Good doers - different field for day/night?

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CobsGalore

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No doubt with all this rain forecasted, the grass will start coming through properly soon.

I have a muzzle ready and waiting, however, my horse is very very very good at getting them off, and if he can't do it, he will chase another horse round until they take it off for him :rolleyes:

He is currently in a smaller field with 2 other good doers, but he still has a little weight to lose whereas the others just need to keep it off.

I was thinking about making a smaller field within their field for him to go in during the day, and then put him out with the other two at night to try and keep the weight coming off. I can't keep him in there 24/7 as he does need company and gets bolshy when he doesn't have it - so thought this would be a good compromise.

Does anyone else do this? Would this work, or would he just make up for lost time at night??
 
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The 'theory' is that he would make up for it at night. Why not have him on his own with less grass during the day (as little grass as possible) and then have him muzzled at night in with the others?
 
I really don't think using a muzzle this year is going to work, he either chases the other horses round for hours trying to get them to get it off, or just stands there and doesn't even try and eat.
 
my daughters pony is s good doer.
Although she's never had laminitis been too fat I am aware and and careful.

She started staying out so she goes in the field with the better grass as night so sugar content is low and in the winter field durring the day. Which is like a fatty paddock.

Shes looking good.
Not fat but gets to stay out and no muzzle.
 
Ahhh sorry, I thought you were suggesting you would be trying with it again. Can he come off the grass or do you have no stable? If not it is going to have to be fatty paddock and exercise... Lots of it!
 
I am dreading the grass growing. At the moment, mine, all good doers, are out in the big fields having a great time. They are all still in at night on as much hay as they can eat and are looking great, nice and slim.
Once the grass starts to grow, I will have to restrict them, so into small bare paddocks at night, in with hay during the day.
I really don't like muzzles, they get them off or caught on something. I think that they can be quite dangerous.
I have an addition problem this year as my big yearling will need the grass and I have nothing to put him out with.
 
I am combining muzzle with bare paddock. I'm eternally grateful to my yard manager for even entertaining it, as it's a faff for her! One of mine also gets hers off all the time, but I'm presuming that any muzzled time is better than none. Currently I've started bringing them in at night and giving half straw, half hay. People on my yard insist that the green guard muzzles are much better for staying on. Hoping to try one soon.
 
Billie1007 said:
Ahhh sorry, I thought you were suggesting you would be trying with it again. Can he come off the grass or do you have no stable? If not it is going to have to be fatty paddock and exercise... Lots of it!
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I have been desperately trying to get him to accept it again, leaving it on for just an hour or so at a time as I would rather he was out with his friends, but it just isn't working so having to think of a plan B now. :(

my daughters pony is s good doer.
Although she's never had laminitis been too fat I am aware and and careful.

She started staying out so she goes in the field with the better grass as night so sugar content is low and in the winter field durring the day. Which is like a fatty paddock.

Shes looking good.
Not fat but gets to stay out and no muzzle.
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That's good to hear, thank you
 
The other option that of course, is making a track round the outside of the field. It is 2 acres though so I would need soooo many electric posts and another battery. He would be on the track and the other two in the middle.
 
Useful information on this thread, guess everyone with good doers is waiting for the grass and wondering how to cope this year.

I worry about a small grazing area and the ponies (two this time so not ridden) not getting enough exercise, whilst the grass is so poor at present, they go round our 5 acre field constantly and just confining them to a small corner would prevent this, so perhaps the track idea would get round this problem.
 
Yes we currently have 3 good doers on 2 acres and there isn't much grass so it's working quite well.

I keep seeing threads on here about people wanting the grass to come through, but I'm the exact opposite! I'm happy with him roaming around a big space having small pickings, and I haven't had to worry about him putting on weight this year yet!
 
I have done this I swop and change my fattys field to allow him some nights out with a friend for a "social" I manage him between a long strip ( almost a track really) a very small paddock with a field shelter which opens on to the strip being stabled part of the day and nights out with his mate it works fine and it's nicer to him as he's always moving about so does not feel trapped in a boring strip. He's resting now but will come back to light work in May so he has a work period as well so his day is busy and varied .
 
Goldenstar said:
I have done this I swop and change my fattys field to allow him some nights out with a friend for a "social" I manage him between a long strip ( almost a track really) a very small paddock with a field shelter which opens on to the strip being stabled part of the day and nights out with his mate it works fine and it's nicer to him as he's always moving about so does not feel trapped in a boring strip. He's resting now but will come back to light work in May so he has a work period as well so his day is busy and varied .
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Interesting, thanks Goldenstar.

Maybe making a 'strip' along the side of their field would be a good option. As you say, it's kind of like a track but not needing as much electric posts and tape. And then, allowing him into the bigger field every night or even every other night would work at keeping him slim?
 
CobsGalore said:
Interesting, thanks Goldenstar.

Maybe making a 'strip' along the side of their field would be a good option. As you say, it's kind of like a track but not needing as much electric posts and tape. And then, allowing him into the bigger field every night or even every other night would work at keeping him slim?
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My strip is made from tall electric fence posts with two strands of turbo rope he's a 16.2 ID but I think he would limbo under a one strand fence it has round wooden post about 2 and a half inches wide to give strength on the corners and at the electric " gate"
It's mains electric system .
He has a water trough and we give him plain straw chop staight onto the ground when it's very bare.
It has a high thick hedge on a bank running up one side great
for shelter and Browseing he seems content enough it's helped by the fact he's a self confident type happy on his own he loves his shelter and if often in having a lie down we keep that well bedded with shavings its a comfy home I think that keeps him happy as well it also has good views as it edges my school and he stands in his shed watching me working the others it's worked very well better than I thought it would .
He came seriously ill with some of his issues related to wieght he's 200 kilos lighter now and a different horse but I'll have to watch his wieght for ever .
 
