Two bits of help needed plz

[Sandi_Mac]

We have 5 horses at our yard we had a major ragwort problem about 4 weeks ago and roped off the field while we got it under control i.e pulling! very back breaking work that was too! They have since then had run of our paddock and about an acre in the woods we bought in big square bales as grazing was limited. My question is when can we turn them back out to the field all the ragwort is gone but our concern now is the quality of the grass as its had time to grow an I've been told autumn grass is as rich as spring grass and not to let them out til we have frost well I'm way down south and don't think we have much of a frost anytime soon! Could they go out on limited turn out time so they don't gorge themselves onit. Any help/thoughts would be appreciated!

My second problem is sorry this is turning into a long one!!! I've had my horse 5 weeks now she is very quiet natured but is being a bit bullied by one of the other horses i.e bitten how do I handle this an try an make it better for her she seems a little depressed! Or will they work it out in the herd and I'm over reacting! I have tried to talk to the other horses owner to see if she knew how to handle it an unfortunately she got a bit defensive about it which I didn't mean to happen.

Thanx eveyone hope I not bored you too much!

Sandi

[Zingy]

I'd start them off on the new grazing on limited time, increasing it gradually. Autumn grass can be rich, but it's like saying you can't turn your horses out at all in the spring until mid summer. You just have to be careful, watch how long they're out for, put any fatties on very restricted turnout and avoid it for any laminitics for example - same as spring.

Re the bullying, there's probably not a great deal you can do. 5 weeks isn't long for a settling in period and you will probably find things improve with time. I'd be concerned if it is getting to the extent of kicking or continual chasing (ie more than just pushing her out of the herd to a small distance away and getting to being chasing around the field for no reason). In that case I would want the other owner to remove hind shoes (if kicking is a danger) or section off part of the field with electric fencing so your horse could be near the others but not out with them and introduce them more gradually, probably putting one in with her to get a bit of a bond. Are the bites just little nips or is there some real damage being done? A rug will help reduce damage but won't actually resolve the problem, which they will have to sort out themselves unless you can split them up permanently (which if there is a real risk of significant damage I would do).

If she's depressed, try adding something like rescue remedy to her feed. She's had quite an upheaval over the last few weeks with a new owner, routing, yard, herd etc, so it's bound to take a while to settle, but that might help.

[Sandi_Mac]

Thanx so much for takin the time to reply, I am such a worry wart! We will be investing in some electric fencing an plan to strip graze them luckily we were all at the yard today an this was our plan.
The biting is luckily not breakin the skin more scrapping the fur away we have some pretty large areas i.e palm of your hand size and i have put camrosa onto these.
Thanx you made me feel better without me feelin a bit thick!!