Wwyc - how would you manage these horses

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Ahrena

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Might be long and complicated!

Basically I'm hopeful getting a 3yo, just waiting for the vetting.

He is grossly overweight ATM so needs to trim down asap but obviously will be a while before he's doing anything much as he's only just turned 3.

I also have Squirrel, my eventer who is a very good doer.

Over the winter, Squirrel was in a very big field. That's currently being sprayed so he's in a little field with his companions which suits me fine as is keeping him trim.

Soon they are meant to be moving back to the big field, where i don't really want him to go. The grass is quite poor, its not long enough for a grazing muzzle I think.

IDEALLY I would have him and the new one out at night in the starvation paddock and in during the day with a small soaked net given a couple of hours after they come in. But my YO has just decided they can't go out at night.

So basically i have option 1. Them together, in small paddock at day and in during the night. This would help Squirrel's weight, it's the routine he's on ATM and suits him well. But I don't really want the 3 year old in at night as seems silly to be spending more on hay/bedding
when he isn't doing anything, and will be harder to ration his hay as obviously he needs enough to not have finished at 9pm. I also think it's best for young horses to be out as much as pos.

Option 2 - baby goes out 24/7, I can strip graze if necessary but tbh tnk he will lose weight anyway as he is on VERY good grass ATM which we don't have here. Squirrel goes in big field and gets fat.

Option 3 - baby out 24/7 as above, and I keep Squirrel individually in the starvation paddock. He has friends over the fence. I did this for a few days last week when his companions went out 24/7 for a few days whilst owner was away (we have separate fields quite far from main yard for 24/7 t.o) and seemed happy enough, but he was OVERJOYED when his friends came back so much happier with them.

Option 4 - they both go on the 24/7 grazing, which i can strip graze ect accordingly, but I make the trek to bring them in during the day. It's about a 15 min walk. This would work, only we have to cross a busy, fast road to get to the yard and 3yo hasn't seen any traffic yet. I would also be on my own leading the 2, and not enough time to go back and forth and do them individually.

Option 5 - both go out 24/7. Bit reluctant to do this as never had Squirrel in work when out 24/7 and he is going so well ATM I'm a bit reluctant to completely change this.

Thoughts? Any other ideas welcome, just bear in mind I am on livery so some ideas might be against the rules.
 
I don't understand they can't go out at night but can if out 24/7? Can't see the reasoning behind this. I either muzzle or bring in during the day to keep weight off.
 
Unless you can get agreement to keep them out 24/7 in the small paddock then I would think you have few options as you say

If they were mine I would speak with the YO who must understand re overweight horses and youngsters/traffic and ask to use the small paddock 24/7 even if only for a short time while you do somd work with the three year old
 
Don't forget that a just turned three year old still has a lot of growing to do. So you need to feed a balanced diet that's low sugar and high fibre. So you have the difficult position of needing to supply the right nutrition for growth but not enough calories so that he loses weight.

I also like to have growing horses out as much as possible as it's so good for their bones and tendons (plus being out with other horses is good for their social development).

Could they both go in the starvation paddock, with ad lib, good, but low calorie hay (maybe soaked) and then a feed (eg a small amount of molasses free chaff + speedi beet) with a vits and mins supplement?
 
To be grossly overweight as a 3yr old means he must be receiving extra food - my youngsters live oout 24/7 on good grazing and have never got to be overweight at 3 - by 5yrs old then they start piling it on if not kept an eye on or worked.
 
Sorry, didn't read all the options but my management would be out 24/7 or in at day out at night which gives baby some form of routine which is always good for babies. Put them in the large field on a paddock paradise track to encourage them to move around as much as possible, this will help tone and shift the weight. I'd also long line baby a few times a week, no harm in starting that it will be good brain and physical exercise.
 
For the 3yo I would have thought out 24/7, strip graze if necessary with your other horse and not bring him to the yard everyday, work him from the field.
 
Thanks, food for thought.

I'm a bit worried about having Squirrel out 24/7 as the only time he ever has been was when I turned him away, I'm worried he would get sluggish or something.

The way the yard works is basically its split by a busy road. The grazing on the side of the road with the stables and the school are kept for horses who come in at night. There's absolutely no flexibility on that.

I suppose what I could do is have 3yo out 24/7 and keep squirrel with him but just bring squirrel over the road and in during the day. But that means squirrel is in on his own during the day on his own and 3yo will be on his own (with others over the fence) OR put them both with someone else (there's another 3yo there so nice to have someone the same age) but then he may have more grass than ideal.

The owner said atm he's not getting fed, but he does come in at night and from what I saw, gets a very big net. Have to say too, I've never seen grass as lush as he's on so not surprised he's fat.


Thanks guys, will keep having a think..
 
I would keep squirrel in the routine he has now if it is working for him, a friend is bringing her comp horse in during the day as he has a heavy few dates coming up so he can get some rest.

3yo I would turn out 24/7, longline him two/three times a week and do ground work. If he is going from good grass and big net to poor grass and no net I would, in my mind, think he would be fine. As long as he gets something done with him a few times a week.



Ps it must be in the genes being good doers as Saffi is a very good doer too and we struggle to keep weight off her this time of year and see is retired :o
 
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