Grazing in hand between classes at shows

[brighteyes]

Who does it?

I never would - all sorts of viruses infections and such, and on regular show fields, WORMS!

I hate to see it. Have been know to allow a nibble on once a year fields grazed by sheep or with grass taken off but only if I'm mega sure it has been clear of horses for the preceeding year

 

[Taffster]

Try preventing my lad from taking a nibble wherever possible, he uses is head as a weapon of mass destruction and at 550kg if he wants it he gets it, even when your so careful to not let him he is so sneaky too

 

[rara007]

Yes, we do it, but only at nice places

Not local shows where there is muck about.

 

[CastleMouse]

At certain venues, yes I do, as it helps him to chill out most of the time

 

[ester]

Am a bit confused by this, I have never met anyone who doesn't allow their horses to eat for these reasons. For reasons of keeping bit clean and horse not gorging itself yes but not for the above.

yup I do all the time, keeps mine chilled I would have one frustrated pony if I kept him there all day and he likes to watch his girlfriend so although there is hay on the box, grass is more often the order of the day

So worms, are you worried about the horses that are there or if the fields have been grazed previously by horses as eggs take 3-7 daysish to become L3 infective larvae so would only be a problem if had been grazed by horses recently which I know is not the case with most of our show fields as horses tend to wreck the ground too much, in fact can only think of one field that does have horses on it and that is one pony all others are cattle/sheep farmers fields it might be diff in diff areas or more heavily used grounds.

Re viruses etc, you are surely putting horse at risk just by being there and unless they are immunocompromised or there is something highly contagious in your area I don't think it is a problem letting them eat grass. Are you suggesting that if another horse eats the grass and then your horse eats the grass if first horse has infection it will be transferred? In which case spose depends on size of field but in the years I have been taking horses to shows none have ever picked up a sniffle etc.

 

[canteron]

I agree wtih Ester, it chills my horses out. If there is a virus and its coming your way then you are going to get it anyway.

Worms - a possible, but I just factor it into the whole risk of going anywhere (safest to stay at home??) and worm count horses 4 times a year to negate it.

My serious neighbour on the other hand will come and question me like crazy if her horse so much as sniffles (where have you been with your horses, what other horses have you seen) .... although she goes out competing so much more, she believes that because her horses don't eat grass they can't get anything at all?????!!!

 

[Queenbee]

I do, she is much calmer that way!! My opinion is that if there is a virus that they are going to pick up at a show they are going to pick it up! Eating grass is not going to make a damn bit of difference really. Although if the place looked particularly mankey I wouldn't let her (but then I probably wouldn't stay at show either) Anyway, to those of you who do not let your ponies graze: where does your hay/hayledge come from? Or do you have it cut from your own fields? for all you know it could have been grazed for most of the year by infected cattle or horses then fertilized and cut (bit of an extreme example i know). I think in some cases horses are like children, the more we protect them, shelter and wrap them up, the more suceptible they become to catching what is going around.

 

[MrsMozart]

Yup, they all have a good munch as I have a good natter

. So far, no problems

. If I tried to stop them all the time, they would be stress heads and not as chilled out.

 

[SO1]

I hack over to some shows so have no horsebox or trailer to rest my pony and let him have some hay to munch so he has some grass instead.

If you are worried about virus then I presume you don't let anyone at a show that has touched another horse touch yours without washing their hands first including judges.

Viruses are not normally spread through grass.

Do you make your farrier wash his hands before he touches your horse?

 

[pixiebee]

[ QUOTE ]
I hack over to some shows so have no horsebox or trailer to rest my pony and let him have some hay to munch so he has some grass instead.

If you are worried about virus then I presume you don't let anyone at a show that has touched another horse touch yours without washing their hands first including judges.

Viruses are not normally spread through grass.

Do you make your farrier wash his hands before he touches your horse?

[/ QUOTE ]

hehe quite agree