Managing different requirements

Clodagh

Clodagh

Rage, rage, against the dying of the light.
Joined
17 August 2005
Messages
29,336
Location
Devon
Visit site
I have 2 youngsters overwintering out (I hope) they have about 5 acres of paddocks and lots of grass. They both get fed every morning, just to make them come to me instead of me having to wander for miles looking for them before I go to work.
They are a 3 year old 14hh Newfie x who is as fat as a little pig. He is obese, no ribs, huge crest, flat back. He looks awful.
The other is a 16.2 tb x ID yearling. He looks great, can feel his ribs but not see them, he looks spot on.
Feed wise the yearling gets some stud balancer and a handful of chaff and newfie gets chaff.
I have just started giving them a wodge of hay each at night as the grass has gone off a bit.
How to limit one and not the other? I can't muzzle him, hes a fence trasher as it is and OH would go mad.
I can get them both in overnight but would much rather not. Can I ignore it and hope the cold weather, if it ever comes, will sort them out?
 
Last edited:
If the younger,bigger one is the boss, just put one pile of hay and he should eat all he wants, if not I do not think there is much you can do other than separating or muzzling.
 
MrsD123 - I'll whizz him off to Stansted right now! Bet you soon send him back, when I got him from the travellers last summer I though tthey were keen to get rid!!

be positive - no good I'm afraid, younger one is definately bottom of the two. I will moniter him and hope he doesn't get any fatter and if he does they will have to come in I think.
 
Thats an idea, and less mucking out! Seems a bit bit mean to be in in the sunshine though and out at night. I know, they are horses and they will cope!
 
Mine have been out 24/7 for the last 8 years only coming in for the night if its really bad. However, I seem this year to have horses with differing needs. One with cushings so have to watch her grass intake but she drops weight easily, 2 little ones who are lami prone and are on postage size grass patch and 2 fatties. I got fed up last week of having 3 different routines morning and night and electric fencing all over the place to make different areas so I have now bitten the bullet and bringing the lot in all together at the same time. It goes against my instincts of keeping them in but it was just proving too much work having different routines. This way the lamis are controlled, the cushings mare can have extra hay and the fatties are off the grass and have soaked hay to lose weight. Although I obviously have to muck out its balanced by what I would have picked up in the field anyway and odd that it sounds my work load and trips in and out and across the field has decreased.
 
why don't you give your fat one something like hi fi which he can have in reasonable quantities & your yearling something to add more condition - Alfa oil, linseed, sugar beet, top spec, or copra?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top