WWYD? Summer field situation

Hormonal Filly

Hormonal Filly

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Looking for a bit of advice please.

My mare has been turned away for 6 months in April, as long story short, she is broken.

I plan to get the vet back out when she comes ‘back’ from the field she’s been turned away in, to assess if she’s lame. If she is lame I’ll PTS. If she’s sound I plan to gradually start hacking her.

The issue is the summer field situation, we have very rich grass.

She’s now very fat, she’s been out all winter naked but an exceptional good doer however she had previously had ulcers and I would love her to live out 24/7. I always struggle with her weight even if she comes into summer lean, so I’m dreading it!

Last summer she shared a paddock with a lami pony, but mine liked to chase said pony around (bullied her a bit) also.. if they’re paddocked we must be poo picked everyday which some days I suspect I might struggle with this summer. (Although not the end of the world)

I wouldn’t put her out with that pony again, but option A is to put her in her own paddock. Possibly strip graze. I do feel guilty doing that, postage stamp/small paddock all summer isn’t exactly fun for her but easiest way to control her weight..

Option B is in the ‘field’ with 1 or 2 others. It’s obviously a much bigger area. She’d have to be muzzled but she is happy muzzled, it means no poo picking and she has company BUT it might be impossible to regulate her weight.

Ideally I’d choose option B (she would be most settled/happiest with this) but I’m so worried she’ll get even fatter.

Thank you for reading this far! Any thoughts?
Obviously if she is lame when the vet comes to visit, it won’t matter but if she isn’t (fingers crossed) I need a plan in place..
 
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tda said:
Could you do option b but with another of similar build so they can both strip graze or small track
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Track isn’t an option at our livery yard, and sadly no. There isn’t any another horse she could share with that has restricted needs. The other mares her size are all fine types and need the grass. :(
 
Option B, as long as she can comfortably graze through the muzzle, and isn't frustrated by it. My old boy lived 24/7 in a Tough 1 Easy Breathe. It's profile meant he could easily reach grass, but not take huge bites. Will you be able to walk in hand to take her away from grass for a bit, or is it a full turn away? (I did read your other thread).
 
Highmileagecob said:
Will you be able to walk in hand to take her away from grass for a bit, or is it a full turn away? (I did read your other thread).
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I can walk her, she's coming back onto 'DIY livery' so I can do as I wish. Currently she is fully turned away.

I'm just worried how I'll manage her if she gets to fat, even in the muzzle? I guess I can always set up a paddock if it really doesn't go to plan.
 
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Midlifecrisis said:
Option B and ask Red if she has any of the prototype muzzles her BF was making last year ( or was it year before ?.)
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Thank you.. she has a Flexible filly muzzle which she wore 24/7 for the first month when turned away. I did cut the hole bigger, might need to buy another with a smaller hole but she accepted it fine.
 
Clodagh said:
Out with the muzzle in the big field overnight and a postage stamp without it during the day?
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Thanks, good idea.. there is a lot of space so wouldn’t be difficult to create a paddock if needed.

Will see how fat she comes back and how many will go in the field with her, then decide.

Thanks all
 
She might surprise you, as one of mine was on strip grazing and it was very difficult to manage her weight, but moved to a huge field with a 6 horse herd and her weight has been better than in the strip grazing. I think she was effectively bingeing on the strip grazing.
 
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