Pasture Boarding QUESTION

["Karla Watson" <karla@pcez.com>]

I need some advice regarding pasture boarding.

 

I want to move my gelding to a more "natural" and lower cost pasture 24/7 boarding situation. He is currently in box stall and turnout during day in small pasture with very limited grass on ground. He is a stall weaver and hates to be confined. If it is raining hard and they don't turn him out he is the maddest, most cross guy you could ride. Normally he is very sweet and easy going.

 

I live in Portland, Oregon so its not super cold here. We get alot of rain but not alot of low, low temps. He grows a nice winter coat even though he is white/grey.

 

Couple of questions I would like advice on:

 

1) Can I do this without foundering my guy when he goes into a large pasture (minimum 10 acres) with green grass to eat all day? He has never colicked, never had problems even when they have changed his diet (without telling me!) and is basically a very hardy keeper. I don't think I will have the opportunity to *slowly* increase his pasture time because he won't have a stall to stay.

 

2) What time of year is best to transition him to this?

 

3) What kind of supplements do you add to the grass pasture food?

 

I really want to do this for my guy. I will find a place that is sheltered for wind and cold. I know he will be much happier out in a herd just being a "horse" and grazing all day. I have never pastured a horse before so go easy on me. :-)

 

Karla