Greedy grazer advice

[GSSeffie]

New pony arrived yesterday (7yr, 11.2, Welsh A Mare) definitely a bit chubby over the ribs. Previous owner said she was out 24/7 with 2x hay. Turned her out last night, stood her up this morning. She has very wet green poos, more formed than a cow pat but less formed than your average horse poo. I'm swaying towards putting this down to stress of travelling (4hrs) and all the fresh new grass she's now got access to. Would that sound about right? Seems otherwise fine in herself. Now - weight. She could definitely stand to lose a bit as will only be lightly worked as a LR/FR for my 3 children. I was toying with the idea of a grazing muzzle as she was definitely loving the grass, and with only being lightly worked I don't want her to put on anymore. There's not much else I think I can do as she's only on hay otherwise. Any other ideas. I also hope to learn a bit about lunging so that I can work her that way too. But it's 1 thing I've not done before.

Eta I've her stood up overnight tonight while I assess the situation as the last thing I want is lami

 

[be positive]

Most sec a's need very little grass and will be susceptible to laminitis so you are right to be concerned about her having access to too much grass, I would do 2 things for now until you can get the grass under control, 1 keep in over night on soaked hay, turn out during the day with a muzzle and on a small restricted area that she can graze down, once the grass is not so good you should be able to take the muzzle off and turn out full time so she is moving about to find grass rather than being able to gorge with no real need to move, you can then strip graze into the better stuff as she needs it.
2 increase the exercise, with 3 children riding, grooming etc she should be on the move a fair bit over the summer but watch out in winter as they can quietly pile the weight on as the riding tends to slow down, that may be when you need to do some lunging, lunging with the children on is a great way of adding to how much the pony does and fun for the children to be able to do things they cannot when on the lead or loose, loads of exercises with no reins or stirrups to keep them warm in the colder months.

 

[GSSeffie]

Most sec a's need very little grass and will be susceptible to laminitis so you are right to be concerned about her having access to too much grass, I would do 2 things for now until you can get the grass under control, 1 keep in over night on soaked hay, turn out during the day with a muzzle and on a small restricted area that she can graze down, once the grass is not so good you should be able to take the muzzle off and turn out full time so she is moving about to find grass rather than being able to gorge with no real need to move, you can then strip graze into the better stuff as she needs it.
2 increase the exercise, with 3 children riding, grooming etc she should be on the move a fair bit over the summer but watch out in winter as they can quietly pile the weight on as the riding tends to slow down, that may be when you need to do some lunging, lunging with the children on is a great way of adding to how much the pony does and fun for the children to be able to do things they cannot when on the lead or loose, loads of exercises with no reins or stirrups to keep them warm in the colder months.

Thank you, I can't control the grazing unfortunately as she's on a livery yard, not at home, so will def muzzle and stand her up at night and increase her workload so that hopefully this will be enough! Glad to know I was thinking along the right lines!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

You could also swap some of the soaked hay for plain oat straw chaff, if she is hungry she will eat it. I am not keen on soaked hay in hot summer weather, it goes 'off' too soon, imo.