Feeding the fatties

[Lou_wizzard]

Hi there

I have 2 little ones who could do with loosing a few kgs. They are currently on a grass track over night and in with soaked hay during the day however they are starting to expand!

I have a large area of hard standing which by I could put them on so they would be grass free.

I have always managed to manage their weight okay so far but I’m failing this year

I am thinking take them off the grass track for the time being and yard them. What option would be best -

Out over night with ad-lib dry hay and in during the day with small amount of soaked hay

Out over night with rationed dry hay and in during the day with small amount of soaked hay

Out over night with rationed soaked hay and in during the day with small amount of soaked hay

They have a small HF of dengie molasses free healthy hood when they come in

Is there another option that would work best for them?

Thank you in advance for any tips or suggestions

 

[rabatsa]

My fatties/fattie prone ones are off grass completely. I have a large bale of barley straw for ad lib nibbles and they get a portion of hay each twice a day. This is the first year I have kept them off the track as there was just too much grass. A new fatty is joining them later this week as she is rather round and solid, she will commute three times a week to her place of work.

 

[Goldenstar]

I would do as you are doing but give no hay during the day ,just a bit of straw chop half way through the day .

 

[Highmileagecob]

We have a large herd on not-quite-enough pasture, and every horse is looking extremely well. Our field is close cropped, drying out rapidly, and looks like a grass track. It does make me wonder whether the horse digestion goes into some sort of survival mode when food is reduced? Everyone I know with a horse out at grass has noticed the same.