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Discussion on How to introduce a horse to a grass pasture from dirt
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New Member:
Nightwin
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Posted on Saturday, Nov 29, 2003 - 9:04 pm:
Sometime this winter I will be moving my horse from a pasture of dirt to one of mixed grasses. I understand the need to introduce a horse slowly to lush grass, but what about when the grass isn't really growing? (Live in southeastern Virginia.) I plan on continuing the other components of his diet (hay, pellets and beet pulp) and slowly wean him off beet pulp and pellets as determined by his weight. Many thanks.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Saturday, Nov 29, 2003 - 10:03 pm:
Though it is not as critical as it may be with lush grass, I still think any major change in forage needs to be done slowly. If the grass is really not green at all, it may be that as little as making sure he has plenty of access to his regular hay may be enough while out on the dry pasture. If he is ignoring his hay completely follow our suggestions in Care for Horses > Nutrition > Roughage and Forage for Horses, an Overview. You will find it under the Changing the Forage in a Horses Diet paragraph heading.
DrO
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Member:
Fpony
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Posted on Sunday, Nov 30, 2003 - 8:23 am:
Hi Wendy,
I found out the hard way that our fall grass (in New Hampshire)was very high in sugar. My horsess had been on grass all summer.I have since read that when the grass is stressed such as cold nights with frost and then it warms up during the day with lots of sunshine the grass responds to the stress by increasing it's sugar content. Of course, this is when the grass is still green. Supposedly the sugars are at their lowest from something like 2am to 11am in the morning. Also, stays at that level if it is overcast and not sunny. I don't know if this is a big problem if your horses aren't prone to laminitis, but it is something to keep in mind.I got my info from the site www.safergrass.org. It is a bit alarming so you need to realize it is coming from the point of view of a founder/laminitic horse.
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Member:
Presario
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Posted on Tuesday, Dec 9, 2003 - 12:54 pm:
Kim - I don't think it's a matter of increasing the sugar content, but rather the cool/cold nights don't allow the grass to "exhale" the sugar, so the content is higher than it would normally be. But regardless, yes, the cooler/colder nights and warm days of fall make pastures nearly as "risky" as during the fast growth of Spring.
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Member:
leslie1
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Posted on Sunday, Oct 14, 2007 - 1:42 pm:
Hello DrO and HA'S,
We just bought a house outside of Lexington Ky and will be moving out there this December. I too will be introducing my mare to a winter grass pasture. The property is completely covered in grass. I would assume the grass will be dead since it will be december. I know I need to introduce her slowly. Would a grazing muzzle work for the first month? She will have access to her hay. Shes one of those horses that will eat till she pops. Just trying to figure out a way to introduce her slowly when there is grass everywhere!!!
Thanks in Advance
leslie
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Sunday, Oct 14, 2007 - 2:46 pm:
Congratulations Leslie how exciting! Be careful with grass... even in Dec. especially if she isn't use to it and a hog . The grazing muzzle sounds like a good idea and slowly introduce with out muzzle. 15 mins.-1/2 hr. a day. I made an electric fence paddock with step in stakes that I made a little bigger daily which seemed to work very well. Good luck your new property!
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Member:
hwood
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Posted on Sunday, Oct 14, 2007 - 4:45 pm:
Leslie, I didn't realize this was an old thread, but I was going to say the same thing that Dr. O. already wrote above. I am not sure how the grass will be in KY in the Winter, but if it looks dried, I don't think it will be much different from hay, and if the horse has plenty of hay, a.m. and p.m., I would think that turning him out on the grass will be fine. If the grass is green, then it will be more critical to take it slowly and make sure he has eaten hay before being put out on grass, and as Diane says, in small increments of time or with a muzzle. If you have an easy keeper and lots of grassy pasture, you will really be able to cut back on your hay for the winter.
Moving from the southwest to KY, you will have different hay in KY, so make sure to bring some of your AZ?? hay with you so you can switch over to the new hay slowly, too.
KY is lovely. Much more humid than AZ, for sure, but I am sure you will enjoy it.
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Member:
leslie1
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Posted on Sunday, Oct 14, 2007 - 6:02 pm:
Thanks guys,
I wish there was someplace to keep her where there was no grass so I could introduce her slowly. my only option is to use the muzzle and hope it slows her munching down enough to let her body adjust.
We were talking about moving to Wisconsin(hubbys home state) but when some of the members on HA mentioned how windy and below zero chill it gets my hubby said " I forgot...er put out of my mind... how cold it gets there. Then told me to pick anywhere else in the lower states to live. So I picked Lexington ky. Then the house sorta just fell into our lap one day.... Im so excited! I will finally have my own home complete with 3 paddocks! Wow I feel like such an adult. lol
Our place is about 8 miles from where the WEG is going to be!!! cant wait.
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Member:
erika
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Posted on Sunday, Oct 14, 2007 - 8:16 pm:
"..told me to pick anywhere else in the lower states to live."
Lucky, lucky!
I am still hoping for the spousal unit to say "Arizona Ho!"
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Member:
leslie1
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Posted on Sunday, Oct 14, 2007 - 9:53 pm:
lol Spousal unit
seriously thou, arizona is beautiful but super hot and no pasture at all. bermuda 15.00 timothy 18.00. dont get me started on land prices,. weve been in a severe DrOught for many, many years. wells are going dry.
They alway say " the grass is always greener...." and in Kentucky it truly will be! woot!!!
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Member:
nightwin
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Posted on Tuesday, Oct 16, 2007 - 1:54 pm:
I just realized that I was the one to start this thread back in 2003. I own a boarding facility, and we have had just about all breeds over these past 4 years. Now we have 30 horses, all living outside 24/7, and all have controlled daily access to grass, primarily Max-Q fescue. Yes, I am aware of the endophyte issue with fescue and pregnant mares, but we don't keep pregnant mares. I planted it at the suggestion of the local ext. agent because of it's DrOught tolerance, and now, facing the worst DrOught in a century, I am glad I did. My experience has been that we need to be careful, but not neurotic, about introducing horses to grass. I laugh now at the charts I made up initially, ie 9-9:30, put on grass. 9:30-12, off grass, etc. Now we start with 1-2 hours, twice a day, and this includes horses from Arizona and Ca. (I am in southeastern Va.) So far, so good. I know I have to be very careful re putting the herds on grass if and when we get a good rain.
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