Grass After Extended Dry Period

Equilibrium Ireland

Equilibrium Ireland

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I hate to use the word "drought" as they do here in Ireland when you string 3 dry days together, but extended dry with very little humidity. So essentially not much should be happening growth wise with the grass. Mine will continue to go out at night because everyone is doing well this way. My issue is then rain. How then do I manage? Can't very well hunt them down at 12 or 1am to bring in. Don't want them out during the day when the sugars will be maxed. Anything you guys do differently or tips you can give?

TIA
Terri
 
My fatties have just been turned around - so they are out on the better stuff in the dayime & the more bare paddocks at night. (all paddocks have access to good field shelters)

Reasoning is: they get fed up with the heat after a couple of hours, so take refuge more often in the shelters - or march about swishing at flies - this helps maintain their figures.
I ride in the mornings, so better on a not so grass stuffed belly.
Always worked in the past for mine when v hot so will continue to do so..

Neighbours think I'm bonkers :o but thats nothing new :D and to be fair, mine are a far better shape then theirs are ;)
 
Thank you TFF. Think I may do the same except bring in for a few hours late in the afternoon/evening. When it starts to rain again and the flush happens I may just let out at 10pm and bring up earlier in the am til things level off.

Should note schedule now is up in the morning for token breakfast with supps. Ride the ones riding (not straight away) then out to the skint paddock for the day. They come in about 5 in which they nap in straw bed and relax. Then out. In their big field I've made it so they have to do more walking around and their water is at the very top.
 
Mine also have had the water tanks removed from the small paddocks - and have just the 1 now in the bare paddock close to the yard - thus making commuting a necessity for them :D
DH came down the yard tonight for the 1st time in a month (he is NOT horsey at all :rolleyes: ) but said 'TF has lost weight' so if he notices, then somethings going right :)

Just wish I was in your positon EI & was able to bring in & out as required (required by me) but my yard is just over 3 miles from home :o so I tend to go just twice a day unless there are problems that need sorting......

I am making sure that the 3 'sparse' paddocks are continuing to be fully used, thus preventing any major flush on them in the future (August??)
 
Haha that's where my water is too. Next to the barn in the skint paddock. Making them move while out has been a big help. Thanks for the tip as it's a good way to do it. I really shouldn't bring mine in. They may be just a tad spoiled. They love sleeping in bed!!!

Terri
 
Equilibrium Ireland said:
I hate to use the word "drought" as they do here in Ireland when you string 3 dry days together, but extended dry with very little humidity. So essentially not much should be happening growth wise with the grass. Mine will continue to go out at night because everyone is doing well this way. My issue is then rain. How then do I manage? Can't very well hunt them down at 12 or 1am to bring in. Don't want them out during the day when the sugars will be maxed. Anything you guys do differently or tips you can give?

TIA
Terri
Click to expand...

Be very careful of sudden flushes of grass. My horse got nephrosplenic entrapment the other day due to dry period followed by lots of rain and a very warm and humid period afterwards. He was very lucky and the intestine went back on its own accord after hours of lunging/trailer rides.
 
Thank you Applecart. Yes, really it isn't the dry I'm worried about it's the flush. I can't use a muzzle on the biggest fattie. She goes mental so I'm gonna have to let out later at night and bring in earlier in the morning. Or maybe do just a few hours in the morning and that's it. Not sure yet. Not just worried about colic also worried about the lami too.

Thanks for your experience by the way. It all helps me.

Terri
 
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