Writing Back to Mabel: About “Scrappy”

In the early 1900s, a little girl named Mabel won a pony named Scrappy. Here is an excerpt from her letter:

“Scrappy” and so smart is he that I think he understands every word I say to him and he will come to me whenever I call him.

He is very fond of apples, sugar, watermelon and many other things and just loves to drink milk, too. One real hot day this summer we set the table under some trees near the house and when we all were seated at the table up came “Scrappy” and wanted a place at the table, too, just as if he were one of the family. Of course, I gave him a lump of sugar and then had to turn him away, but I am sure his feelings were hurt for he went away from the table and went west of the grove and stayed away all afternoon as if he were going to show us that if he were not welcome to associate with us he would not bother us any more but I think he has forgotten it all by now, for he is himself again.

If I could write back to Mable, here is what I’d say:

Dear Mabel,

Oh my! I can’t believe all the things you boys and girls fed your ponies!

You said that Scrappy liked to eat apples, sugar, and watermelon and that he also liked to drink milk. The other boys and girls that wrote to the Webb Publishing Company shared that their ponies liked to eat cake, bread, candy, cabbage, potatoes, fruit, oranges, salt, peas, oats carrots, cookies, pies, grapes, peaches, ice cream, bananas, plums, strawberries, cucumber pickles, crackers, and soda pop.

Whew. What a list! I wonder if any of the ponies ever became sick? Did they founder? Did you guys even know about ponies and horses foundering back then?

Mabel, this equine diet feels simply crazy. So many of us are SO careful now with what we feed our horses and ponies. Sure, apples, carrots, and pears and (maybe) a granola bar. A mint candy here and there (especially when we are crinkling the mint candy wrapper during a halter class trying to get our pony or horse’s ears up!)

There was a pear tree in my yard at my childhood home. I felt like the luckiest girl in the world that my ponies and horses were able to reach pears right off a tree and eat them whole. But we sure were careful that they did not eat too much. We did not want to give them a bellyache.

From what I have read, back when you had Scrappy, ponies and horses were fed simply what was available to you. Usually, this meant that you fed your ponies and horses grass, oats, corn, and hay.

Now, we have turned equine nutrition into a science. We purchase our commercially created horse feed at stores. We have the local mills concoct our own special formulas. We take feeding our horses and ponies VERY seriously! In fact, today the equine nutrition industry is worth billions of dollars and includes specialized feeds and supplements. There is a new “miracle” supplement or feed coming out every day. I even feed my retired show pony, Midnight, a CBD (cannabidiol) supplement. So far, it has worked wonders on him. Fingers crossed, it seems to really be a miracle supplement.

The funny thing is, we are all so judgmental about what OTHERs feed their horses.

You feed grass hay? Well, I feed alfalfa. You feed first cutting hay? Only the second cutting will do. You do not feed soaked beet pulp? Oh the horror! What supplements do you feed (insert raised eyebrow and judgmental facial expression)?

And the questions (and disagreements) about how, what, and when we feed our horses and ponies go on and on.

For example, there are strong opinions today about whether hay should be in front of our horses at all times (we used to just feed hay during the morning chores and during the night chores). Now, equine suppliers sell “slow feeding” hay nets and feeders so horses can slowly graze in their stalls all day. I mean, it makes sense. After all, horses are grazers. If they do not continuously have food in their stomachs to digest, they can get ulcers. (BUT no worries!! There are plenty of supplements out there to treat and/or prevent ulcers too!)

No matter what, we all love our ponies and horses and we are trying to help them live their best, most comfortable lives! Equine nutrition is a big part of that effort.

Warmly,

Regina

p.s. Mabel, yes. Horse people are all a part of the same big family!