summer fields are open - what to do?

[notpoodle]

the summer fields opened this weekend and im planning to put angel out tomorrow. the field in question has been rested over the winter (since november ...) and i guess the grass on there will be quite rich etc.

angel is still very much on the slim and slender side, so do you think it would be safe to just let her out in the summer field 24/7 straight away and just keep an eye on the waisline?

or should i gradually introduce her to the summer field?! the latter would be quite tricky for me to do as i am working (just call centre stuff) full time next week and live quite a way away from the yard ...

julia
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[bubblegum]

I would not turn out 24/7 straight away. On our yard they are gradually built up, starting with 1 hour, then 1.1/2 hours, then 2 etc. I guess its like any "new" feed stuff, you have to introduce it slowly.

[notpoodle]

she has been out all winter, but obviously there wasnt that much grass in the fields. not sure what to do :rolleyes: i cant really build it up as i have to go to work etc.

julia
x

[jUmPingIsLifE]

horses shouldn't be put on grass straight away. ours go out for 15minutes one day 30min then and hour for a couple days then 3 hrs a couple days then 6hrs then they are allowed to go out full time. if they arn't used to the grass and get to much to quick they can colic or even founder.

[notpoodle]

am going to work something out then. dont think theyre allowed in the winterfield any more, so she'd be out 15 mins a day only. now sure how to do ths with work and stuff.
would it work if i only put her out at night for starters?

julia
x

[MelanieD]

If she's been out all day all winter getting some grass anyway then I'd think she'd be fine to stick to the usual routine but in the summer field, unless she's prone to colic or laminitis or the field is knee deep rich grass. I've seen plenty of horses go from in 24/7 to out 24/7 without any problems but if you can be a bit more cautious then that'd be good!

[notpoodle]

field is nowhere near kneedeep in lush grass and theres too many horses on it i think. the owners of the resident 'fatties' have put theirs out and reckons its safe.

angel has been out at night only at the moment.

julia
x

[shirley]

Would agree with bubblegum really. If your horse has not had any grass for several months it would be better to introduce them back to it slowly, just as you would if you were changing feeds. This should be done over a 7 - 10 day period. Our summer fiields are not yet open, but we put them out for about 1 hour / 1st day, then 2 hours / 2nd day, 4 hours /3rd day etc so until the end of the week plus they are out for about 12 hours and just bought in overnight. When they can go out overnight, then we will have them in for the day and out at night.
Hope this helps.

[Sophini]

If you wanted to limit her intake a Greenguard Grazing muzzle might be easiest way, it means she could be out for a longer time without eating so much :)

Afraid ours just get lobbed in a field to get on with it but are mostly too intent on haring round like loons to eat that much :rolleyes:

[Est]

If you wanted to limit her intake a Greenguard Grazing muzzle might be easiest way, it means she could be out for a longer time without eating so much :)

Echo Sophini on the grazing muzzle - good idea :)
You could also try strip grazing if you have some electric tape - maybe another owner who also wants to introduce the grass slowly could put their horse in with Angel so they can still groom and play together?

[notpoodle]

@ shirley: she lived out with grass for best part of the winter, so she did have access to grass all along.

trouble with the muzzles is that she'd be wearing it 24/7 because i work full time and can only get to the yard once a day. i think she'd go mad with a muzzle on all the time :rolleyes:

cant go round fencing bits of field off with electric either as im just a livery and the field isnt all that big to start with. (which is good in a way, because they dont have acres and acres of lush grass. the field is not that big, theres plenty of horses on it and it doesnt seem all that lush ...)

she's out 24/7 now (after only going out at night for starters), no cow pat poos so far and im keeping a close eye on her waistline.

julia
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