Turnout- what would you do

RubysGold

RubysGold

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I have a horse that has been on box rest since the start of December when she had an operation on her front legs.
This monday she was turned out for the first time, and has had about 30-45 mins turnout in a small paddock every day this week. (She had up to 30 mins in hand for about a month before)

Now what I'm worried about, is the risk of laminitis. After no turnout, her body hasnt had chance to get used to the change in grass as it normally would. As far as I know shes never had lami, but I dont want to risk it.

So how do I go about increasing the amount of turnout she has? will she have to come into her stable every night all summer?
 
Why don't you speak to the vet for advice?

You could try strip grazing/ gradually increasing the turnout time or maybe a grazing muzzle to limit the amount? I'd have thought she would be fine. Our grass hasn't started growing much but should come through in the next couple weeks.
 
After 4 months of post colic surgery box rest my boy was ready to go out end March 2008.

He was already having 20 min- 1/2 hour grazing in hand 2-3 times a day. I started by turning him out about 4.30pm in a sectioned off bit of a field with no horses in and brought him in at 5pm. Over 3 weeks I built it up to about 4pm turnout and 5.30 bring in. I then moved him to the next door field which had double the space of the first area and he went out about 3pm, always coming in about the same time. When he was going out about 12pm for afew days and was ok, I started putting him out in the morning and he settled quickly into the routine and a bigger field. Even though he was having turnout in the afternoons to begin with, he was still having in hand grazing in the mornings, so his grass intake was at each end of the day.

He then progressed onto living out full time in the summer :)

This worked well for him.

I'd advise all changes to be made gradually and monitor weight and condition score- even take pics now so you can compare any changes. Good Luck!
 
LaurenM said:
You could try strip grazing/ gradually increasing the turnout time or maybe a grazing muzzle to limit the amount? I'd have thought she would be fine. Our grass hasn't started growing much but should come through in the next couple weeks.
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I agree. Strip grazing would be good - she could stay out all the time but you just give her a bit more grass each day. I think that better than letting her out only for say 30 mins because surely she'll just gorge?
 
After months of box rest due to lami my cob was turned out for progressively longer until she was out 24/7 - she is on restricted grazing and has chaff and hay to supplement her but the important thing is she is out as much as possible.

I would slowly extend the time she is out - now is good as the grass is only just starting to grow and there are lots of horses only being put out to grass for the first time since winter - and if necessary restrict her grazing,slowly extending or shortening as the grass and her waistline grows! :D
 
Thanks for all replies :)
She currently goes in a small sectioned off area, with not much grass, shes been out there about an hour and a half today. And will be out again this afternoon for probably half an hour.

MagicMelon said:
I agree. Strip grazing would be good - she could stay out all the time but you just give her a bit more grass each day. I think that better than letting her out only for say 30 mins because surely she'll just gorge?
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Theres not much to gorge on, and shes actually more interested in standing and looking down the fields then eating :D I'm silly I know, but I'm not ready to leave her unattended yet, today I went to muck out while she was out and every instinct was screaming at me to go back to her. So will have to build that up gradually :o

Lol slinky, I'm hoping her waistline doesnt grow much bigger lol
 
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