When feeding a child’s pony, there are many factors that need to be considered in order to maintain the fine balance between fitness and fatness whilst keeping them sane and safe to ride by the youngest of jockeys. Typically, we tend to see Native breeds such as the Shetland, Welsh Section A’s 
and B’s and Connemara cross breeds dominating the local riding club show rings throughout the summer season, however, due to the ‘good doing’ nature of these hardy, reliable ponies, it is important to carefully consider their diet and ensure that they are being fed to satisfy both our and their needs.
Firstly, it is highly important to match the level of work that the pony is in to their diet in order to discourage excess weight gain and reduce the risk of developing conditions such as Laminitis and obesity, which ponies are quite prone to as the spring grass comes through and when their diet is not effectively managed. Fibre is so important in the diet of any horse or pony and should make up the bulk of their feeding regime but on some occasions, when grazing is too rich, it may be beneficial for your pony to experience a period of restricted grazing and receive fibre through an alternative source, such as a low calorie chaff which you can easily control the feeding of. This may worry some pony owners as they may feel that due to restricting the level of grass taken in, their pony may not be receiving the vitamins and minerals that they need to remain in good health. This can be easily rectified by feeding a low calorie, diet feed balancer, which is specifically developed to provide all the essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients in a low starch and low sugar formulation; a perfect option to ensure optimum health and well-being when trying to help your pony shed the pounds.
It is also imperative that in order to promote a healthy digestive system, you should look for a diet feed balancer that incorporates a pro and prebiotic into its formulation in order to increase intestinal motility and to help balance the bacteria within the gut. This helps to increase the efficiency of nutrient absorption, allowing your pony to make the most of the feed that you are providing them with. A digestive supplement is a very beneficial component that you should be looking for in a feed balancer as it can help avoid the migration of undigested starch and sugar into the hind gut, which after fermentation, 
can cause digestive upsets and be a major contributory factor to the development of Laminitis, a condition to which small ponies are susceptible when at the incorrect weight and level of feeding.
A low starch and sugar diet can also prove beneficial where the frame of mind of our ponies is concerned. Spring time brings about seasonal changes in weather and grazing that can leave ponies feeling fresh and sometimes difficult to ride and handle. Reducing the levels of quick release energy sources in their diet such as starch and sugar and replacing them with slow-release fibre, could help achieve a pony with a calmer outlook on life as they are better able to break down and utilise their energy throughout the day, rather than being overloaded with it all at one time. Another option would be to introduce a calmer into your pony’s diet. This could either be in a liquid or powdered form or as a new to the market pelleted, Super Concentrated Calming Balancer, which provides all the benefits of a low starch and sugar feed balancer but with known calming ingredients such as magnesium and L-tryptophan built in to help your pony keep a cool head throughout seasonal changes that are occurring, keeping him focused, sane and most importantly safe.
So, in summary, the main factors to consider when providing a diet at this time or year for a good doer are to ensure that slow release energy sources such as fibre, exceed starches and sugars to ensure a healthy gut whilst helping to reduce the incidence of weight gain and laminitis. Also, feeding a low calorie, diet feed balancer can be highly beneficial when looking to keep your pony in optimum health whilst supporting healthy, steady weight loss and keeping them happy and well throughout the summer months that lie ahead.
The Product:
Blue Chip Lami-light is the Diet Feed Balancer that provides all the essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients your horse or pony needs to maintain optimum health and well-being on a daily basis in its whole-cereal and molasses free formulation that is naturally low in starches and
sugars. Perfect for all types of horses and ponies, Lami-light promotes the development and maintenance of a healthy digestive environment by incorporating a pro and prebiotic based quadruple action digestive supplement that works in synergy with Nucleotides, the building blocks of DNA and RNA to help achieve a healthy bacterial balance within the gut and increase the efficiency of nutrient absorption, helping your horse or pony gain the most they can from their diet.
The 100% natural formulation combines SoundHoofTM, a biotin, methionine and lysine based hoof supplement that promotes the growth of strong, pliable horn with respiratory supplement, PrimoVentoTM and specifically tailored levels of zinc and omega oils that help to achieve a glossy, gleaming coat, promoting head to hoof health and well being!
To try Lami-Light for yourself, click here to try a sample or purchase a bag today!
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