grass management and grazing

[sunnyjack]

I know this has been discussed in other threads but I cant quite seem to find the answer.

My appaloosa (16) and shetland (4) have just moved from an area of adequate pasture to an area with long grass. Neither has a history of lami but both are greedy and prone to chubbiness. I currently have a grazing muzzle on the shetland during the day, but both are out 24/7. The field has been grazed by sheep until last week and most of the longer grass is going to seed.

I am thinking of topping this pasture to reduce the grass and also get rid of the taller rank grasses. My other grazing area has just been cut today for hay which will be baled this week.

Would it be best to keep them on the topped field (cuttings wont be removed but shouldnt be a problem esp if only do half a field at a time), or move them to the other field once the hay has gone? My main concerns are obviously weight and lami risk. The fields are on a farm with cows and sheep so mixed grazing is a possibility in both fields.

Any suggestions welcome. The shetland is coping fine with the muzzle, and if needs be I can put one on the appaloosa.

 

[Alphamare]

Longer grass has less sugar more fiber so I would leave them to eat it down. I would never graze a horse on a topped field where the grass was left as that is just asking for colic.

 

[Fransurrey]

I can only tell you what I did, recently in a similar situation. When I moved to the new pasture, it was sectioned off and they were at first muzzled for about 22 hours (one is lami risk and the other sweet itch), with 2 x 1 hr breaks. As the grass was eaten down, I weaned them off the muzzles and a month later they are now on about 1/2 an acre (they're both ~12hh!) unmuzzled, with dry haylage. If it wasn't for the health issues I'd simply walk the fencing back, but in my case I need more control over what goes in!

Whatever you decide, I also would not graze a topped field with the grass left. Just walking the fence back 2ft recently made one of mine gas up so much I couldn't fasten her belly straps!