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Introducing a horse that wasn't on much grass; How to do it?
Topic Started: May 14 2007, 08:04 AM (200 Views)
horsepeeps
I Visited Candy Mountain and All I Got Was This Lousy Incision
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So, we have a new boarder coming in the 1st of June and the horse is on very, VERY minimal grass right now. We on the other hand have grass out our ears, the other barn owner has the owner of the horse paranoid that he can't even handle an hour on the grass? We were going to gradually introduce him to the fields w/about 3 hours for a week or 2 and go up from there.

Anyone have any suggestions? I have a call into my vet as well.

Thanks in advance
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Delia
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You're BANNED!
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Our barn has 3 horses on 24/7 turnout (their stalls open out to the fields), but every March-April we close off one field for a couple of months fertilizer/reseeding. The other field has very sparse grass at that time of year, so even though they're on it all the time they're not getting much from it. We transition them back on the "good" field by starting them out on it for an hour for a couple of days, and then doubling the time they're on it every few days. If their manure is too soft or someone seems a little gassy we don't increase their time on the lush field until that is resolved. For the seven years my horse has been there we haven't had anyone colic with that routine. Also, once mine is back on the good field I slowly cut back on his grain -- otherwise he'd turn into a blimp.
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MissBri
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But, I don't care - it's 5:00 somewhere
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Yup Delia's routine is pretty much the standard.

Start with one hour, double the time every few days (three/four).
If the manure is loose, stay with that time exposure and hold off doubling until the manure firms back up.

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onthebit
Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back.
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I've introduced many of our retirees to grass. If they've NEVER been on grass we start with 15 minutes of handwalking morning and afternoon for a couple of days, then turnout for about 30 minutes am and pm for a couple of days, then turnout for an hour am and pm for about two days. After that we start adding an hour a day until they are at 8 hours a day, and at that point we let them be on grass full time. We have yet to have a problem this way.

If they've been on some grass, I start them out with about an hour or two each day, depending on what situation they are coming from. I stay with that for a couple of days and then start adding an hour per day as above.
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Anyplace Farm
Shunnnnn the unbeliever. Shunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
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Worst story I have on a horse not being introduced slowly enough --

These people in a barn where I taught had their mare get over the partition in the van. She cut her belly from hip to hip, basically and damn near gutted herself, amongst other cuts and abrasions.

People manage to get her all patched up and after several months of being in, she was finally allowed to go out. This place had fabulous grass. Days later, she foundered so bad, her feet fell off and they of course had to put her down.

Horrifying.
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