Advise please - changing fields grass worry

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Salcey

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For the last 3 years I've had two horses on 1.3 acres stabled at night and out during the day. Most summers I have had to feed winter rations as grazing is poor and quickly going sour.
2 weeks ago I had the chance to rent a 3 acre field 5 mins up the road. - I took it. (thoughts of out 24/7 for the summer filled me with joy
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The plan is to use this all summer to let my other paddock recover and have a rest.
This field has been grazed by sheep for 10 years and not grazed since last October, as you can imagine the grass is green, long and lush. So last weekend I fenced off just under an acre and they have been going on it for 6 hours and then spending the remainder of day and night on the barren paddock to keep them moving about and nibbling to avoid gas build up in their tummys etc.
They seem to have coped with the change of grass and stable routine well by doing this so my worries about colic are easing. I am trying to decide when they will be safe on this 24/7 to allow the other paddock rest. However I've replaced the colic fear with fears about lami. Both horses are ridden 4/5 times a week. So far they have hardly made an impact on the new field
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So basically:
How long would you leave it until you leave them out 24/7 on new paddock?
 
I wouldn't worry about it too much unless they are laminitic prone types of animals (ie little welshies/shetlands) who do not need this type of rich grass. Use temporary/electric fencing to restrict the amount they are on and then maybe gradually increase it/move it.

Mine are on field 24/7 throughout the summer and (touch wood) in 20 years of having the field (we have 12 acres split into 2 fields) we've only had one case of colic (and that was a donkey and not related to the grass) and one lammi pony who actually never had lammi with us but we had him in a small paddock in the day during spring/summer.

Grass is a natural laxative and I think as you have gradually introduced them to the new richer grass they should be ok but as just fence off a bit at a time fo worried about them getting too much too soon.
 
Extend the time they are out by an hour every couple of days, but keep the area reasonably small, then move the fence a little as and when needed.
 
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