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Post by sarah on Jan 25, 2010 20:26:56 GMT 1
I am hoping some of you lovely people will be able to give me some advice on how to achieve a lovely shiny, healthy coat on my ponies. My boys live out 24/7, apart from during the recent snow/ice when they came in at night. They are clipped and well rugged, but are not groomed every single day ( please don't be horrified! ) but always when ridden. As they are in light work at the moment, they are only fed Safe and Sound, with Equivite and carrots, and also Horsehage. On the advice of a friend, I added a glug of soya oil last year, and it sent them completely loopy, so I stopped it and they returned to normal. So, any suggestions for what I could feed to help, without causing any unwanted excitement, or anything I could be doing - obviously in this weather, taking rugs off just to groom or shampooing is not a kind thing to do in my opinion! Any suggestions gratefully received.
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nora
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Post by nora on Jan 26, 2010 0:35:28 GMT 1
Hi there. In my experience, any feed containing molassis will cause the coat to shine...good luck, mine live out most of the time too, also well rugged, and not groomed daily...
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Post by Briony Anakin on Jan 26, 2010 1:05:35 GMT 1
i groom everyday, but i also feed corn oil and he looks fabby on it! It also helps to keep his weight on as he has struggled a bit while he is growing so fast and there is not much grass.
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Post by avril on Jan 26, 2010 22:16:21 GMT 1
Don't feel bad about having less than immaculate horses, Sarah. They quite like a covering of mud. That's why they pick a nice slushy patch to roll in just after they've been to the beauty parlour!
Seaweed meal is very good for coats as well as being an excellent source of minerals. It is an aquired taste for horses, but ours loved it so much they would eat it straight from the bucket like feed. Biotin and zinc are good ingredients for skin and coats. We use the yellow rockies block with zinc, it seems to strengthens their hoofs too. An easier and non heating option is to add a couple of tablespoons of vegetable oil to chaff.
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Post by nellie on Jan 27, 2010 19:38:42 GMT 1
Umm, I'm probably wrong cos, as you know, I've been out of horse ownership a while, but aren't molasses associated with turning susceptible horses and ponies loopy which is why you can now get non-molassed sugar beet? Sorry to poke my nose in when I may well be wrong
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Post by lisandsaf on Jan 28, 2010 16:25:38 GMT 1
Hi..
I use seaweed in saf's feed she has a lovely soft silky coat,,, i did find however that it made my ponies really itchy and just didnt seem to agree with them,, once i removed it from their feed they have been ok,,,
Linseed is also very good for the coat,, you can either get it in chips that you put in the feed or oil.
Regards
lisa and Saf
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ange
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Post by ange on Jan 30, 2010 21:42:25 GMT 1
Hi,
I've always fed my old mare Penny with Garlic - the minced variety rather than the powder and her coat is always glossy - it is also good for many other things - we do worm egg counts most of the year and she has not had a count above <50 (which is the closest they will give you to zero) since I started on the Garlic. She gets a 50ml scoop once a day in her breakfast. However, you need to try it for a while, as it can make some horses a bit loopy - it doesn't suit my younger mare Kia.
Cheers, Ange, Penny & Kia.
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Post by sarah on Jan 31, 2010 10:53:49 GMT 1
Thanks everyone for your replies - it seems its a bit of a minefield with so much choice!
I will let you know what I decide to try and how we get on - I certainly wont be spending hours grooming today though, as its absolutely FREEZING outside again and the boys wont want to be parted from their rugs!!!!
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Post by Briony Anakin on Jan 31, 2010 21:39:46 GMT 1
forgot to say, as Ange said, Anakin also has a spoon of garlic flakes in each feed which seems to keep him glossy, although it does stink! he really likes it though and licks his feed bowl round to get and reminent granuels!
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Post by Erika George on Feb 3, 2010 0:29:58 GMT 1
Linseed oil is excellent for a shiny coat. The little welsh mountain pony used to have terrible dandruff, almost like snow and it sorted her out a treat. Also try nettle tea, at this time of year make it using a teabag but once the nettles come through, instead of cursing them, pick them (with gloves on!), and seep them in boiling water. Once cool add this to the feed and it is a great liver tonic, great for sweet itch and general well being. You can also use it as a rinse if you wash the horse's mane or tail. In the summer as a great coat conditioner and to help with the flies, I rub George down with handfuls of spearmint. Not only does he smell great but it lifts the scuff out of the coat and makes his black points really shiny. I do not groom George everyday but only when I ride and this is sufficient. I have only once shampooed him and his coat was matt for days afterwards. Don't waste your money on expensive options, there are plenty of choices that cost little or no money, such as herbs. Erika & George
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ange
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Post by ange on Feb 4, 2010 23:42:24 GMT 1
Hi - re the nettles -
when I first had Penny I kept her at grass livery - we used to keep on top of the weeds in the field but would always leave the nettles to grow and then cut them every so often. If you leave them in the field to dry in the sun (thats the big orange ball we occassionally get in the sky in this country - it's possible you have all forgotten it by now!!!) the sting goes out of them and the horses seem to know when its OK to eat them. I'd forgotten all about this until I read Erica's post above! Sadly the fields where I am now are too well tended for any nettles to dare try to grow!! Cheers, Ange.
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Post by Erika George on Feb 6, 2010 23:53:33 GMT 1
High Ange, What a good idea, cut the nettles and leave to dry. After all you can buy dried nettles in the feed store at great cost! When I first had the horses I remember wandering down the field, seeing a clump of nettles and I was just thinking of going to get a pair of gloves to pull them up when George came along and promptly ate them, sting and all! Having had the pleasure of watching the horses forage, I realise that they are quite particular about what they eat and will search out certain things when turned into new pasture. They relish for instance, blackberry leaves and George loves thistles which he "picks" and eats roots first. Re the spearmint, I am planting a whole row down the side of the stable yard. The horses when they come into the yard in summer will bury their head in it, partly to keep the flies off but also I think because they enjoy the smell. Summer.....ha Erika & George
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Post by mandymoo on Mar 3, 2013 17:07:08 GMT 1
My pony has developed dandruff. It started in his mane and tail and now his coat is quite scurfy too. I know it's probably due to the winter weather drying his skin, being stabled and rugged most of the time (due to enforced box rest). Don't really want to bathe him as its too cold now and I think it needs treating from the inside rather than the outside; thought about adding some oil to his feed. Have read that corn, linseed or cod liver are good options. Any preferences?
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Post by sarah on Mar 3, 2013 17:52:13 GMT 1
mandymoo, I tried Linseed as so many people suggested it to me, but my 2 boys refused their feed with it! Mine got very scurfy when they were about to shed their winter coats. My 2 big lads were looking a little dull in their coats last autumn, and the TB just a bit tucked up at times, and on someone's suggestion I put them both on Baileys Low Cal Balancer and I have to say it seems to have made an enormous difference, both looking really well with wonderful shiny coat/skin. Hope you can find something that suits.
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Post by mandymoo on Mar 3, 2013 18:03:13 GMT 1
Thanks Sarah, I sure it's just a 'winter thing'; but he looks so tatty, especially as he's black! I will have a chat with yard owner and vet too, see what they both suggest I'm probably just being a 'worrying mother'!
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