when does the goddness leave the grass?

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mar2505

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On my yard we only have 5 horses. The field is big but very grass sick so quite weedy and not poo picked. This is due to politics with the owner. However my horse has managed to put on loads of weight. I ride him everyday but am panicking as due to go on a work course next week so will have a week off. The girl who has the skinny paddock has refused to let me join her saying that the owner has told her she can have it exclusivley. with the field being so poor , does the goodness burn away and am I out of the worst the risk. He lives out as again due politics we have no services and I work 15 hr days.,
 
I always take it that short grass(new lush little bits of growth is the rich "dangerous" type as a loose rule). When the horse was working the only LONG grass he would be put out on would be at the end of the summer when it was seedy and started to resemble hay(drying out) ie old grass less nutrients.

In the winter if it has frost on it too that rings alarm bells to me.

So with a good doer needs to be restricted(not starved). Fence a bit of with electric tape or move your horse? A little bit of hay in a small area?

If field is covered in muck ?? worm burden etc

15 hours a day work plus to ride as well & sleep to fit in, move the horse somewhere friendlier
 
your right, I am seriously considering moving. He hates being stabled loves being out but we have no services so would bring him in for a few hours which he could cope with.
It will be more money but must admit the strss is getting to me
 
Nothing wrong leaving him out if worried about costs of stabling, if its a really well grazed strip etc ie add a bit of hay if its bare(but despite no rain my grass is still growing I can see new little shoots and his head is down grazing whenever I go past). So he is eating something, probably working harder for it too! But shame about the poo picking too, horses are clean animals so thats a pity.

Even if you find a yard which will let you fence off if need be? I am the electric fence queen, use it all through the year to section off/rest etc
 
The sugars (fructans) go down to the roots around 10pm at night to around 3am then rise above these other hours.

IT sounds like you do need to move from the yard long term!

But short term can you not move for a week and pay full livery somewhere just while you work extra hours? Will take the worry out for you.
 
I work these hrs all the time. Have just tried to do fencing to make a small patch for him but ground too hard. feel like crying.
It is very m uch a work in progress at my yard and it is worrying me but I hate the thought that it could be really good there.
 
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