Is my mare getting enough of what she needs?

[isobels07]

I have a new forest pony who due to the current situations, is out 24/7. She's in a field with 5-7 other horses, the field is quite bare, so when I go down I put a haynet in the field as do everyone else in that field. Someone suggested putting a full bale in, however I thought that due to them being very competitive for food only the most aggressive horses would end up getting any hay. They are all either very good doers or laminitics so they would put a lot of weight on as well. Should we put a whole bale out or keep doing what we are doing.

 

[SpringArising]

It depends how big the field is, how much the grass is coming through and how often you're going down. If you're going down every day, I'd personally be happy with only giving one net given she's a native and we're coming into spring. I think it's easy to forget that horses were designed to thrive on the shittiest, most sparse forage.

 

[Nari]

Do what you're doing, and it sounds like you're making sure the hay is spread out well to avoid fights. I have a native who's a good doer, I'd have a nervous breakdown if someone put in a full bale!

 

[isobels07]

Do what you're doing, and it sounds like you're making sure the hay is spread out well to avoid fights. I have a native who's a good doer, I'd have a nervous breakdown if someone put in a full bale!

I did!! She's finally losing weight, and I dont want it to go the opposite way

 

[isobels07]

It depends how big the field is, how much the grass is coming through and how often you're going down. If you're going down every day, I'd personally be happy with only giving one net given she's a native and we're coming into spring. I think it's easy to forget that horses were designed to thrive on the shittiest, most sparse forage.

I know! If she was really starving im sure she would jump the fence, its surrounded by fields so she wouldnt get very far before she cant resist the lovley grass