Thinking ahead to summer t/o

little_critter

little_critter

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Just thinking ahead to summer turnout. From about April/May to October we can do 24/7 turnout.
Last year I didn't take advantage of this and brought my mare in at night. But this year I'd like to do 24/7 turn out (saves on hay / bedding and my mare would prefer it)
However my mare is a walking hoover and will eat until she explodes. Last year she wore a muzzle while out during the day and this controlled her weight.
I don't like the idea of her wearing a muzzle 24/7 so would it work if I put if on during the day and took it off at night (or would she simply gorge at night)
Or would it be better to ask the YO if I could strip graze her individual turnout area (if I stumped up for the extra tape & poles).
What sort of area is advisable to strip graze a 14.1hh hoover on?
Or continue to bring her in at night...but I do feel sorry for her being the only horse on the yard at night.
 
I would strip graze if possible or bring her in during the day when the sugar content of the grass is at its highest.

As a last resort I would muzzle during the day and take it off at night but I found mine rubbed my horse so bad I had to take it off. I only muzzle mine when they go on to fresh grass for a week or two.
 
Personally I don't like the thought of muzzles as am sure they rub, I always like if possible strip graze as they have to move around to get the grass
 
Rather than strip graze, do a track around the inside of the outside fence, about 6 ft wide if shes on individual turn out. This not only limits the grass intake but also encourages movement so they are continually walking which is really good for their feet and keeping weight down. This is easily done with posts and tape.

Putting her in just stops her being able to move so isnt really that helpful to weight loss. Id muzzle during the day and take it off at night when the grass sugars are lower. :)
 
Ref the replies about muzzles rubbing - she wore a muzzle during the day all last summer with no problem so I have no issues about it rubbing. I'm just uncomfortable about leaving it on 24/7.
I think I'll ask about strip grazing.
Roll on spring!
 
Id say strip graze or main field with muzzle for 12 hours, then small fenced area without muzzle for other 12 hours.

Having a muzzle on 24 hours a day can't be nice, I wouldn't do it.
 
I'd say strip grazing is ideal. I hate muzzling, the horses never seem very happy with one on (and if anything like my pony, gets the muzzle off within a day anyway so I gave up pretty quick!). Just tape off a small area and once she's eaten it down short, start to move the tape out a little bit each day.
 
If she has to be in for a break from the muzzle etc, how about stabling her during the day and out at night ?

If you have an individual paddock (how big is yours?) I can't see that your YO would have a problem with you strip grazing it as it wouldn't interfere with any other horses. The trouble with strip grazing is that really you need two fences, one in front of her and one behind, otherwise the grass she has already eaten down doesn't get a chance to regrow - on the other hand, you don't want it to regrow too fast so strip graze until you run out of fresh grass and if it isn't a huge paddock it may be managable.

The track system is very good, but can be expensive to set up, there is a member on here (is it Honeypot?) who has a track around just an acre or so of land I believe and that works well for her horses.
Principles of the system here if you are not au fait with it: http://paddockparadise.com/

Personally, (as I really dislike muzzles) with these ' get fat on fresh air' horses I keep them in paddocks that are virtually bare and top up their rations with hay two or three times a day or whatever suits them.
 
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