Too much grass!

[solomon]

Inspired by Pboy on Facebook. Who is restricting grazing? Plenty of natives and good doers on this forum. Myself and my horse included! Not muzzling now but I used to before Pete kept on a track with twice daily steamed late cut hay.
Horsey weight watchers are us!

[pboy]

For those not on my FB, I got him a muzzle today . He's in tonight due to the rain but he won't be impressed tomorrow!!

Before that I had done a couple of things - before they switched to nighttime turnout he only had a couple of hours in the spring grass plus two sessions on the walked each day plus his usual exercise. All because he'd started walking quite gingerly (not lame) on his weaker hoof. When they switched to nighttime turnout a couple of weeks ago he was kept in until after dark (poor YO had to put him out after her dinner) to avoid the more sugary daytime grass. Hopefully with the muzzle he can go out late afternoon with the others!!

Mind you, I think Indio has enjoyed having a few hours in the field without his annoying brother

[brigadier]

I started grazing my paddocks much earlier than usual so grass was well down when the sweet stuff started coming through. So now they are put full time and also getting haylage x2 per day. They are ready for the Nets when they do get them. I keep a careful eye on Harriet. She is my lami risk but I can see it in her expression when she is getting close. It's funny but was discussing this with my farrier yesterday as he is busy with lami cases at moment (came out to my mini emergency with Welly same day). He says there is a point where it's apparent in their expression where if you notice it you can catch it! It's to do with them looking like they need a good trump! Anyhow so far so good!

[haffyfan]

Mine are restricted grazing march until at least September, i then strip graze in the winter until they have the whole field. Have and would again if required use muzzles on all 3 but find using a heavily grazed restricted patch generally works better for me. I hay all year, not much in spring/summer unless it dries up and the grass isn't coming through at all. We are on sand so this can happen in a dry summer, i might let them have a little new strip in this case- depends on murph. Penny has a sneaky graze after riding much to the boys disgust...and Harry had one whilst i was riding her on Thursday as i left the fence off and he limbo'd through He has a patch of rain scald that won't clear up, right where the saddle sits, so he's very happily playing being retired right now. I don't think he's twigged that if he was working at a reasonable amount he might be allowed a bit more green stuff!

The woman down the lane (who is a trimmer it turns out) has set up a track of sorts but i don't think she has enough space for it really as she only only has about an acre max, it's pretty much a bare path around the edge, with the centre bit usually open for them too.