Question

What sort of feed/feeding program do you recommend for pony foals/weanlings? I've raised several crops of foals on a ration balancer and quality forage/pasture with success, but I'm concerned that this may not be the ideal way to meet their daily nutrient requirements for growth. All of my ponies tend to be easy keepers.

Answer

I believe that using a ration balancer is absolutely the best fit in these circumstances.

The primary challenge with easy keepers is ensuring they consume appropriate amounts of vitamins and minerals (those that are low or nonexistent in forages) without unnecessary calories. Ration balancers fill this need quite well.

If this feeding system has worked well for you in the past, I don’t see any reason to change, particularly if you’re following the manufacturer’s recommendations for feeding rates.