has anyone started restricting grazing yet?? I have a high spirited pony already!

[raggydoll]

Rode bim today and she came cantering and bucking across the field to me which she sometimes does and then when i rode her she bucked several times - very out of character for her. She was a little grumpy but was VERY speedy and took me for an unrequested canter round the field!!! So im thinking she may be feeling the spring grass already - what do you reckon?? I cant help worrying there is something else as she it is so out of character.

She is being worked much more now, it has increased over the last few weeks to around 5 times a week again. It has been twice a week over the winter. At the moment she is getting a slice of hay morning and evening and two little scoops of good doer with some carrots for her tea but for the last 3 days she hasnt eaten it all so i was going to cut that down. She also has 2 1/2 acres of grazing. What would you cut out first??? Would you assume its that too??

ETA- just occured to me could she be coming into season?? they were hardly noticable last autumn but the fiorst one is normally the worst isnt it!

[lisae]

At least one of mine was in transitional heat this week...

with one horse on 2.5 acres, if you are getting new grass in, I'd consider cutting her back. I have a chance to move mine to better pasture this spring and I am already planning a grazing muzzle purchase for my 9 yr old Haffie mare. She will be miserable about it I'm sure!

[raggydoll]

would you cut her grazing now then if shes already reacting? Say half of it for now and then less as it comes through more or less than half now?? I worry about her getting lammy more than the high spirits although im not the sort of person who finds bucking fun - im a wimp!!!

[lisae]

It's alway seems like guesswork every spring, but generally I watch for when it starts turning lush and then cut down the pasture size and limit their time out there.

This time of year it's mostly mud in our current field, and they keep up with the growth until around April. I start to cut back on their hay allotment as grass comes in.

I have a farmer husband who is helpful too, he generally states that April May and June are the dangerous times for our area, after July 1 they can be on full pasture 24 hours a day.

So in the spring ours are in a dry lot/run in area overnight, as they will graze all night long. and then out for half days for a few weeks and then all day.

I'd bring her space down to what she can keep grazed off, and then add sections of pasture as spring progresses.

But that doesn't help with giving her space to run around! That's why I'm thinking grazing muzzle for mine later this year...

I can tell if they are getting too much as they get very wet manure. Not loose, but very green balls and with water in the stool.

Hope that helps...

[Jessey]

I have my two on six acres, and no sillyness yet, haven't noticed the grass growing yet either (not significantly)
Is it possible she is just getting nice and fit now? My boy is a nightmare when he is fit, I have conciously worked him less this winter than last (only 3/4 days instead of 6) to try and keep him calmer, seems to be working so far.

J x

[raggydoll]

hadnt considered that Jessy but yes she is getting fitter and she is doing more "hard" work now like fast work and jumping. Could that be it and in that case what do i do???!!!

It is completely out of character for miss-super-laid-back-minimal-effort-at-all-times normally!!!

[Jessey]

I walk a tight rope with Bo, it has to be enough to keep him interested but not so much that he finds the need to bronc all round the arena with me!!
Maybe a couple of slow sessions, no jumps and just walk and controlled trot would help settle her head again, maybe she thinks she is Meant to canter everywhere at the moment if you have gotten used to lots of fast/jump work. Good luck

J x

[raggydoll]

erm oh dear, im off to my riding instructors tomorrow for a mornings jumping lesson :EEK:

Perhaps after tomorrow she can have a day or two off followed by a few relaxing hacks!

[janette carter]

It could be that Bimble is coming into season. I thought January was a bit early but Buffy has been in season this last week and has been a complete errr "mare" to handle :eek: . There are extenuating (??) circumstances in her case though like a new yard, lots of stress and a very boyish gelding!!

Yes in my experience the first and last seasons are usually the worst but I am sure my past mares usually started to cycle about March time. Is January early and is it anything to with the Haflinger breed? Just wondered as someone at my yard used to breed Shires and she said their seasons always started early ie. January time. I would have thought it would have been the more refined TB types rather than the drafty breeds that started their breeding season early. Anyone??

Also can someone explain transitional heat to me ie. what is meant by this term. I came across it recently somewhere else and didn't know it. Does it mean when the mare start cycling again after the winter?

I am planning to restrict grazing sometime in March and hopefully strip graze her 1 acre paddock over the worst spring flush period and then likewise in autumn. I read somewhere recently that grass doesn't grow when the temperature falls below ......6c (does that seem right?) I think it was that. So with the current weather conditions in the U.K. am not worrying too much at the present. I would have thought with Bimble getting extra work she'd probably be o.k. for a bit longer so long as you are careful and she is not grossly overweight.

Janette

[Peanut]

[QUOTE=raggydoll]Rode bim today and she came cantering and bucking across the field to me which she sometimes does and then when i rode her she bucked several times - very out of character for her.


My mare has been like this all week - a completely different horse :eek: I've only had her a few months and haven't experienced one of her seasons yet but thought it too early in the year. She spooking when she doesn't normally spook and has a completely different look in her eye!

Is this a taste of what's to come every time?!:eek:

[jamsinthecat]

My mare is also being uncharacteristically lively these last few days. She is also doing the 'sucking lemons' face and snapping at the air when I either do up her rug or her girth. These are her classic give away signs that she is in season but i thought it was far too early and she must just be feeling grumpy. Maybe this odd weather has affected their timing?
Annabel

[tubby]

If Bimble has had laminitis before she is a laminitic & at high risk of getting it again , therefore she must have her grazing restricted. Please don't risk her getting it again , it's better to be safe. My boy goes out in a muzzle already as the grass is starting to come early ( well it is when it's not freezing ).