What to do with my greedy horse?!?

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Tayto

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My 8 yr old, 15hh Clydesdale x cob is so greedy. It makes me feel bad cos I worry she is hungry but I really don't think she is as she is out in luscious grass 24/7 (apart from when being ridden obviously), and she gets fed top spec lite balancer, an apple and a few carrots a day.

When we are out hacking, it's a constant battle to keep her out of the luscious grass at either side of the track - I am actually considering daisy reins as I have nearly been over her head a few times when she gets me off guard!

Is there any sort of 0 calorie feed I could mix in with her balancer to bulk out her dinner a bit? I don't really want to feed any more as she can't afford to put on any weight but maybe if there was something that wouldn't add any weight it would keep her more content?!

She gets hacked most days with the odd lunging session thrown in too. We will be upping the work load gradually over the next few months

Am I just being a wimp - do I just need to man up and ignore her greedy behaviour?
 
If she has access to grass almost 24/7 AND is being fed, I doubt she's doing it out of desperate hunger...more just being a pain in the bum and seeing what she can get away with. Most horses I know in summer just get grass - she should think herself lucky :')
 
You could give her plain oat straw chaff but it doesn't sound as if she needs it really.
'Picnicking' is pure bad manners, you need to make her understand that she must not do it. She has 23 hrs a day to eat, so it's not too much to ask that she stops eating for an hour or so while you ride.
 
Having Highlands I can only say that some horses have an eating disorder! It really does seem to be a mental condition which, when you think about it, might be a virtue in a working animal.

Unfortunately, not many horses have to do a full day's work pulling a plough these days and the ability to eat constantly is no longer a good thing. I'm hoping I have sold on any ponies here with the problem as it makes weight control a nightmare.

I had one that was literally like a vacuum cleaner when it came to grass! It is so much nicer not having to continually worry that the pony might have broken through the electric fence or be on the verge of laminitis! I feel for you.:(

If you horse is otherwise in good condition, the answer is a hard heart!;)
 
Be really firm with with her and let her know in no uncertain terms that this is unacceptable behaviour, a growl and a kick on worked for me.

Its very annoying, my lad will occasionally try to snatch a mouthful of cow parsley as it grows right up under his nose on some of our hacking routes and he can grab it easily.

He doesn't even try to put his head down these days though, he's learnt his lesson!
 
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Thanks everyone - just the kick up the bum I needed :D I am definitely being too soft on her, like you say, there is not much coming over her and to ask for a hack without picnicking isn't much!
 
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