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Post by Yann on Dec 27, 2008 20:58:30 GMT 1
Mine are out on frosty grass with no hay come what may, it has never been a problem up to press.
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Post by arabheaven on Dec 27, 2008 21:55:02 GMT 1
haha i couldn't believe it! This woman looked at me like I was the craziest person int he world getting a horse rugged up to go out when it is frosty!! It was nearly 10am and the sun was shining. It was still hard and frosty but she was mortified!! I told her mine had been pout all night down south - she must think I am an AWFUL AWFUL person Thing is, when you're surrounded by umm 'people' like that you start to question your judgement so I made sure Mum was put straight that Asti will NOT die if she is turned out with a pile of haylage - low and behold, she is fine Their horses aren't allowed hay int he field because they are fat... but she topped up their empty nets in the stable because they had to stay in.... go figure!! Mine always go out after breakfast with hay if they've been in or get extra hay if they've stayed out and it is frosty
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cuffey
Olympic Poster
Posts: 962
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Post by cuffey on Dec 27, 2008 23:18:14 GMT 1
Agree with putting out with hay/haylage and bucket feed with chop/Speedibeet etc as reqd so that frosty grass not going into empty tum. Always found that if you keep them back they go balistic when turned out and could easily lame themselves/slip on hard ground
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ms
Grand Prix Poster
Billy Two Rivers
Posts: 2,898
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Post by ms on Dec 28, 2008 8:12:10 GMT 1
We always turn out when its frosty too, neds have breakfast first and we put plenty of haylage out for them in the field.
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Post by KoLaTo on Dec 28, 2008 9:24:05 GMT 1
Mine are out 24/7 so are already on the frosty grass, i put hay out around 8.30am when i get up there as i have virtually no grazing now anyway.
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Post by donnalex on Dec 28, 2008 10:38:50 GMT 1
I suppose in theory you could have the same problem with a horse turned out 24/7 if they slept all night then started eating on an empty tum? But I would think that if they are living out all the time they would not clam themselves for long enough to cause a problem, they would more likely only rest for an hour or so before grazing again.
Also to add my ponies very rarely run out of haylage overnight so even if I didnt give them breakfast they would not have been turned out on an empty tum. And also that I love it when there is a good frost, they can go out without cutting up the field or getting mudrash, so Im always pleased when it freezes up but keep them off the land when it is too soggy.
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sjade
Grand Prix Poster
Posts: 1,012
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Post by sjade on Dec 28, 2008 16:52:53 GMT 1
Frost - yes. Ice, no. Our yard is always wet - poor area for drainage and clay land so if it's icy it's like glass, and my horse is worth too much, financially and emotionally, to risk her One of my other mare's son's broke his back hooning around on frosty grass - so I'm ultra careful now, my girls either stay in til the sun melts it to the point it's safe to walk on, or stay in with plenty of hay for the day.
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Post by wally on Dec 28, 2008 16:59:28 GMT 1
Never given it a second thought.
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Post by iceberg on Dec 28, 2008 17:25:59 GMT 1
Archie is out 24/7, and I dont hay him in the field as he shares with 7 others - Im not feeding all that lot!! He is used to this, but I was concerned the other week when it was very frosty - but on watching all the horses I noticed that they didnt graze in the frosty areas - only where the sun had melted the frost.
x
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gypsyroselee
Olympic Poster
She who does not make mistakes, does not make discoveries.
Posts: 611
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Post by gypsyroselee on Dec 28, 2008 17:33:16 GMT 1
Ky is out 24/7 too. I'd never thought that frosty grass would be a problem before. Something else for me to be paranoid about!....
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Post by Zoe RA on Dec 28, 2008 22:15:04 GMT 1
When I worked at Liphook Equine Hospital we always had an increase of colics during frosty weather.
But it was the horses who had been kept in off the frost that where the ones who colicked, not the ones who had gone out. The vets put it down to the change of routine and possibly not enough forage being supplied for the horses who had been kept inside.
And yes, the sugars are higher in the grass after frost so a not good for laminitics.
I would always turn out as usual, but after a feed and with hay put down.
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Post by chestersmum on Dec 28, 2008 23:59:23 GMT 1
Turn-out as usual.
To be honest, the occurence of hay in the field would depend on who was doing the morning - I would as I'm soft but I doubt my Y/O would! They don't seem to have suffered any ill effects from not having hay ... Chester has learnt to paw the frost off the grass to get to it underneath so he doesn't starve regardless!
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Post by arabmania on Dec 29, 2008 15:04:59 GMT 1
Asti is officially 'billy no mates' and is now on day four with no friends to keep her company during the day. I have to turn her out by herself because no one else is turning out! She isn't the slightest bit bothered though and takes herself off to the far end of the field now where i think there may be more grass to nibble on because she isn't bothered with the haylage that i put down for her.
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Post by colourfulpony on Dec 29, 2008 15:16:55 GMT 1
mine are out 24/7 even if it's frosty. i just make sure they have plenty of hay
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Post by sarahbing on Dec 29, 2008 15:21:10 GMT 1
Another one that always turns out on frosty grass. Agree with Zoe that the change in routine is more likely to cause probs than the frost.I put hay down and they always eat that before going off to graze. Have never had a prob touch wood!!
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