when to supplement grazing with hay ?

[JLD]

Probably a dim question but am in my first year of having my boy at home rather than on livery. He is a very good doer who ballooned and had to be strictly managed over the summer and still has slight fat pads behind his shoulders, he is on hard standing with stable overnight with hay and I have 1.5 acres of grazing ( to last all year on a track spring/summer ). He currently has about 3/4 acres which I am gradually increasing by strip grazing to eventually open up the centre of the field sparing his track from poaching. The grazed grass is obviously not recovering now. My plan is to only supplement when there is no more grass to release or if he loses condition. He was pretty poor when he came to me in May but hadn't had much hay or nurturing over the previous winter. He is not clipped and in very little work. Not rugged unless it is wet as he is quite hairy and seems happier naked even when really cold so.long as he is dry. I guess I am worried about him suddenly dropping weight as he was so poor after last winter and then chasing my tail to get it back on. He has a good multivitamin supplement with a handful of safe and sound but no other hard feed. Is lovely being able to manage as I choose but I miss having support to bounce ideas off !

 

[Ceriann]

I would be monitoring his condition and feed hay when he starts to lose his fat pads. The grass you have now won't be as nutritious and I think it's always easier to maintain rather than build up again (if he drops too much). I have 3 good doers now on hay (despite the fact there is still some grass) - they are all v hardy but they only tuck away when the grass drops away (and they hoover what they get at the minute). Mine are out 24/7 though - if they were in overnight they would be without hay during the day for a while longer.

 

[Turks]

Ours still seem to be finding goodness in the grass - more than other years. I too would not feed up yet but monitor closely. We are lucky as we have a good lot of land and they're out 24/7. In danger of piling it on - not losing it!

 

[Mrs B]

he is on hard standing with stable overnight with hay

If he's got hay overnight, I wouldn't be worrying about quality of nutrition during the day through the winter - as long as there is something to pick at in the field in daylight hours, he'll be fine.

If it turns wet and windy and he does drop weight, I'd just pop a rain sheet on and up the hay at night.