What to Feed your Pony

by Mistress Michelle Peters

Nutrition

Most (American) ponies suffer from a history of poor nutrition. High fat, high salt foods sap the vitality of a healthy pony and make training difficult. Therefore, the aim of the Trainer should be to set a good example and to provide her charge with the best quality nutritional support possible.

Whole foods for the pony and Trainer alike are best. This means minimizing the use of processed (bleached and refined) flour, simple sugars, and substituting whole wheat products, brown rice, whole grains in their place. Vegetables, fruits and grains should be the majority - the base - of any pony's (and Trainer's) diet: think of the diet as a pyramid, with grains, vegetables and fruits forming the broad base of the pyramid, and meats, sweets and fats near the top in minimal quantities. This is easier to envision than the "portion" version of suggested diets, where quantities are restricted to "portions" - a portion is smaller than one thinks. Take the time once and measure out what a tablespoon of butter actually is. Two of those should be one's maximum fat allocation for the day - far less fat than is in a half-cup of macaroni and cheese, a half a cup of ice cream, or three cups of coffee with half and half!

Making the switch to a better diet is often difficult: expect setbacks and "lapses" where one returns to "comfort" food instead of "ideal" and "healthy" foods. The guilt alone can often discourage a person otherwise making a good start, starting them into a tailspin where they feel they will never be able to "make it," so why should they try?

The trick is to remember ALL food is good food. Even hot dogs, ice cream, pizza, waffles. The fear of "bad" food versus "good" food often triggers many people to begin terribly depressing habits of feeling guilty about not being able to stick to an overly rigorous diet of "good" food, binging on "bad" food, and then alternating between feeling like they're starving themselves and stuffing themselves. The idea is to slowly modify ideas about food so that a peach is as preferable as a pizza, rice with fresh tomatoes and chopped scallions as exciting as a burger. Guilt is slowly removed about food, and in time, better habits and attitudes about food occur. The shift is a fundamental one about how you feel about food, not just seeing food (and yourself) as "bad" or "good" depending on what someone else says.

NOTE: If you as a Master or Trainer notice abnormal behaviors in your pony slave, like binge eating followed by guilt or purging, unreasonable food fixations, strict adherence to an exercise program (exercising when ill, i.e.), or feelings of self-worth based on weight, get professional help immediately! These may be signs of an eating disorder with your pony.

Ponies (and humans) are made to graze. This means snacking on a variety of foods throughout the day, to keep blood sugar on an even level and keep saliva flowing in the mouth (which decreases cavities). The main idea, of course, is to keep roughly close to the pyramid: in the summertime, seasonally fresh fruits and vegetables are plentiful and examples are easy. In the wintertime it takes a little more ingenuity, and grains play a larger part in the diet (which provide complex carbohydrates and a steady supply of energy).