Goodness in grass at this time of year?

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BentleyBelly

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Welsh cob has been moved with his skinny Gelderlander fieldmate into another field for a month or so to rest their field in time for the spring/summer. Old field was half mud half pathetic grass so they were given 3 sections of hay twice a day to share plus skinny boy getting a decent hard feed. New field is massive and has good/lush grass. I have divided new field in half with electric fencing but can't make it any smaller as the water trough is in the middle. Obviously there will be no hay in the new field. To get to the point my question is how nutritious is the grass at the mo? Is a belly full of Febuary grass similar to 3 sections of last years meadow hay? Am I going to have to be careful with a horse that is prone to weight gain in the summer on the grass at this time of year? They are out 24/7 so I'm hoping after the initial gorge they will settle and stop stuffing their faces, will also be upping the workload now that its light enough after work for a quick nip round the block.
 
It really does depend on the grass but I've noticed that mine are grazing more and eating less haylage. Only thing I can suggest is that you get a mineral lick (non molassed) just to be on safe side. Calorifically you should be fine.
 
I'd be careful with your good doer as there is a lot of difference having plenty more access to fresh grass than before. The grass is definitely growing here and ours would balloon if they went on to some of their rested paddocks before we've set up their Paddock Paradise tracks if I'm being honest.
 
Down here we have seen more cases of laminitus than is usual for this time of year. It's down to the fact we've had a very early, long and hard winter and now the snow and frost has cleared the grass, which has had "a proper rest", is coming through far richer than in previous years. My 3 good doers have been on restricted grazing since the end of Jan because I paid attention to what Mother Nature was telling us ;)
 
Fields have become noticeably green over the last 10days. Ive also seen 3 laminitics on Friday - all related to moving to fresh paddocks.
Be careful.
 
I checked our field yesterday and there are lots of fresh green shoots coming through. My good doer has stopped eating his hard feed altogether so that tells me he is getting plenty of nutrients from the grass he eats! I will now have to go and buy his summer feed - a handful of equibites.
I am moving onto soaked hay this week while he is still in at night, and his work was increased last week.
 
I've noticed a difference here, too. I'm only putting out 2 sections of hay each and will work down to zero over the next couple of days (they do have 5 acres at the moment!). Chloe even left her feed this morning. Not typical exmoor behaviour!!
 
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