Grazing. What should I do?

[popsicle]

I could do with some advice on how to feed or not this summer.

Previously both horses were at full livery and lived out in a herd on pretty poor grazing and nothing else. (They both did fine) although Poppy got a bit porky.
I now have them at DIY with lots of grass and I'm not sure how to manage them for the best.
Lolly 17.0hh 12 Yrs old ID/TBX (not huge appetite, loses weight in winter) and Poppy 13 yrs old 16.1hh crossbreed, good doer.

We have around 3.5 / 4 acres or so split into 3 paddocks, they are currently on the winter paddock and the grass is short, but will move them to summer paddock soon and there is loads of grass in there. Do I just let them both in and have a feast, or do we strip graze and continue to feed extra hay or hard feed, or do we let the poor doer eat as much as she wants and restrict the other? Help. I don't want them to get laminitis!! They are both ridden regularly (mainly hacking) 4/5 times per week between 5 and 10 miles at a time, but they are very different. Please can someone advise me on how to manage each one? ;D

[Blonde Donkey]

i would strip graze to start off with to hget them used to the new grass. we started by just putting the ponies in for a few hours a day and then putting them back into the field they were in overnight.

[duckles]

Your good doer shouldn't need extra feeding in summer as loads of nourishment in grass. You could give a supplement such as Bailey's low cal but he'll prob be ok with nothing. If you're working him hard you could give some feed. You shouldn't need hay - they won't want it if there is grass. Your other horse will probably need a small bit of feed all summer especially if he's being worked a lot. I was reading lately that obesity is a big problem with horses and they shouldn't be fed at all in summer other than grass and a supplement. Most people i know never feed the horses when they are out at grass.

[popsicle]

Thanks guys. but should I just let them loose with all the grass or restrict one or both in some way? Savkins Idea seems good?

[Blonde Donkey]

i personally would restrict them just to get them used to it gradually as a drastic change can cause colic . leccy fencings such a wonderful thing lol

[maximum]

can you put them in the new one for a few hours aq day and gradually increase the time? that way they can get used to the new grass without over doing it.

the good do-er will not need much extra feed depending on the amount of work. As said above baileys lo-cal is a great thing for horses who dont need anything else.

the other horse will need something depending very much on her work load. what is she on just now?

[popsicle]

She's currently out 24/7 on grass, with ad lib hay and down to 1/2 scoop hard feed per day and holding her weight well.

[haffyfan]

I would def introduce it very slowly and probably restrict them if there is a lot....Murph had lami 3 years ago now, it's both devastating and soul destroying and just not worth the risk.

As others have said feed depends on workload but mine are out all year with ad lib hay when needed and hifi lite and alfabeet. They have same in summer only less and the 'hard' (if you could call it that) feed becomes token really.

[finefilly]

i brought our horses in for the day and then out at night as the sugar levels are lower. all ours are good doers and beauty has signs that she has had laminitis before but hasnt had it while we have had her (about 3 years). Dazzle is a porker in summer and in winter, he doesnt lose condition at all during winter which in a way is good as he is old.

[popsicle]

Thanks everyone for your advice. I will defo introduce them slowly and may strip graze. Don't want to bring them in at all if I can help it.

[maximum]

if she is holding weight well and you dont plan increasing her workload by a huge amount then leave her on the feed she currently has and the grazing.

Can they go back in the bare field while they are on their restricted time?

[popsicle]

Hi Maxi. We were hoping to leave that field to recover for next winter ideally, but they could go back into it for a few weeks whilst introducing them to the grass. The new grass field is just over 1 acre for the 2 of them and has a mix of grass and weed about 4 inches high. Do you think we need to strip graze once they are "used" to it? Or shouldn't we bother keeping a field from now to the winter? I'm really new to having to make these decisions myself, so really appreciate any help

[maximum]

If you rest the winter field from now it will lose all the goodness. from a mud/ recovery point of view I would use the 'winter' field until september( or august if you are north of perth) then rest it.

if I had it I should strip graze them for a month but rather than move the strip just extend the area a little bit each week so after a month they have the whole thing still putting them in the winter field at nights for the first 2 weeks.

I would then move them back to the winter field for a few months in summer and then back to summer one by september and rest the winter one for as long as possible. when the fields are being rested you can fertilise them ( esp the winter one when first rested)

I take it you poo pick? you could also put some sheep in the fields for the first week you rest them from horses, they will eat the crap horses dont and hoover up the worm eggs for you.

[popsicle]

Thanks Maxi. Will take your advice, Don't think my YO would go for the sheep though, But I do poo pick every day and worm regularly. Thanks again.

[ceej]

May 8, 2008 21:08:27 GMT maximum said:

if I had it I should strip graze them for a month but rather than move the strip just extend the area a little bit each week so after a month they have the whole thing still putting them in the winter field at nights for the first 2 weeks.

.

spot on I recon..although what I have done (as we arent allowed to use our winter field all summer as they cut it for hay, I have fenced another small area of the summer field off once it has been strip grazed and my two go in there at nights (fatty type paddock) it is then kept right down and they get some hay in there at night - it is really handy to have the spbottom bit to keep on top of any potential weight gain/lami...

[popsicle]

That sounds like a good idea ceej. If the winter paddock gets too long while they are in the summer one, i could try that. Thanks

[haffyfan]

May 8, 2008 21:34:30 GMT ceej said:

May 8, 2008 21:08:27 GMT maximum said:

if I had it I should strip graze them for a month but rather than move the strip just extend the area a little bit each week so after a month they have the whole thing still putting them in the winter field at nights for the first 2 weeks.

.

spot on I recon..although what I have done (as we arent allowed to use our winter field all summer as they cut it for hay, I have fenced another small area of the summer field off once it has been strip grazed and my two go in there at nights (fatty type paddock) it is then kept right down and they get some hay in there at night - it is really handy to have the spbottom bit to keep on top of any potential weight gain/lami...

I agree...this is almost what I do in winter then in spring I work back until they just have a small area for spring/summer and sheep graze the remainder.