As it's approaching spring and summer grazing time I have a question. My mare is on a livery yard and the summer grazing is too lush for her. Last year I sectioned off a piece and she seemed ok in there all summer. All yards in my area seem to have rich grass so moving isn't really an option. She goes out from 8 till about 4, possibly later some days. I worry that it's not normal for her to be kept separate from the herd but it's for her own good. She can see the others and doesn't seem to mind. Thoughts please. I'm a natural worrier!
Im in the same boat, my boy is a good doer and has a belly all year round, even in the winter he seems to get the most from his food
I cant even section a patch off aat my yard so when the spring grass starts to come through I have to cut his hours down to 4 a day which makes me feel awful but otherwise he gets HUGE!
I think your horsey will be fine being sectioned of and she can still see the horses and they can come over to see her. I wouldnt worry, its a better solution than the one ive got.
I have known of yards where there is a "fat pony paddock" where good doers can go out together ( every yard should have one) Maybe worth looking round to see if there is anywhere local to you that provides this facility?
I was in the same prediciment last year. I have 2 mares, one is a very good doer and they are on a lovely livery yard living in a herd of about 15 mares on very large well look after fields. I thought about sectioning her off but as the fields are so large she wouldnt be able to be near the herd or even see them all the time as they move around and she would get very stressed and probably hurt herself trying to jump out so i decided against it. I left her with the herd all summer and they live out 24/7 and she did get very round but she was happy and living in a very natural environment. However it as taken all winter to get her slim again!
I am now 7 1/2 months pregnant and put both mares out on full loan just before Christmas. Nakeeta my porky mare has gone to a home which only has a very small paddock and lovely stables and she is being ridden alot more than when I had her and she actually looks fab, shes the slimmest she has ever been! Im not too worried about her this year as like i said the field is small and they have stables so she can be brought in during the day to restrict her grazing if need be.
I don't know what to suggest to you- Is there anyone else on your yard who has the same problem that would want to put their horse in a sectioned off area with yours?
I assume from your post that you are already bringing your horse in at night so restricting the grazing there. If you feed haylage at night you could change to hay and if you are feeding then cut it right down.
Taking rugs off completely in early spring or at least reducing to a light weight sheet also helps as horse will use up fat stores to keep warm.
You could try a muzzle (forgotten what they are called) but i dont particularly like them and when i tried usig one in the past my mare looked really sad and would manage to get it off after a few hours by rubbng it on the gate or in the hedge so i gave up on that one.
And then lastly there is upping the exercise or at least more intense exercise but that isnt always practical if you are working or have other commitments.
Thanks for the input. Holly, yes she comes in at night to restrict grazing. She is on hay anyway and only has a rainsheet on even now. That is only to keep her reasonably clean to exercise her as it is very muddy! Zan, believe me I have looked for a yard with a fatty paddock and there is nothing doing. All the yards round here seem to have alot of grass and because there are usually too many horses per acre they fertilise the fields!
I cant seem to keep the weight of my two either half breds xsara needs lots and lots of exercise to slim her down and then a week of and it seems to just pile back on and kiara is such a podge then there is ollie gets a bucket of feed a day as much haylage as he wants to eat, and had to stand in 1 week for a swollen knee and lost 20kgs and i keep thinking why cant the other two give him the weight lol But I think your mare should be fine. I have a field and usually throw 1 out on it early spring and then mid summer put two out on it as it too much for 1 horse and not enough for 2 all summer. then in autumn give it couple of weeks break and kiara was on it on her own till christmas. They seem happy enough. Some livery yards have the horses turned out in individual paddocks so they can see each other but not touch and horses all seem happy enough
Those of you with good doers?
England
Posted - 17 Feb 2011 : 12:40:44 PM
and i keep thinking why cant the other two give him the weight lol But I think your mare should be fine. I have a field and usually throw 1 out on it early spring and then mid summer put two out on it as it too much for 1 horse and not enough for 2 all summer. then in autumn give it couple of weeks break and kiara was on it on her own till christmas. They seem happy enough. Some livery yards have the horses turned out in individual paddocks so they can see each other but not touch and horses all seem happy enough