How much acreage turnout for fatties?

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lara b

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Hi

A well respected friend told me yesterday that the boy I have on loan and his field mate are right porkers and need to restrict their grazing. Their owner is away so I made the exective decision to move the electric fence and have cut the grazing from approx 1.2 acres to 0.66 acres (thanks hho person for land acre link thing!).

Bearing in mind this grazing is very rich (and it is raining constantly so always growing) is this still too much?? Horses in question are 16hh m/w cob and 13h welsh x. Both are currently living out 24/7 till owner gets back next week when will resume out at night and in during day routine. Don't get any other feed except bit of hay (welsh) haylage (cob, has alergies) when in during day.

Cob normally gets ridden 4 x week medium work (but not this week due to losing shoe), welsh not at all.

Any help greatly appriciated. Cup of hot choc to all who read!:)
 
I have 3 in about 1/3 of an acre. Its like a lawn in there, and they are doing fine. They are out 20hrs a day, and get the odd night out with the rest of the gang.

Your would probably manage fine without the hay/haylage unless they are in for a long time. Mine are in from 6pmish til 10/11pm. They get about 10 nuts each to chase around a bucket, and no hay/haylage.
 
One of the best (and most logical imo) systems is paddock paradise. Basically you run a track round that decreases grazing availability but keeps the horses moving because they aren't so penned in. If/when i get my own land it is what i will look to do. It just makes such sense. The middle bit can then be grazed occasionally/overnight/left for winter. Look it up - it's a fab idea.

Trina x
 
I have a 13.3 welsh cob and a 10.3hh shetland on a 60x60m paddock 24/7 at the minute as the both ballooned when they went in to the summer paddock.

Both come in everyday to be riden and have haynet whist i potter about
 
My lad - welsh D is normally on three quarters of an acre through spring, summer and autumn - so barely lawn like. But he was doing well even on this so I have taken another third away. It is trial and error trying to give them enough to nibble at but not too much...if they need to loose weight you will have to keep restricting until it has the desired effect and they start to loose weight. Or do what I do and stable on limited rations of hay for periods of time.
 
Thanks all for the replies, think I will leave it for a bit then and see how they are looking in a weeks time. Love the idea of paradise thing but not sure if their owner would be up for it, plus would need more fencing than currently available but will talk to her about it.
 
Mine is out on restricted grazing but with the sun and rain lately he is already ballooning. You have done the right thing and I would cut out the hay.

He has grazed it very short(like a lawn). Worrying as the new little growths of grass are full of sugar! So I am keeping an eye.

But sounds ideal.
 
You need as much acreage as poss . I know it sound wrong but yes you are restricting their grass but you are also restricting their movement and therefore how many calories they burn . Its like you being on a diet .... but sitting infront of the TV ! My friend has muzzles on hers and they are on 120 acre field ... and a perfect weight ! You'd be amazed how far they walk each day and esp. when they have to search for the right length of grass to eat through the hole in the muzzle ! So dont restrict the size of the field , restrict the intact with a muzzle .
 
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