Fat Horse!

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kateknights

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Well I don't know about anyone else, but with all the rain we have had in the last god knows how long! and now the lovely sunshine, my grass has gone crayyyzzzyyy!
My horse is now fat and it wasn't until my farrier came today that it hit home how big she has actually got! ( He doesn't mince his words)! Now I have sectioned off half the paddock which is roughly One acre and rather short, do I need to be giving her any hay once a day just for a bit of roughage, or will the grass be enough for her?
Thanks
Kate x
 
So long as there is grass for her on there she should be fine without the hay otherwise I would have thought that by giving her hay it will be pointless halving the paddock in the first place.
My lads are on short grass and neither are having extra hay just a little bit of feed a few times a week or apples etc.
Both mine need to lose weight and are on 24 hour turnout too.
Is your mare turned out all day and night?
Cazx
 
I would just keep an eye on her to be honest and if she shows any signs of being tucked up. Didn't know what to look for until this year lol but in case you don't know ( apologies if you do) they get a line on their flank where the tummy tucks in. It's usually a sign of hunger if she gets like that then I would consider supplementing her but if not then she should be fine.
Cazx
 
Id wait and see how much she eats it down, so I probably wouldnt give hay at first especially until she's lost some weight, then after that Id give her some daily to keep her ticking over.
 
Eeek - watch for laminitis coz its rife at the moment. The green shoots (however short) are lethal. Better to put her on a small paddock and give her some hay than purely feed grass at the mo IMO.
 
Use a weigh tape, Dodson & Horrell do a good one. My 14.3 came in at a Sumo style 690Kg last week (I know, I know!) but has lost 30Kg a week later. He looks thinner too. He and his companion have eaten the grass down to nothing in their paddock.

Talking of hay, the worry in Devon is that we aren't going to get any this year, due to all the rain. Haylage has increased in price by 15p per small bale already.
 
echo happyhorse - mine was covered in lumps yesterday - vet was at our yard and said get her off the grass they are protien lumps - grass is going throught the sugar packed spring grass stage again with all the rain and sun! she had to stay in all yesterday - the lumps are gone todya but she is on half day turnout for a week now - please keep an eye on your darlings this weather is soooooo dangerous!!!
 
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Use a weigh tape, Dodson & Horrell do a good one. My 14.3 came in at a Sumo style 690Kg last week (I know, I know!) but has lost 30Kg a week later.

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Are you sure you measured him right?!? My friend's overweight 17hh Clydesdale only comes in at 640kgs on a weight tape!!!
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