marsay
Intermediate Poster
Posts: 124
|
Post by marsay on Jan 6, 2013 8:36:41 GMT 1
I have two highlands and I put them on new over grown ground about 8 weeks ago. Because I was worried about going from hay and no grass to knee length old stuff with weeds I decided to restrict the grazing just expanding the electric tape when they have eaten down what was there. (I was worried about colic changing their grazing )
My problem is they are now huge and I mean obese but they are really hungry, my hubby thinks I should not give them more grass but I want to let them into the next field cause they seem quite desperate. But I do kill with kindness and all my horses over the years have been on the fat side. I haven't fed hay in the new field as that seems ridiculous when you see the height of all the old grass but I was worried that this might be just empty calories. There are loads of thistles which one of them just loves it's her favorite food, so there is a real mixture of stuff not just old grass.
I do give them a few carrots each day as well and maybe a couple of apples a week. They do have a really good mineral lick. When I read the packaging for the dry feeds according to their weight and height what I would give them hardly seems worth the effort.
Thoughts please....
|
|
|
|
Post by jill on Jan 6, 2013 8:44:26 GMT 1
Can you get them some good clean straw? That is supposed to be calorie negative (takes more to eat than they gain) but has plenty of fibre.
Highlands and other natives have evolved to maximise whatever they can get to eat - amazing aren't they?
|
|
|
|
Post by rosemaryhannah on Jan 6, 2013 9:54:18 GMT 1
If you don't restrict in some way, they will get ill. The options are to move electric tape a few inches a day, thus ensuring enough fibre without over-eating or the straw Jill suggests while keeping them on the current plot. It won't be 'empty calories' and it is not low calorie if they are gaining weight.
|
|
|
|
Post by mandal on Jan 6, 2013 10:34:17 GMT 1
Unfortunately if they have gained a lot of weight, as has been said, they are getting too many calories. Grass is growing here so there may well be new grass under the old they are seeking out. What is telling you they are hungry?
I find they often wont eat straw especially if there is grass on offer, oat straw is the most tempting. My suggestion involves a lot of work and may not be doable. Keep them restricted on a 12ft wide track, with wider feeding areas, round the edge for eg and feed soaked hay.
Domino my welsh mare (28 years youngish) used to be a tyrant in the herd but since she's been on soaked hay and very restricted grazing she has become very chilled. Don't know if this may be relevant.
ps. I'd also consider feeding extra salt and magnesium oxide or salt and a good balancer in a small amount of fast fibre which is very low calorie. Licks often aren't used enough to take up enough salt and other minerals. If you must give treats switch the carrots to greens of some sort.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kelly Marks on Jan 6, 2013 10:36:33 GMT 1
If you can come up with a solution for a fat, hungry person at the same time ...
|
|
|
|
Post by mandal on Jan 6, 2013 10:43:31 GMT 1
Ha ha! Less calories and more exercize Kelly.
|
|
|
|
Post by bertie666 on Jan 6, 2013 10:46:28 GMT 1
Kelly - a ball gag and padlock on the cupboards/fridge  OP - horses are designed to live on scrub - providing you are getting 8-12 poos off them theyre fine. My dad is constantly trying to feed mine more when Im being exceedingly careful with their weight - I basically treat them like lamis - and I finally showed him these pics   I do not EVER want to see my horses looking like that, laid out in crippling agony because Ive over fed them. A healthy weight horse should mean you can just about see ribs - we just do not realise this now with how obese our equine population has become  |
|
marsay
Intermediate Poster
Posts: 124
|
Post by marsay on Jan 6, 2013 10:55:06 GMT 1
They are not as chilled out, constantly looking for me, harassing us in the field, want into the next field, breaking out if they can but I am easily dubed by highlands who I know only ever think of food but they do get mean when hungry but its hard when they look full time pregnant to give into them more.
They are wormed by the way.
The field has been eaten down, but no where what you would call poached. Honestly I must be the only person to get obese horses in winter!!
Yup Kelly, I'm fat as well and constantly eating maybe there is highland pony in my blood!!! He hee ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by bertie666 on Jan 6, 2013 11:14:08 GMT 1
|
|
|
|
Post by mandal on Jan 6, 2013 11:19:36 GMT 1
They are not as chilled out, constantly looking for me, harassing us in the field, want into the next field, breaking out if they can but I am easily dubed by highlands who I know only ever think of food but they do get mean when hungry but its hard when they look full time pregnant to give into them more. My theory with Domino is that the excess sugars were upsetting her system and gut and making her bad tempered. I also *think* a higher sugar diet is like an addiction, the more you get, the more you want but it isn't satisfying. Lots of low calorie forage has done the trick with her. |
|
|
|
Post by cheekychops on Jan 6, 2013 11:25:32 GMT 1
Fat natives are con artists - do not trust them! Mine would have you believe he is dying of starvation! Do not fall for it!
I agree with Mandal - sugary grass is addictive and they crave it. Trying to get anywhere with my boy at the moment is impossible - at the sight of a blade of grass he is off!
|
|
|
|
Post by shan on Jan 6, 2013 11:31:38 GMT 1
Sometimes the more you get the more you want... Don't give in to their apparent hungriness marsay, if they're fat they're not hungry. They'd be more miserable having laminitic box rest than restricted grazing hun, and so would you.
I look at our lot in the field and feel sorry for them that they have little to graze, but they're all a really good weight and so they are finding food where we see none.
|
|
marsay
Intermediate Poster
Posts: 124
|
Post by marsay on Jan 6, 2013 11:54:21 GMT 1
Bertie 666, I would say they are a 4 on the bluecross, but being highlands they always have round rumps and crests but it is the huge fat wobbly bellies that make me know they are huge.
Thanks chaps you are all right, I'm being too soft, just wanted to make sure I wasn't being to harsh I will stick with what they have and not give into what you say is a sugar craving.
I just wanted reassurance as I do worry they are hungry!!
Boy oh boy I'm in for a tough summer trying to get that weight down, might need to borrow some sheep. Might try to do the perfect paddock thing now I have my own land. see if I can get them moving, no reason I can't do this in winter, I have enough electric poles that's for sure!! It's just getting the time eh?
|
|
|
|
Post by mandal on Jan 6, 2013 12:03:29 GMT 1
Might try to do the perfect paddock thing now I have my own land. see if I can get them moving, no reason I can't do this in winter, I have enough electric poles that's for sure!! It's just getting the time eh? Good idea, just plan to set a day aside and get help. They may well need some fibre/low cal forage to up the quantity going through them though. Put forage at a few points. Here's some inspiration. paddockparadise.wetpaint.com/page/Paddock+Paradise |
|
|
|
Post by Lulu on Jan 6, 2013 12:12:51 GMT 1
Want me to put my horses on to graze for you ? All their ribs can be felt but not seen....and they have 24lbs of hay in a small holed net daily unsoaked and are perfect weight. I have no grass atm, they are on the track system and it works.
Can you muzzle your horses at all ? My horses are hungry too, but it's that time of the year when they know the grass is coming through round the corner and a case of grass is ALWAYS greener on the other side !
Are your ponies rugged ? If so, unrug them, or put in lightweight rug if need to keep clean ? Ride them more ? Put a track round outskirts of field so they move more to graze ?
|
|
