Twiglet
Well-Known Member
I've made the decision to turn my poorly horse away for a bit, to see how he gets on with living out, and whether it helps his condition.
I've never had a horse live out before, and would be pretty comfortable with it for him if it weren't for him being sick, so everything is quite kid gloves (aside from the illness, he's a big tough Irish horse, who's doesn't tend to feel the cold).
I'm aware that there is no right or wrong for this routine, and please don't tell me he shouldn't be turned away - this is a decision I haven't taken lightly and has been strongly advised by his team of vets, so it is going to take place in the next few weeks.
Currently he's out for three hours a day, in a small herd, unrugged when out. When he's stabled he's in a fleece during the day and a full neck mediumweight turnout overnight.
He's currently fed grass nuts, fibre cubes, alfa a, soya oil and show mix, split between 7-10 feeds a day. He's on no forage other than grass (he is unable to eat hay, haylege, or hay bricks, and won't eat readigrass).
He will be going to live out in a big field, in a herd of 3-5 other horses, with lots of natural shelter, and a field shelter. Initially he'll be segregated with one other horse, until he becomes accustomed to it.
He can have two feeds a day, which I'm intending to be just alfa, show mix and oil (with his medication). The grass nuts and fibre cubes until this point have been forage replacers, which won't be necesary when he's able to graze.
At this stage he is able to graze, and this will be monitored going forward.
I'm intending on sending him to the new home with one full neck MW rug, one lightweight no neck rug, and a fly sheet. I would hope at this time of year that would be enough??
Before he moves (two weeks time), I'll endeavour to increase his turnout, but is tricky at the yard I'm at, so won't be possible for him to be out for hours and hours at a time.
Is there anything else I can do to ease the transition? His back shoes are coming off, and I'll be reducing the frequency of the feeds he's having in the meantime.
Thanks for any advice.
I've never had a horse live out before, and would be pretty comfortable with it for him if it weren't for him being sick, so everything is quite kid gloves (aside from the illness, he's a big tough Irish horse, who's doesn't tend to feel the cold).
I'm aware that there is no right or wrong for this routine, and please don't tell me he shouldn't be turned away - this is a decision I haven't taken lightly and has been strongly advised by his team of vets, so it is going to take place in the next few weeks.
Currently he's out for three hours a day, in a small herd, unrugged when out. When he's stabled he's in a fleece during the day and a full neck mediumweight turnout overnight.
He's currently fed grass nuts, fibre cubes, alfa a, soya oil and show mix, split between 7-10 feeds a day. He's on no forage other than grass (he is unable to eat hay, haylege, or hay bricks, and won't eat readigrass).
He will be going to live out in a big field, in a herd of 3-5 other horses, with lots of natural shelter, and a field shelter. Initially he'll be segregated with one other horse, until he becomes accustomed to it.
He can have two feeds a day, which I'm intending to be just alfa, show mix and oil (with his medication). The grass nuts and fibre cubes until this point have been forage replacers, which won't be necesary when he's able to graze.
At this stage he is able to graze, and this will be monitored going forward.
I'm intending on sending him to the new home with one full neck MW rug, one lightweight no neck rug, and a fly sheet. I would hope at this time of year that would be enough??
Before he moves (two weeks time), I'll endeavour to increase his turnout, but is tricky at the yard I'm at, so won't be possible for him to be out for hours and hours at a time.
Is there anything else I can do to ease the transition? His back shoes are coming off, and I'll be reducing the frequency of the feeds he's having in the meantime.
Thanks for any advice.
