Moving Horses on to Winter fields...

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winchester

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When moving horses on to Winter fields that have been rested since spring - do you do it gradually? Section part off or just let them have it all?

My 3yo pony and 21year old broodmare have a 3 acre paddock to themselves - they have been having ab lib hay since the beginning of December as it was getting a little bald and also on topspec feed balancer and dengie hi-fi.

I am planning to move them on to a 3acre winter field next week and the grass is just under knee height. Should i split the field in two? Should i give them hay out there in case there is no goodness in the grass so they have a choice? SHould i still feed them twice a day?
 
We dont have a choice as the winter fields are actually a whole new yard for us.
I have been feeding hay so will make sure they are full before leaving and then just chucking them out and leaving them too it. I am glad the move is now as the grass is ankle height but not too much goodness left in it, so hopefully no problems.
 
I just put mine into their winter field and leave them to get on with it. I put out a leaf or two of hay in case they want it,but mostly its ignored until they have been in there a while ,or unless it snows.
 
If the grass is that long, don't waste your hay!

Mine will be going onto the 4 acre winter field next week;

I have an 18 year old and 20 year old, both native ponies. They will go out 10 minutes before they have their breakfast, and ten minutes before their tea ( this is so they come back in!! ) gradually increasing the time every day until they are out for a couple of hours; Then they will go out overnight and come in during the day until the grass has been eaten down a bit, ( mines only about three inches long ) then its out 24/7.

I always do it gradually, never have any problems so far.

Their feed will also decrease to just a couple of handfuls of chaff with their mangesium.
 
Hi I have 2 old mares mid-20's and 1 gelding early teens and I have just moved them over to their winter grazing (5 acres).

The grass is about 6" long and I have sectioned mine off to a small paddock each to begin with and then I will just increase it week by week as I would if I was strip grazing in the summer.

Even though the grass may not be as nutrious their is still alot for them to gorge on. I still balance this out with soaked hay as they come in at night a long with their normal hi-fibre feed at night.
 
Mine will start to come in at night, no feed, but haylage and out onto their winter paddock during the day. it is very long grass, and I find they will not really eat much haylage at night for the first few weeks, they just come in and sleep. Have to rest after all that hard work eating. Once they start eating their haylage at night I will look to add in an evening feed from the first frost. and increase their haylage so they have haylage left over in the morning. But no breakfast utill it gets really cold.
 
I put mine on their winter paddock today (well, yesterday now) and leave them to get on with it.
I wouldn't waste your hay - they have ample grass.
I'll leave them to settle for a few days before feeding hard feed. - one is going onto formula4feet (they're both natives)
 
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