_jetset_
Well-Known Member
I know I am being far too organised for my own good (this is not normally one of my attributes by the way) but due to a few thing that have happened recently I have started thinking about winter turnout.
My mare is currently in a field with five others (soon to be 6) of which she is the boss horse. Well, that is up until recently. Since becoming more pregnant she has moved away from the rest of them and likes being on her own a lot, not bothering with the others hardly.
Anyway, the last few weeks she has come in with a few kicks. One turned into a haematoma which has recently dispersed and the other on her bottom (oops!) They are quite minor luckily, so I am not overly concerned and I am one of those who thinks, "Well, horses are horses!"
BUT, the grazing has been a little scarce recently due to the hot weather so I think this could be why she has been coming in with these marks. Luckily we are moving to another field in a few weeks that has quite a bit of grass on so that should solve the problem for the rest of summer.
I am getting to the point of this post, I promise!
Because of her bumps and bruises I started to think about winter turnout. It is every other day for a few hours, but when the mares go out they fly around at 100mph and invariably there are legs flying in every direction and fights start because of the lack of grass.
So, I am starting to worry a bit about Hannah going out with the mares over the winter. After all of this waiting for the foal, I just don't think it's worth putting her at risk in the last two or three months.
YO has said she will have a chat with me tonight, as there is a possibility that she could go in with an old IDxTB and an 11 year old TB ex-racer who is lovely. They are already together as a double act and are very very quiet. I never see either running about and they are really chilled together.
So... any opinions on what I should do and why?? Totally open to suggestions. I don't mind if you say I am being a completely neurotic horse owner by not wanting to put her out with the mares, as that is probably what I am being...
Thanks for reading this, and sorry it is so long and round the houses, LOL!
Rebecca
My mare is currently in a field with five others (soon to be 6) of which she is the boss horse. Well, that is up until recently. Since becoming more pregnant she has moved away from the rest of them and likes being on her own a lot, not bothering with the others hardly.
Anyway, the last few weeks she has come in with a few kicks. One turned into a haematoma which has recently dispersed and the other on her bottom (oops!) They are quite minor luckily, so I am not overly concerned and I am one of those who thinks, "Well, horses are horses!"
BUT, the grazing has been a little scarce recently due to the hot weather so I think this could be why she has been coming in with these marks. Luckily we are moving to another field in a few weeks that has quite a bit of grass on so that should solve the problem for the rest of summer.
I am getting to the point of this post, I promise!
Because of her bumps and bruises I started to think about winter turnout. It is every other day for a few hours, but when the mares go out they fly around at 100mph and invariably there are legs flying in every direction and fights start because of the lack of grass.
So, I am starting to worry a bit about Hannah going out with the mares over the winter. After all of this waiting for the foal, I just don't think it's worth putting her at risk in the last two or three months.
YO has said she will have a chat with me tonight, as there is a possibility that she could go in with an old IDxTB and an 11 year old TB ex-racer who is lovely. They are already together as a double act and are very very quiet. I never see either running about and they are really chilled together.
So... any opinions on what I should do and why?? Totally open to suggestions. I don't mind if you say I am being a completely neurotic horse owner by not wanting to put her out with the mares, as that is probably what I am being...
Thanks for reading this, and sorry it is so long and round the houses, LOL!
Rebecca