Re-introducing grass for Colitis sufferer (also in vets)?

[now_loves_mares]

My mare has been suffering from Colitis, and was colicking every time she had hay. She's had to be on box rest with a fractured pedal bone, so I've been managing to get her some grass in the garden (right next to the stable) but that's very sparse so more to occupy her time than fill her belly). I've now been allowed to start turnout. The field she is going in (as it's the flattest one, closest to the stable) has spring growth on it. I've been hand grazing her there for the last two weeks, up to half an hour at the most, 2 or 3 times a day.

I've had her out this morning for about 45 minutes but going to go and take her back in now. The colitis should hopefully be a lot better now, but there is no real way to know for sure until we see if she suffers from being out.

How quickly/slowly should I increase her time out? I know horses are designed to be trickle feeders, but I thought if I gave her gaps in between grass it will help me monitor how she is coping, and also reduce the risk of a gassy colic. She is on coligone and pink powder as well.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[Abbeygale]

I've never had any experience of colitis in horses -but if its anything like my colitis - introduce everything slowly - and if you think you are doing something slow enough, go a little bit slower just to be sure! I can tell you from experience, colitis is like the least fun ever

I'm sure some helpful people with some more real help will be along shortly Good luck and I hope your mare copes ok with her grass xx

 

[now_loves_mares]

Thanks Flo-bell, that's actually very useful advice! The last 3 months have been fairly awful for all of us, so I'm very likely to go too fast and fall in to the trap of thinking she is doing ok; without remembering that it will be many hours before we know if she is coping or not!

Sorry you are suffering with it - I can't imagine it's much fun at all