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A 'Classic' Posting of the Norwegian Fjord Horse listserver
Proper feeding for Foals
by Julie Will -----Original Message----- This message is from: Julia Will Fjords, like any other horse, need good food to GROW. Once they reach maturity, they can do just fine on good grass and grass hay, if not working hard or breeding. However, I have seen FAR too many scrawny Fjord youngsters who obviously did not have enough food to grow on. I recently purchased a group of 3 full brothers and sisters, ages one to three, and found that they were a full year behind in growth compared to our homebred horses of the same ages. Past experience tells me they will catch up, given good food, vitamens, minerals, and a sound worming program, but what a shame to see these ribby, pot bellied youngsters alongside our slick, shiny Fjords. I have had Fjord breeders tell me that their lines "mature more slowly" and that this accounts for the diminished size. Hogwash. And given the gene pool in North America, how many unrelated lines are there??? We don't "push" our foals (which can cause problems with the growthplates), but we make sure they never lack for good nutrition. They spend their first four or five months out on good grass with their dams, and as fall and weaning occurs, are given 12% grain (a coffee can or ess) two times daily (with a vitamen/mineral supplement) along with good grass hay 4 times a day. We group the weanlings together...older horses will push younger ones away from the feed. That plus frequent worming will grow a good horse. Our mares stay slick and fat even though they are nursing, and our foals are sturdy, solid and healthy. Yearlings and two year olds have much the same program of grass in the summer and hay and grain plus vitamens/minerals in the winter By three, the grain is reduced and grass may have to be limited. Please, please...don't believe the MYTH that Fjords do just fine on nothing but poor hay! Good night, all. Julie |
