Field entertainment

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Herpesas

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Currently we have no grass.

Hoss is getting bored and has taken to fence walking. He started this at previous yard cos he was hungry, have now moved him to yard where he is turned out on his own (with lots of ponies all around him for company and contact) so that I can feed him in his field and to restrict his movement (ha ha!) due to shoulder injury.

I feed him hay but, as we are suffering from a severe shortage of hay, this is rationed. I also feed him Fast Fibre in addition to his main 2 meals (lots of chaff, fibre cubes), he has a lick and a treat ball, I've also started scattering carrot and apple slices on the floor to encourage him to graze what he can. Once this has all gone and he anticipates more food arriving (ie. morning and evening) he starts to fence walk again. I don't want this for 3 reasons:
a) shows he's obviously not happy;
b) does not aid healing of his current shoulder injury; and
c) trashes his paddock.

The yard we are at has the most amount of grass I have seen in this area but it isn't a lot, so moving yards again will not solve the problem.

I can't get my hands on any more hay until they cut this year.

Some days he just mooches around the gate, other days he wonders slowly up and down the fence other days he paces frantically. He seems to be worse on the days I have him on Danilon - could the glucose be causing the unwanted behaviour now?

What else can I do to keep him happy, chilled and still for longer?!
 
I don't really have any other ideas beyond what you're already doing but I doubt it's the sugar in the danilon, more likely due to him not being sore when on danilon so he can be more active. Keep feeding him lots of fibre in as many meals as you can a day (little+often) xx
 
Unfortunately I don't have any way of feeding him during the day (or night) so I am resorting to leaving buckets around his field for him to eat as and when he's hungry.
 
Can you not get any haylage to increase his fibre intake?
I find that putting two haynets 1 inside the other to slow eating helps.
I also pull up nettles/thistles for my pony who is on restricted grazing,he loves them!
 
I'm trying to get some big bale haylage at the moment but I can't feed him too much of it as it tends to make him a bit fizzy when he's not in work.

The fencing is all electric and there are no low enough, strong branches to hang haynets, so he has to have it off the floor.

He does have thistles and nettles in his field but he's never touched them. There's also a section of what looks like quite lush looking grass but he doesn't eat that either (it's not in his pooh area either so can't think why isn't eating it unless it's too long?).

Thank you for all your suggestions, please keep them coming. :o
 
He will not eat them when they are growing but may do if you cut them.
Could you put up a temporary post to tie haynet to? the small hole nets do not need to be tied up very high so a wooden fence post would be Ok if the yard would let you.
 
Ok, I'll cut some and leave them out for him - we have loads in the wood out the back that he can munch through too.

Don't think YO will be keen on an additional post in the field - already slightly annoyed that he's trashed the fenceline - but will ask.

Thanks again.
 
Chuck them in with him not piled up and they will dry out,he will choose if he likes them. My pony will eat them freshly pulled but they wont all eat them. Whole swedes are another timefiller.
I think I saw somewhere about freezing water blocks with pieces of apple etc in and putting them in .
 
Swedes are fantastic, as is the idea of apples/ carrots in ice!

Have you tried him with an actual toy? Like a ball that deposits treats? Shogun loves his, but then again April doesn't care much for hers. Or exercise balls can sometimes be a great idea ; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emxI-nRGWBE !! Just remember not to inflate it fully so that when they push on it it has plenty of room to stretch. :)
 
He does have a snack ball which I put out (usually to keep him quiet while I pooh pick) but I find it only lasts about 10 minutes - he's got quite good at it! Was going to buy a big yoga ball and let him kick it around, was just worried how indestructible it would be!
 
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