Top 10 feeding tips for ponies

Pony Feed - Follow the SPILLERS® feeding tips to help keep your pony in top condition.

1. Feed Little and Often
Ponies have small stomachs, smaller than a rugby ball! So you shouldn’t give them huge amounts of feed in their feed bowl. Instead try and feed lots of little feeds over the day.

2. Nuts or Mix?
A scoop of pony nuts is heavier than a scoop of mix, so you should feed less pony nuts than mix.

3. Use Good Quality Food
Always check the “best before” label on your ponies feed before you give it to him. Always make sure it’s not dusty or mouldy.

4. Change your ponies feed slowly
If you want to change what you are feeding your pony that’s fine, but make sure you only give a small amount of the new feed to begin with and build it up gradually, or you could make your pony sick.

5. Water
Always make sure your pony has access to fresh, clean water. Make sure you change the water bucket in your ponies stable every day and keep the water troughs in the field scrubbed on a regular basis.

6. Always feed at the same time
Your pony has a built in clock which tells him it’s dinner time! Try and feed him at roughly the same time every day.

7. Don’t ride immediately after feeding
Always let your ponies food go down before you ride or exercise him, wait for at least an hour.

8. Feed according to your pony’s weight
Weigh your pony using a weigh tape and make sure you aren't feeding him too much.  

9. Feed according to work level
If you’re hacking out you should feed less than if you take your pony to lots of competitions. Don’t feed your pony lots more before a competition; you should feed the same amount every day.

10. Know your pony
Get to know your pony and his personality – you know best when he isn’t himself, or when he’s getting too fat.

If you have any questions about your Pony’s diet, feel free to get in touch with us through the SPILLERS® Care-Line. Our staff will be delighted to answer your questions and give you advice. Either email us a Care-Line enquiry form or telephone us on 01908 226626.

Feed from our experience