Turning Horses out in the Frost

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winchester

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Mainly for people that work and turn their horses out first thing...

Do you worry about it being frosty? As i know eating frosty grass can lead to problems like laminitis.

I put hay out but still feel guilty... but its either that or staying in all day.....
 
I usually try and wait until frost has softened and is going. But if it doesnt, they still go out, but with forage. The lami prone pony has a bare paddock I use for that scenario, to make sure she eats all the forage first. Also I use the south facing sloping paddocks in the winter as they melt far quicker.
 
Personally no. 1, because my boy is prone to lami. And 2, because our fields are quite rutted and I worry about twisted fetlocks etc. But we have sand turnout pens and, unless they are frozen solid, they are a good alternative to turnout in the fields.
 
My last horse had laminitis and I knew that turning out on frosty grass (especially if combined with bright sunshine) can be risky both for laminitis-prone horses and also those that aren't.

What I used to do with my old boy (and still do with mine now) is to feed them a "filler" feed before turnout, i.e. something like Dengie + Fast Fibre, just to make them feel full up so then they won't gorge on it.
 
Hello there

How does everyone go on with horses out 24/7

I hadnt realised the effect of frost on grass apart of the obvious feeling wet and therefore being slippy

cheers
 
When they're out 24/7 the idea is their metabolism adapts to the gradual changes in grass, etc ...

When turning out onto hard frost I either leave them with a pile of hay or bucket of chaff to much through.
 
I don't have an option, he goes out at 6.30 when I am working, at the moment we have not had any frost and there is still plenty of grass in the field, I just hope for the best!!
 
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