Stabled Horse moving to Grass

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Lynne78

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Hi

My new mare has previously been stabled for the majority of the day (with prev owner) and I am hoping to move her over to permanent grass.

Over the winter, she will have hayledge and will of course get in for a couple of hours each day. I have a medium weight rug for her and initially she will be in a small paddock until she meets her new field friends.

I am looking for some guidance as to whether to phase in her grass exposure or whether she would be okay to just go out. Have read so many conflicting articles...

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks
 
If she is used to being in at night with just a few hours of time out each day, I would keep her in overnight to start with, if you can, turn her out each day while she settles in.
When she is introduced to her new field companions, the best way is either over adjoining fencing or by moving one in with her before putting her into a new herd, then if it is all
going well pick a nice evening and leave her out.
She should be fine but may take a few days to realise that she is not coming in for tea:D
 
At this time of the year, unless you have a huge amount of grass or she is a barrel anyway, I think your mare would be OK to be just turned out, and fed the same as her new field companions will be. You can always give her extra during the time she's in if you feel she needs it. Ours live out 24/7 anyway, but the newest livery just belended in as desrcibed above, with no problems.
 
Forgot to say the most important thing. When you move her to her new field, make sure you do it early in the day, so that she has several hours of daylight to work out where her boundaries and any obstacles - and indeed other horses - are. As another post said, it might be worth keeping her in for a night or two if you can, just so that she doesn't run into any trouble during the hours of darkness.
 
Thanks for the replies so far...

She is underweight at the moment and will be in her own wee paddock for a few days to meet her buddies.

I just don't want to shock her system. Also, its blowing a hoolie up here just now!! :eek:

As she is new on the yard, she is stabled for a few nights initially anyway...might just see how the weather goes and how she seems after a few nights in...
 
My initial plan was in until Tuesday morning...out about 11am until about 2pm, then in for night time...out same time on Wed and maybe stretch it until 3pm...then we get to weekend and she is out...
 
So much grass will be the equivalent of a new feed and any new feed needs to be introduced slowly or you risk a colic. I'd turn her out for the same number of hours she's used to and increase the length of her turnout by eg an hour every day until you hit the right number you want to keep her at.
 
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