Goldenstar said:
My strip is made from tall electric fence posts with two strands of turbo rope he's a 16.2 ID but I think he would limbo under a one strand fence it has round wooden post about 2 and a half inches wide to give strength on the corners and at the electric " gate"
It's mains electric system .
He has a water trough and we give him plain straw chop staight onto the ground when it's very bare.
It has a high thick hedge on a bank running up one side great
for shelter and Browseing he seems content enough it's helped by the fact he's a self confident type happy on his own he loves his shelter and if often in having a lie down we keep that well bedded with shavings its a comfy home I think that keeps him happy as well it also has good views as it edges my school and he stands in his shed watching me working the others it's worked very well better than I thought it would .
He came seriously ill with some of his issues related to wieght he's 200 kilos lighter now and a different horse but I'll have to watch his wieght for ever .
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Sounds perfect!

Wow, 200kg is a lot! Just being nosey, do you have and 'before and after' pics? :)
 
Annoyingly I don't have a good before as I had them on my phone which went down the loo and never recovered and I a couple of nice afters but my OH would hate it if I posted them.
 
I have my fatty in a small paddock that he has been in all winter. I would say about 2/3 of the paddock has grass, but there are lots of bare spots too which I am please about :D He is currently still getting hay, but is definitely starting to put a few pounds so I have started to reduce the amount of hay.

He has friends over the fence and doesnt seem bothered by being alone. I'll occasionally turn him out in the school with another pony for some horsey company, but he just ignores them.

Some may say I am cruel keeping him alone, but its either that or he goes in with the others in a massive lush field, gets overweight and then gets laminitis. I do my best for him and he gets a good groom/fuss everyday, goes into the school for exercise and turnout as he can see/touch different horses over the fence. He is happy enough and I can monitor what he eats so its a good set up for us. Its just the way it has to be with fatties unfortunately.
 
I have nothing against keeping horses alone as long as they have company over the fence at all times, however, this set up just doesn't suit my horse. He is a very sociable chap and plays with his field mates on a regular basis. I have kept him alone for a few weeks before but he just didn't like it.

That's why I thought turning him out with the others at night may be a good compromise! :)
 
CobsGalore said:
Interesting, thanks Goldenstar.

Maybe making a 'strip' along the side of their field would be a good option. As you say, it's kind of like a track but not needing as much electric posts and tape. And then, allowing him into the bigger field every night or even every other night would work at keeping him slim?
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Please don't take this the wrong way.... Please because I mean it with the very best intention but I wonder if you are still a bit too emotive about his weight loss? It was the 'big field at night or every other night' bit that made me think this. I think doing this, muzzle free obviously because he won't wear one, will pretty much undo the good of having him on the track or bare paddock in the day, it might also take away the benefits of his exercise. I think he might maintain if you do this with exercise but doubt he will lose much... Please don't take it the wrong way, I just think you will need to be mega tough if you are to have him continue losing when the grass comes in... :o
 
Billie1007 said:
Please don't take this the wrong way.... Please because I mean it with the very best intention but I wonder if you are still a bit too emotive about his weight loss? It was the 'big field at night or every other night' bit that made me think this. I think doing this, muzzle free obviously because he won't wear one, will pretty much undo the good of having him on the track or bare paddock in the day, it might also take away the benefits of his exercise. I think he might maintain if you do this with exercise but doubt he will lose much... Please don't take it the wrong way, I just think you will need to be mega tough if you are to have him continue losing when the grass comes in... :o
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Not taken the wrong way at all :) that's why I posted on here, to get others opinions. He is my first proper good doer so its all trial and error really. All advice that is given is very much appreciated :)
 
CobsGalore said:
Sounds perfect!

Wow, 200kg is a lot! Just being nosey, do you have and 'before and after' pics? :)
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My pony has lost about 100kg and I do have some before and after pictures of him.

This was him when I went to try him in July last year, weighing in at 485kg. He is a 13.2hh Haflinger.

Benji2-1.jpg


Benji-1.jpg


This was his fat ring around his tail
Benjibum.jpg


This is him now. A much healthier 380 kg

20130329_1440582_zps39d88609.jpg


20130329_1440362_zpsd578f29a.jpg


179708_4961487349455_24925119_n_zps51cebf8f.jpg
 
CobsGalore said:
Not taken the wrong way at all :) that's why I posted on here, to get others opinions. He is my first proper good doer so its all trial and error really. All advice that is given is very much appreciated :)
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I'm glad. Set up your track if you can and don't think about putting him in the middle.... If he is overweight and he is still pooping then he is getting enough. If it would make you feel better you could spread a flake of soaked hay at night for him so that he and you feel that he is getting a bit extra?
 
Looking great Haffies Rock! My horse has lost about 90kg but couldn't imagine a 200kg difference :)

When I got him in September, weight taping at 550kg

b3ce8116-838c-4f7b-8002-8c50491052da_zpsfe1efc2f.jpg


Now, weight taping at 460kg

388388_10151523794003588_1660790035_n_zps99b1fda2.jpg
 
It is really hard to tell without getting a feel of him, his skin looks a lot less stretched! When you feel for his ribs do you have to dig around and push and push or can you lay your fingers and identify them right away? From the look of the picture I think he could do with losing say another 20-30kg not a lot more than that!?
 
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Billie1007 said:
It is really hard to tell without getting a feel of him, his skin looks a lot less stretched! When you feel for his ribs do you have to dig around and push and push or can you lay your fingers and identify them right away? From the look of the picture I think he could do with losing say another 20-25kg not a lot more than that!?
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Definitely don't have to dig for ribs but will check tonight if I can feel them with a palm/fingers :) thank you
 
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