Question

Ziggy is my new crossbred pony mare (13.2 hands; 700 lb or 320 kg; BCS 6). She is ridden daily as a hunter prospect. She is on full turnout with a few supplements. Even though Ziggy is a healthy young pony, she is an easy keeper, and I want to avoid laminitis as the spring grass grows. Would a hindgut buffer help her?

Answer

A time-released hindgut buffer such as EquiShure can be beneficial during diet transitions such as increased pasture intake. In fact, EquiShure offsets some of the digestive issues related to grazing rich pasture, particularly subclinical acidosis. In addition to EquiShure, the best management practice may be to restrict grazing. This can be accomplished through the use of a grazing muzzle, reduced grazing time, or diminished access to pasture through strip grazing. Managing Ziggy to maintain a moderate body weight through diet and exercise will be key in minimizing the risk of metabolic disorders.

In addition to an appropriate amount of forage, most easy keepers do well on a vitamin and mineral supplement to supply essential nutrients without excess calories. Because of her size, Ziggy would need very little supplement (refer to the feeding instructions on the label) and this can be fed with a small amount of feed or hay pellets to help control calorie intake.