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Discussion on New to grass pastures
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Member:
Seraf
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Posted on Sunday, May 28, 2006 - 8:00 pm:
how do you start a horse on grass that has been use to hay only?
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Member:
Christos
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Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 2:17 am:
Gradually, Daniela, slowly and carefully.
30 minutes twice a day for a week, then 1 hour twice a day for another week and so on, adding 1-2 hours turnout every week is a relatively safe start. After a month or so, having reached most of the day grazing, you can turn them out full time.
Keep in mind that horses vary widely in nutritional needs and feeding habits, there are no hard rules.
Study DrO's articles on nutrition, watch the horses closely and you should have no problem at all.
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Member:
Ajudson1
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Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 9:37 am:
Daniela,
Always feed hay first and let your horse out later in the day after the grass dries in the beginning. I start with 30 minutes for a couple of days, then go up to 1 hour. The following week, I go to 2 hours. Week 3, 3 hours, Week 4, 4 hours. After 4 hours, I figure 8 or so is o.k. I don't feed grain heavy after grazing for the first week, just enough to bribe them to come off the pasture. They still get the same amount of hay morning and night for the first couple of weeks. I've always heard that a horse needs 6 hours of grazing a day to get enough to eat, when I get up to 8 hours a day, I stop feeding hay.
I think DrO's article go quicker on the time and I don't agree with them but I think I am a little more on the cautious side.
Check the feet for heat if you are worried, check the digital pulse before and after, watch for colic. None of this should be a problem, but check to be sure til you know how your horse reacts.
My horses go and off pasture all summer, I generally only follow these guidelines in the spring as later on the grass is less lush, and the time off of hay is only a few days at the most.
Happy grazing!!
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