What should I be feeding? Foals and Mares rescued from running wild!?

Question

These beauties are currently on french fattening farms destined for the italian slaughter houses and the meat trade. I am unsure how to proceed with feeding as they have just been left out, wind, rain, shine or snow to get on with it. They are hardy, mainly Pottock ponies (originating from mountains of france/spain) but no doubt there will be some stable living in the future as they all have foals at foot and are in foal again. (to think they would be exported live pregnant breaks my heart)

Any suggestions would be gratefully accepted, of course they will be vet checked as they arrive, and i will take his advice, but you can't be over prepared can you? Plus I don't speak much horsey french yet so I may end up being bound by his advice if I don't have some of my own.

Oh we have plenty of fresh pasture what they are used to- and yeah i'm aware of laminitis etc, and plenty of hay from an earlier cut.

Thank you

Answer 1

I think the way to go is to stick to their original diet as much as possible ie pasture. If you try and introduce other feed stuffs you may run into other problems such as colic, laminitis etc. If they are hardy they probably are quite self sufficient. However as time goes on and depending where these horses go to from here you may want to start introducing hay as your pasture runs down and as the mares come in for foaling introduce them to other feed stuffs gradually - don't overfeed them with kindness! Good Luck!!

Answer 2

I would just stick with the pasture and perhaps a small amount of oaten hay

Answer 3

You need to check out www.equineonline.com as a huge number of members are based in France so will be in the best position to help/advise you. Go onto the Forum and ask your question again in the introduction section. Good luck

Answer 4

i dont understand your question.are these wild horses that have been captured ? did you buy them from a breeding farm ?or are they rescue horses.

edit:if they came from pasture it would be good to let them eat pasture just make sure they dont graze it down to nothing.i am not familiar with the types of grasses in france or how rich it is but it would be a good idea to have your local agriculture department do a pasture survey so you know how much grazing your pasture will hold and point out any problems with poisonous weeds.