paddock Advice

[Sarah04]

I have owned my pony for 6 weeks now and he's on the rather large side and farrier and saddler thought he'd had a touch of laminitis at some point . Anyway I would like to move him from our quarter of an acre paddock just down road to a similar size paddock right outside our house . The grass in this paddock never gets eaten down we just cut it a few times a year with tractor and grass cutter , obviously I don't want him to fill his face on this grass should we give it a cut before we put him in? I do also like him out all day and in on a night but should I ease him into paddock a few hours a day and build it up? I have 12 pet ducks in this paddock and 2 pygmy goats which are going to be his company. Thanks

 

[Micky]

Try and strip graze him on it....can you make a track around the outside of the paddock? That would keep him moving too, though make sure its electric fencing so he doesnt guzzle under the tape ....
Try and soak his hay ( over 6 hours at least) for when he is in his stable as that will take more sugars out..

 

[oldie48]

Hi, If he has had a touch of the dreaded lami you need to be very careful. Can you increase his exercise as well as reducing his intake of grass? Every pony we've owned has been very skilled at getting through electric fencing unless it's on the mains so you may have to think about using a grass muzzle unless you are confident you can keep him in a reduced area. Also, you could put the pygmy goats into the area you are going to use first to reduce the amount of grass. Mickey's idea of making a track is great but it does require a lot of fencing posts.

 

[JLD]

my pony had ? past Hx of lami and got quite fat very quickly last year when he came home and did brilliantly on a track system - it was worth the investment in fence posts. I dont know how much land you have but it also meant that it saved the middle bit for winter which has got abit trashed but the track has recovered over winter and now the middle bit can recover over the spring/summer. I also kept him in for 8 hours a day with a net of soaked hay during the afternoon when the fructans ( grass sugars ) are at their highest, but it is great having them next to the house !!

 

[catroo]

Personally I don't class ducks and goats as suitable companions and won't encourage him to do much moving around.

From a weight point of view overnight grazing would be best, out at sunset and in at sunrise. Track is also a good idea to encourage movement, better than strip grazing. Often tall overgrown grass has less calories as its tougher to digest and slows down eating

If you cut the grass obviously make sure the clippings are carefully picked up and I'd wait a week before putting pony on it to let the first flush of sugar levels drop.

 

[Tnavas]

If you can really mow it low and remove all the cut grass he should be OK, my fatty Clydesdale lives on very short 'billiard table' length grass and I've managed to keep her at a desire able weight for the past two years.

The grass is so short that she has to move around all the time to get a good meal.

 

[JillA]

I can recommend the track system, and I do know one person who did it in a very small paddock by making a "U" shape with another "I" up the centre, meaning the horse needed to go all the way round to get from one side to the other. Worked well for her, you could come up with a configuration that works for you.
Electric fencing (with a lead out cable under some rubber conveyor belting) does mine okay, I have an inner ring so they keep moving on the outside - my old lead mare used to take everyone for a yomp from time to time, it's like having an open door in front of them.

 

[Sarah04]

Just thought the goats would be better than no company at all. Ive just found out the grass cutter doesn't collection the clippings up so that's a no go. So either fencing or possibly chucking some sheep in to munch it down? We live on a farm so have a selection of paddocks. We have a lovely 4 acre paddock that's short. If the grass is not to full of goodness at the mo hoping it won't be to much of a problem. He's getting exercised 3-4 times a week for an hour in walk trot and canter.

 

[Micky]

Sheep are great companions, mine lived with them for a year before we got a wee welsh a for company. They eat the grass down..

 

[Sarah04]

Thanks Micky. Regarding soaking hay do I just put the hay in a haynet then soak it in a big tub for several hours, rinse off, hang and let it drain for a few mins before feeding? also I feed off the floor is that ok with soaked hay? Thanks

 

[Micky]

Yes, net the hay, soak for at least 6 hours, then drain ( rinse if you desire ), then hang for about 20 mins to get all excess water out and absolutely fine to feed on floor ( empty out of net first!)
I usually stand on my net to get it right in the water in the tub..( not for whole 6 hours...)!!

 

[Sarah04]

Ha ha ha! I got 6kg of hay crammed into a hay net then I was going to soak it in a bin but it wouldn't fit so trying to think what else we have lying around to soak it in!

 

[Micky]

Hehe,,, you also have to remember how heavy it is when you try to lift it out
I use a large water trug and a black bin cut in half..

 

[Sarah04]

Can not quite believe how much wet hay weighs! Can I reuse the water from the night time hay and put hay in that I will use in the morning then empty out? If not ill need to fill something else to put hay in at bedtime as we are on spring water and it will take ages to refill!