attantion mums with good doers - springs on its way??

[raggydoll]

Bim is a very good doer and i have been experimenting this winter to try and get her to lose a bit of weight without dropping too much or getting cold. fianlly looking like i might have got the balance right as she is ever soslowly starting to lose a bit and then today i notice the flippin grass greeing up again:rolleyes: So spring is on its way.

Just wondering then when do folks start to restrict grazing etc, Bims on about 2 and 1/2 acres at the mo, how much would you allow her if the grazing is good quality in the spring/summer? She has had laminitis in the past so i want to be super careful with her weight. Do i start to reduce her hay now? Shes only having a couple of slices morning and evening, or shall i wait till shes choosing to eat the grass again rather than hay?

Any other tips for getting through the spring flush with a fatty would be great!

Another question not limited to those with fatties! When can i expect to be taking her rug off??

[tubby]

As mine's had laminitis too I'm already muzzling him.Have you got a stable or just a paddock? I bring Ben in at night, feeding him hay that's been soaked for at least an hour or two ( often overnight ). If you've no stable I think you'll just have to keep on a sectioned off bit as 2 1/2 acres is going to balloon her & could mean laminitis.Really you need a tiny bit that's bald to put her in overnight then turn her out on 1/2 acre with very little grass on during the day. Must admit I'm muzzling mine at the first suggestion of grass coming through as I'm not risking him getting lami again.

[Zingy]

Mine probably won't be restricted until about March, but it depends on the weather and how much grass is coming through. They're on about 3 acres at the moment - I'll cut that down to about half that as soon as I see new growth. Also from about March, May will be in during the day with a hay/ straw mix to cut down her grazing potential!

2 1/2 acres will be too much for a fatty in spring/ summer, but it depends how many other horses are out there. You've got a choice really of muzzling, giving a very restricted area (plus I'd give hay/ straw as well) or part time stabling, or a combination of those.

It's one of those things that whatever you do, someone will tell you it's wrong! Starvation paddocks cut down grazing volume, but it's been shown the stressed grass that does come through has much higher levels of fructans - making laminitis higher risk :rolleyes:

Personally I wouldn't cut down hay now if she's losing weight at the current level. Rapid weight loss isn't a good idea and it's still quite cold some nights. It's also important to keep her digestive system in good working order. Keep a very close eye on weight with a weigh tape - if she starts to level out or you notice her eating grass more, cut the hay down.

Rug-wise, take it off when she feels very warm. Or try taking it off on warmer days but putting it on at nights/ windy days/ rain. You'll generally find you can't do a grand taking-rug-off ceremony, but rather trail it around in your car for a good few weeks, stinking like something has died in the boot, just in case they need it back on. Just make sure you don't have to offer anyone a lift :D

[raggydoll]

thanks for that. We dont have a stable just a field so its just timing it right for moving the electric fence down to restrict her grazing.

i do have a muzzle but she hates it so was thinking id just cut the grazing down. although i had considered giving her a little bit more but muzzling her during the day and taking it off at night.

zingy - shame i was rather looking forward to the grand unveiling ceremony!! I think i will have to wait for the mud to dry up bfore i can unrug her cos she'd be unridable the majority of the time otherwise!

[eventerbabe]

we are getting access to nearly 4 acres in the next week or so and we will be restricting bonnie to the part of the field we've been grazing for the last year (without a muzzle).

over the last year when i've just had the 2 paddocks we've let toby into the rested side a week before bonnie so he could graze it down a bit, then we move bonnie over to join him. after re-seeding/fertilizing the empty side and leaving for 2-4 weeks we then swaped toby into that side and bonnie lagged behind by a week or so and this continues most of the year. from late feb til late october/november she isn't ever out without a muzzle on and is never allowed onto lots of grass.

i like the point zingy made, i'm not a fan of starvation paddocks coz the grass will be ultra stressed and that is bad for laminitics. i also find i can't keep bonnie in one (she will jump out, even over 4ft high leccy fencing :eek: ). she's happier muzzled but in with toby.