24/7 turnout - good doer

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Horsegirl25

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Needing a bit of advice/to pick your brains.
Vet was out to my mare yesterday as she had a bilateral hind swelling (woohoo....) anyway vet though it was lymphangitis so on antibiotics/danillon etc etc however she has also said she would be best out 24/7, no problem she is a slim ISH but her chum is a Welsh D, not overly keen for him to do 24/7 but it is only for a week.
Anyway I have 2 fields, one has been rested for about 3 months, they have been sporadically going out on it every 4ish days for a few hours then moved back into a field that's been grazed since start of March.
My plan was to muzzle the D when in the rested field overnight, then move them into field with less grass and take the muzzle off through the day? I know they say they will gorge once muzzle removed but I feel like I can't leave it on 24/7 and I also don't think grass would be long enough for him to get anything.
Does anyone successfully leave a native out 24/7? His weight is fine atm, ribs easily felt, not cresty. I am probably being far too overcautious here but I do not need anymore vet bills!!!!

Edit: should add my D has to go out with her, she is a very anxious mare and won't settle in the field alone, especially not overnight
 
Can you increase his exercise for the period he's out 24/7?

My 3 are all welsh and live out 24/7. I have to manage them carefully and currently that has been challenging. They are now on a semi-track set up and the fat 2 are being exercised everyday, even if it's lunging in the field.
 
dorsetladette said:
Can you increase his exercise for the period he's out 24/7?

My 3 are all welsh and live out 24/7. I have to manage them carefully and currently that has been challenging. They are now on a semi-track set up and the fat 2 are being exercised everyday, even if it's lunging in the field.
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So I’ve been lunging AM for 30 mins then riding PM for 1hr planning on doing intervals tonight, I mean he was less than impressed with the twice a day exercise 😂
Last night they stayed down in field with less grass as mare had a steroid injection so was a wee bit cautious about turning out onto rested grass so he wasn’t muzzled but planning from tonight to muzzle him
 
I'm Dun said:
I found it was only once you upped the cantering that it had any impact weight wise. If you can get him puffing with things like interval training then that would be perfect.
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That’s the plan for the now, only temporary they will be out 24/7 but not ideal for the D but I mean he won’t be complaining!
 
SEL said:
My PSSM mare is muzzled 24:7 (exception in the stable and her daily walk out) - not ideal but she needs to be out 24:7 and too much grass will kill her. She doesn't need much for it to be too much either.

They get used to it!
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Which muzzle do you use? I have a greenguard but it has already started to wear his front teeth down after about a year use.
 
Our Shetland is muzzled 23/7 (comes in for an hour a day). It is the only thing that has worked. Any separation causes bigger issues and this works so well for us. We have more than one muzzle, change them and have sheepskin nosebands wrapped over bits of it. Just ensure there is no rubbing/discomfort. Far better to muzzle them, than have lami. The others are slim youngsters who need the calories.
 
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