Re: Separate grazing or in a herd dropping weight

I have 3 good doers and 1 who needs a bit of feeding up - most of the time they're together, but my old girl Bracken (also 22) who is the one who needs a bit of feeding up, goes out onto long grass when I'm at the field and also gets breakfast and supper while she's out there.

On average I suppose she gets between 2 to 4 hours a day on the lush stuff - mostly I just put her back in when  I'm ready to leave, but sometimes she will ask to go back in herself, as she will go and stand by the gate and sigh, lol !!

So can you alternate what you do with your mare, and have her partly on long grass and partly with the others?

It is a problem having to keep good and poor doers together I know, hope you can sort things out for her :o)

Re: Separate grazing or in a herd dropping weight

make sure she isnt getting stressed being separated, even if she can see them over the fence, as this could limit her weight gain.

i would keep her in the herd most of the time, but make sure she was hard feed twice a day- calm& condition from allen and page is great for weight gain, and soaks so is soft and easy to eat.

Re: Separate grazing or in a herd dropping weight

I have a 23 yr old pony who has to be separated, due to being herded by my other horse, constantly. This aggrivates his arthritis, so I normally keep them apart at night, and together for at least part of the day so they can groom each other.

 So perhaps try a bit of each, out on her own to feed her up, and in with the others for some of the time.

I think it's getting the balance right, sometimes you also have to ignore the fact they want to be with the others, as with my pony atm, who is permanently separated for now due to an injured leg and then having gone down with laminitus! He still looks longingly over the fence at his companion, and I just have to ignore it, as theres no way he can go out with him!