Hello! In past springs my horse has had mild colic due to the spring grass being so rich and I am moving to a new barn, and the grass is even richer their. So I was just wondering what would be more effective? 1. Every other day turnout, or 2. Half day turn outs, does it even matter? I think I will go with every other day turnout since it will be easier so I can just leave a white board on his stall that has the dates he can go out. One guy manages 25 horses so I just dont want him to forget about Ben, if he were to go out half days. He wont go out on the weekends since he has been on that system for years. I was thinking maybe Mon-Wed-Fri he can go out, then for a few hours on Sat or Sun when I am there with him? I just worry about him so much, I am going to colic myself! (I know its not possible :lol Which would you decide?
Also once mid summer hits and the grass is less green, he can go out as much as he wants
It may help to know the pastures are VERY clovery!
Thanks! I can walk to the barn from my school, but I will only have time for a hour a day. :? I think I will also have a talk with my vet once I see him again, to see which is better.
The barn I work at has two paddocks that go to pasture come spring. They start at an hour a day and slowly work up to 8 hours a day over a period of 2-3 weeks. Founder is the biggest worry with new spring grass.
And I will just add to the advice from the other posters that every other day is NOT a good idea. That's just going to give a feast-famine-feast-famine diet which is more likely to cause problems.
Thanks, if he also got more hay on the days he didnt go out would that be okay? He has always been fine with no turnout on the weekends, and never have had a problem. Or is it different?
At a well managed barn they will do what poppy said, start out at an hour a day for a few days, increase to 2 hours a day for a few days, and so on, it slowly accustoms their digestive system to the grass instead of just tossing them out one day when someone decides the grass is ready, which is what causes founder and colic and a lot of diarrhea. Yes it can be tricky getting horses rounded back up after only an hour or 2 out on grass, but it is best for them. I also wouldn't suggest every other day, to me you'd be delaying his transition and confusing his gut, as well as frustrating him from being in a stall all day one day and out the next.
Have you talked to the new barn manager about how he handles turnout on spring grass? He may already have a plan in place for that, most do, and you can explain your concerns about your horses sensitivity to rich spring grass and his past history of colic, he may even be able to monitor your horse while hes turned out to make sure he doesn't colic during that transition period.
Thanks! They are on the same pasture all year so as it grows in they get used to it right? My old barn would just switch pastures and the one they would go on is really green while the other grows back..
I asked about colic and have they ever had a horse die, he said in the three years he has been there two horses have died but they were both from old age, being 30+ years old, and were part of the therapy program.
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