grazing

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madeleine1

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i have a 16 hh good doer who lives in a scratch paddock which is 20X40 for 14 hours a day and an acre that she goes in for the other 8 hours and works for 2 each day.

this is for around 7 to 8 months a year and the grass is a foot high at the moment. the 16hh is currently quite round and doesnt need the grass, she just goes out to strech her legs.

i was wondering if it would be possbile to put a 14hh on the acre all the time in addition to the 16hh. it would also only be 7/8 at most a year

also this wouldnt be nessasary but the 14hh might come into the 20X40 for some of the time if the two get on. would this be enough space for them or would it cause fighting
 
wow, wish my grass grew like yours does!!!!

I know I couldn't do what you plan to with my grazing as it's too poor, but if you've got the grass, then fair enough.

With regard to the size of the paddock/ whether the horses get on, I think it very much depends on the horses. In the winter, when it's really grim, my 3 guys end up confined to an area of more or less hard standing, with hay, which is only about the size of a 20x40m sand school - but then my guys all get along really well and don't fight.
 
so basically we could because the grass is good (its because it has only been grassed for a few weeks so far this summer) and they might get on and it wouldnt be cruel
 
I'm assuming you work your horses so they are properly exercised? If so, why would you worry that a small turnout area is cruel? OK in an ideal world horses would live on acres and acres of grassland - but actually, if your horse did that and got too fat/ got lami as a result - well, surely the smaller turnout area is a better option?

If you leave them in a small area and they don't get on then you'd need to reconsider of course, but if they get on, they're properly exercised, their not too fat/ too fin - well, you're a long way off cruel in my book!
 
to be honest its really nice to hear someone say that as i worry that i dont get everything right for her. ive been around horses all my life but only brought her 5 weeks ago and she is my first horse. i think im getting everything right but i cant help but question myself.

she does get plenty of work and if healthy i measure her and do a health check regularly. i think i wil go ahead with the plan for the field and just make sure i monitor it.

thank you for your advice.:)
 
Personally I wouldn't put a 14hh pony on 1 acre of long grass! The risk of laminitis is too high, it would get very fat too!

I would section some off next to the 16hh one, then when they know each other better ( say in a couple of weeks) let them into the small area during the day and onto the 1 acre at night; BUT I would still put a muzzle on the pony, they just don't need that amount of grass!
 
they both have grazing mussles are are going to use the small area and the long grass and be monitored closely thinks for the advice though i will keep a close eye on their weight and make sure they get enough exercise:)
 
Congratulations on venturing into the worrying world of horse ownership ;)

I don't think you can judge things in too much of a black and white way when it comes to horses/ horse grazing. A couple of my guys (one of which is a native, I might add) I wouldn't worry about living out all year on foot long grass, as they just simply don't over-eat. However, I have one guy that virtually sniffs a blade of grass and gets fat and in the summer he just has to get mostly bare turnout and then hay to make sure his weight is properly controlled.

Just monitor the weight and adjust if needs be :)
 
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