Spring Grass

[lizijj]

We are in Cornwall, and have been lucky this year that we haven't had to supplement too much hay over the winter. Just reading the previous post about laminitis. We have five horses, three of which very good doers. We also have good grass, despite what it is hammered by each winter. We strip graze come spring, but my question is - how early to start? The grazing looks like no grass at the moment, but due to the mild winter, my fatties haven't lost too much weight. What I don't want to do is suddenly give them no forage at all and then risk colic. At the moment they are all out together in 6 acres, with a cattle feeder of ad lib. Any advice gratefully received.

 

[rhino]

I'm no expert but my horse seems to get amazingly green poo when the grass first comes through - not runny, just green (either that or he's been on the red wine ). If you go out to the field and look closely you can see the new growth coming through It's good to still have some hay available at first too.

 

[Merlin11]

We don't normally get spring grass until the end of April but that's Scotland. Usually when the trees start growing leaves it is a sign that the grass will be growing.

 

[dilbert]

My two greedy boys are on a track and normally are waiting for their hay in a morning. Yesterday they both had their heads down grazing. I'm now in a panic cos it must be starting to grow up here in notts.....think we're due a wee cold day or two soon though.

 

[Eriskayowner]

We've got new grass coming through

I was practically kissing the ground yesterday

 

[scewal]

I am on the Devon/Cornwall border. The lovely green cow pat poo has started being produced so my grass is picking up.