Pony colts (~12 m) are generally infertile during the breeding season of mature stallions. The mechanism which ‘delays’ puberty beyond the first potential breeding opportunity has not been described. Four pre- and four post-pubertal colts were monitored from November for 13 (group 1, 6 to 19 months of age) and 9 months (group 2, 18 to 27 months of age). Fortnightly, 15 blood samples were collected at hourly intervals from each colt to determine concentrations of prolactin (PRL), LH, FSH and testosterone (T). Testicular biopsies were collected monthly to evaluate spermatogenic activity. Puberty occurred between 17 and 19 months, and at the onset of the 2-year-old breeding season, all colts were fertile. Seasonal changes in the concentrations of all four hormones were observed in both groups. Prolactin concentrations were correlated with changes in day length (r = 0·88) in both groups, but a biphasic profile was noted in group 1. Moulting of the winter coat was coincident with seasonally increased PRL concentrations (P < 0·001). Seasonal changes in FSH, LH and T concentrations were similarly timed between groups and levels were maximal in mid April, mid March and mid May, respectively. However, overall mean concentrations of LH and T in group 1 animals were only 0·33 and 0·22 of group 2 values (P < 0·001). Suppression of gonadal activity during the colts’ first ‘quiescent’ breeding season was associated with low concentrations of circulating LH. Appropriately timed changes in plasma PRL, FSH and T concentrations and pelage indicated that the photoperiodic mechanism was functional in the pre-pubertal colt but pituitary LH release may be blocked by immaturity or active suppression.

Relationships among photoperiod and changes in voluntary food intake, feeding behaviour, growth and pelage were determined in seven, 2-year-old pony colts (182·4 (s.e. 5·4) kg). Individually housed colts were provided with ad libitum access to a complete pelleted diet (gross energy = 16·7 MJ/kg dry matter). Voluntary food intake (VFI, kg/ day) was calculated daily and body weights were recorded weekly throughout the 36-week study. Feeding behaviour was evaluated at approximately 4-week intervals by continuous observation (24 h), and the hair weight density (HWD, mg/cm2) of shoulder pelage was determined fortnightly. Day length was artificially manipulated to mimic the prevailing mid-summer photoperiod (16 h light: 8 h dark, 16L: 8D). After 1 week of the study (and the preceding fortnight), day length was abruptly decreased and thereafter animals were exposed to alternating 14-week periods of short (SD, 8L: 16D) and long days (LD, 16L: 8D). The mean daily VFI of individual ponies was calculated weekly and normalized for digestible energy (DE) content and metabolic body weight (DEI, MJ/kg M0·75). The average daily gain (ADG, kg/day) in body weight of each individual was calculated weekly. The apparent digestibility of dietary energy (digestibility) was determined over 72 h (no. = 6) on two occasions (days 92 to 95 and 190 to 193) during the study. Digestibility was similar in both periods (0·48, s.e. 0·01). DEI, ADG and HWD changed in a cyclic manner throughout the study. The period of the appetite cycle (24·4 (s.e. 1·3) weeks) did not differ from that of the 28-week photoperiodic regime. DEI decreased from a maximum of 1·4 (s.e. 0·03) MJ/kg M0.75 per day (day 21), to a nadir of 0·75 (s.e. 0·02) MJ/kg M0.75 per day (day 154, P < 0·001) and had increased (P < 0·001) to attain a second zenith (0·93 (s.e. 0·01) MJ/kg M0.75 per day) before the end of the study. Ponies ate discrete meals of similar duration, but meal frequency was associated with changes in VFI (r = 0·77) as was proportion of time spent feeding (r = 0·79). Changes in ADG reflected those of DEI. Body weight was stable for 4 weeks at the nadir of the appetite cycle. Maximal HWD was coincident with the nadir of the appetite and growth cycles. Regression of individual values for DEI on ADG described a linear relationship (R2 = 0·80) which could be used to predict the energy requirements of growing ponies maintained under similar conditions:

DEI total (MJ/kg M0·75 per day) = 0·654ADG (kg/day) + 0·789 (1).

The duration of the photoperiod, appetite, growth and pelage cycles were similar, suggesting a causal relationship. Physiological responses to photoperiodic change were not immediate and exhibited a delay of 5 to 8 weeks.