Grazing Advice needed

[jillyg]

I have been allowed to graze my 3 ponies on a couple of small paddocks which have got longish grass on them - I have been taking it slowly with them starting with half an hour a day for a week, then 3/4 hours a day and now an hour a day - but I would be grateful for advice on how to progress - all 3 ponies are out 24/7 in fields which have no discernable grass - they have a small bucket of food morning and night (to enable me to feed herbal supplements) and hay. Should I add half an hour on grass in the afternoon as well and then continue to build it up to the hour gradually? I want them to be used to still having grass so we don't get any problems when (hopefully) the spring grass does come through! Thanks in anticipation.

 

[Nudibranch]

Are you wanting them in there 24/7 eventually? Personally I'd have chucked them in full time by now. The grass at this time of year is not much different to hay so don't see why there should be any digestive issues, especially if they've been grazing in there already.

 

[jillyg]

No the paddocks are too small for them to stay full time - the are in much bigger paddocks that have no grass just mud - and water! like everyone else!! - they all live out 24/7 anyway I just wondered how long - if at all - I have to monitor their grazing on the long grass

 

[OLDGREYMARE]

Just be aware that ponies can still get laminitis from winter grass,it's still got plenty of sugar in it especially on frosty mornings,so if any of your ponies is at risk of lami then be careful.