brightlights
Well-Known Member
Hi all,
I'm trying to figure out what my best option is for my 22yo broodmare and her 3 yo pasture buddy. They are both in very good condition, not obese, but should probably not be gaining any more weight. Both quite cresty as well. I've only just gotten the broodie sound and happy after adopting her in the fall. Her feet/legs were terrible (too long, abscessed, tendons strained, etc) and she'd spent a lot of time down on the ground. She's doing great now (considering) so I don't want to risk her. They're currently out on a fairly poached paddock. There is grass, but it's not super lush and probably not all that nutritious. They get quite a rich haylage 2-3 x a day + feed morning and night. Now that we've had the rest of our land fenced it's time to move these girls to a new field. My dilemma is whether I should cut the grass first, get some grazing muzzles, or maybe something I haven't considered?
The pasture they'd be moving onto was cut for hay last summer and hasn't been mowed since. It's probably only a week or two away in growth from being hay-ready again, but I don't think we can wait. I'm honestly not well-versed on laminitis but know it's a risk with lush grass. Is this still a risk this time of year? Would it be too rich for them to move straight onto? They have lived out and had the combo of haylage + less nutritious grass all winter, so not sure if that would have helped. It's not really feasible for me to bring them to the new field for an hour each day and acclimate them that way as the young horse has very little handling and it's a decent trek between paddock and pasture. I have sectioned off about 3/4 of an acre for them and could possibly mow it if that's best. I would plan to be reducing the concentrate way down as well. Any feedback/experiences would be appreciated. Sorry for the length of this, I'm a bit overwrought
I'm trying to figure out what my best option is for my 22yo broodmare and her 3 yo pasture buddy. They are both in very good condition, not obese, but should probably not be gaining any more weight. Both quite cresty as well. I've only just gotten the broodie sound and happy after adopting her in the fall. Her feet/legs were terrible (too long, abscessed, tendons strained, etc) and she'd spent a lot of time down on the ground. She's doing great now (considering) so I don't want to risk her. They're currently out on a fairly poached paddock. There is grass, but it's not super lush and probably not all that nutritious. They get quite a rich haylage 2-3 x a day + feed morning and night. Now that we've had the rest of our land fenced it's time to move these girls to a new field. My dilemma is whether I should cut the grass first, get some grazing muzzles, or maybe something I haven't considered?
The pasture they'd be moving onto was cut for hay last summer and hasn't been mowed since. It's probably only a week or two away in growth from being hay-ready again, but I don't think we can wait. I'm honestly not well-versed on laminitis but know it's a risk with lush grass. Is this still a risk this time of year? Would it be too rich for them to move straight onto? They have lived out and had the combo of haylage + less nutritious grass all winter, so not sure if that would have helped. It's not really feasible for me to bring them to the new field for an hour each day and acclimate them that way as the young horse has very little handling and it's a decent trek between paddock and pasture. I have sectioned off about 3/4 of an acre for them and could possibly mow it if that's best. I would plan to be reducing the concentrate way down as well. Any feedback/experiences would be appreciated. Sorry for the length of this, I'm a bit overwrought