Easy keeper on pasture

Hi all!
So my new farrier suggested being very careful come spring/summer and fall with my gelding. My gelding use to be obese, he has now lost between 100-200 pounds this year. He is a very easy keeper on 24/7 pasture 365 days a year on 50 acres.

How can I prevent him from over eating? I know some people suggest stalling/corraling for part of the day, and grazing the rest but I want to keep him moving because he has arthritis. Are there any other options?

Thanks!

ThePaintGirl

Grazing muzzle and/or more exercise.

Get him off the 50 acres and put him on 2, The way things are now he is moving around and only eating the best morsals,,, IE the most sugars. Put him on a smaller lot, he'll still eat the best first but then will have to come back and eat the not so good stuff.
Sorta like if I gave you a plate full of twinkies, with a side order of peas and carrots. You probably wont eat your peas and carrot.
Or a grazing muzzle

I'd eat the veggies long before the twinkies.

Depends on where the 50 acres are on whether or not you only need 2. Won't work in the drier west. You'd soon have 2 acres of dust.

I live in Cheyenne WY, sometimes the grass is good but I think 2 might be too little. I might look into the grazing muzzle, we have one but it doesnt fit (too small) so id need to buy a new one.

Also, I just thought of something. Next year he will be worked a heck of a lot more because he is starting a drill and cavalry team that performs in Wyoming, Colorado, and I think Nebraska. So with regular performances and two practices a week, plus our normal riding, it may be enough exercise to keep his weight down.

Thank you guys!

You could make a pasture paradise

What do you mean?

Pasture paradise > Balanced Equine Nutrition - Paddock Paradise

Looks like a good idea, thanks twp for mentioning it!

Okay now that is cool! I will have to look into that!