good quality grass what else should they need.

I guess that in some areas the grass may have nutritional deficiencies, although I've never thought to test for it. If one did want to test, what should one test one's grass for anyways?

[peppysan]

Yep I agree the more natural the lifestyle the better when it comes to young horses. Doing less = more.

Hi dmstewart, yes you would get your hay analyzed to see the nutritional values: minerals rations as well as sugar and starch content. The better quality the hay, the less grain and other supplements you'll need, which is best for the horse and your pocket book of course.

I think you can get fresh grass tested, but it has to be shipped specially or the results will be inaccurate because the grass is alive where hay is dead and dry.

I would say you are fine with your grass if you have a good grazing management system in place and your pastures are not over grazed.

[dmstewart]

Reference testing grass for minerals, sugar, starch. Any idea where I could find a list of all the standard tests? Alternatively, is there a specific test name/laboratory?

[peppysan]

Usually there is a list on the form where you send in your sample and you check off everything on the list that you want them to test for. I believe its just called an analysis test.

Do a google search for hay testing labs or equi hay testing labs in your area.

[CatherineJ]

Thanks for all the helpful replys!
Thanks for the tips

[peppysan]

I am sure you will do just fine with your new baby, you sound like a very caring mom and he is lucky to have you!