Most of the year, my
ponies do well with grass hay or pasture and their vitamins and free-choice
minerals. Winter, though, can sometimes be a challenge, so I always watch for
changes that indicate they need an extra boost. Until this year, it's been my
weanlings that have needed extra help here at 9,000 feet in the Colorado
Rockies. This winter, though, has been cloudier, colder, and snowier than usual,
and even my adult ponies have needed assistance.
How do I tell when they need help? Sometimes it's because they don't have as much energy. Sometimes they lack a characteristic sparkle in their eyes. This year they've dropped weight more quickly during cold weather than I've seen in the past and have taken longer to bounce back. Feeding grain to ponies in this situation makes me really uncomfortable because they are so susceptible to founder and other diseases.
According to equine
nutritionist Amy Gill, PhD, of Kentucky, "…people have grossly overfed
horses for a long time; now we have a number of metabolic syndromes, Cushings
disease, insulin resistant horses, foals that are insulin resistant, animals
that are prone to obesity and laminitis. The big push now is away from starchy
grains and to use more soluble fibers and fats, but there is still a lot of
education needed."
I feel fortunate that I discovered a product that addresses my ponies' needs during the winter without the drawbacks of grain. I consider Dynamite H.E.S. (high energy supplement) my magic bullet. It is a fiber and fat source without starches and sugars. Based on organically grown ingredients from well-mineralized soils, HES is also considered "topline in a bag" by showing enthusiasts because of its ability to build muscle. Just a few ounces can make a difference to a weanling, and a cup daily for my adults has really helped the sparkle come back into their eyes this winter. Another advantage of HES is that it doesn't make the ponies "hot" since it isn't based on grains. So when grass hay and vitamins and minerals aren't quite enough, I know where to turn to find a magic bullet to help my ponies with this difficult climate where we live.
Above are pictures of my Fell Ponies Sleddale Rose Beauty and Guards Apollo, each with a coating of snow, awaiting their morning ration of H.E.S.
This page last updated: 22 January 2008
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