Caring for native ponies and cobs

Which breeds this covers

This guide is for the hardy native breeds of Britain and Ireland and for cob types. Among them are the Shetland, Exmoor, Dartmoor, New Forest, Welsh, Connemara, Highland, Fell, Dales and Eriskay. Everything in the daily care guide applies too. This page covers what is different for these breeds.

Why natives need different care

Native ponies developed in harsh places, on sparse grazing. Research at the Royal Veterinary College notes that ponies tend to be more insulin resistant than horses, which makes them more prone to equine metabolic syndrome (EMS). This trait is genetic, probably an adaptation for survival, and on richer grazing it tends to lead to obesity, EMS and a higher risk of laminitis. Bransby Horses notes that horses, and native pony types in particular, naturally put on fat in spring and summer and use it up over winter, when grazing is sparse.

So the daily challenge with most natives isn't keeping them warm or fed. It is keeping them from getting too fat.

Living out

The code of practice notes that some horses, particularly native breeds, can live outdoors all year, as long as they have shelter from the prevailing wind, summer sun and flies. Shelter can be natural, such as thick hedges and trees, or a field shelter. Bransby Horses notes that many horses are happy to live out all year with suitable shelter and forage, and that bringing them in at night isn't always necessary.

If you do stable a native, the British Horse Society's minimum stable sizes, quoted in the code of practice, are 3.05 m × 3.05 m (10 ft × 10 ft) for ponies and 3.05 m × 3.65 m (10 ft × 12 ft) for large ponies over 13.2 hh.

Watching their weight

Check weight and condition regularly. A weighbridge is the most accurate way to weigh a horse. A weigh tape is cheap and good for tracking changes, though not exact weight. Fat scoring is a hands-on assessment of the neck, belly and hindquarters. Bransby Horses uses a 0–5 scale and aims for a score of 3. When a pony is losing weight, weigh it and record the result at least monthly, and adjust its diet and management to match.

Manage grazing. Ponies that gain weight easily may need their grazing restricted at certain times of year. Spring and summer grass is higher in sugar, and Bransby Horses also warns about frosty autumn days. Ways to cut calories while keeping a natural eating pattern include:

• a smaller grazing area or a track system: a track about four metres wide round the edge of the field, with forage, water and shelter at different points to keep the pony moving
• grazing muzzles, which reduce grass intake without stopping the pony eating (see below)
• hay in small-holed nets, spread through the day as three or four small nets rather than one big feed
• soaked hay, which has less sugar but still provides fibre
• weighing hay nets instead of guessing how much to feed

Never starve a pony. Lose weight slowly, and keep fibre in the diet. Sugary treats such as carrots and apples add more sugar than a pony needs. Walking in hand helps weight loss and is good for the pony's state of mind. If a pony's grazing is restricted, give it enrichment and company to keep it occupied.

Grazing muzzles

The British Horse Society's advice is that a grazing muzzle restricts how much grass a horse eats; it doesn't stop it eating. Choose one that fits the shape of your pony's head. The first time, don't turn the pony out or leave it unsupervised: make sure it can graze and drink comfortably. Never leave a grazing muzzle on 24 hours a day. Muzzles aren't recommended for donkeys or their hybrids.

Rugs and coats

A healthy native in its full winter coat, with enough forage and shelter, often copes without a rug. The code of practice notes that some hardy breeds thrive better unrugged, because a rug can make them too hot. Over-rugging also stops the natural loss of weight over winter, which is a useful time for a good doer to shed weight before spring grass.

• Fat is insulation. World Horse Welfare points out that a horse carrying more fat is better insulated and less likely to need a rug.
• No neck cover over a thick mane. A native with a long, thick mane may not need a rug with a neck cover. The mane already insulates, and a neck cover can rub, pull the mane or overheat the pony.
• Don't over-groom an unrugged pony. It can strip the natural oils that keep the coat waterproof.
• A small clip can help a very good doer. Bransby Horses suggests a small neck and belly clip, so the pony uses body fat to keep warm. Rug the pony if it seems cold.

A rug is still worth considering for a native that is old, unwell, underweight or clipped.

Laminitis and EMS: when to call the vet

The code of practice names obesity and over-eating as major factors in laminitis. Being overweight for a long time can also lead to hormonal disease such as EMS, which in turn makes laminitis more likely. Laminitis can also affect ponies that are not overweight, and a pony that has had it once is at greater risk of it coming back.

World Horse Welfare names obesity as the biggest risk factor for EMS. For native breeds, it recommends insulin testing as a valuable way to assess the risk of laminitis and EMS, so you can act early.