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RE: [RC] limited pasture/horse and hoof health - RaeI haven't noticed much problem with that. My pens at home have been nothing but sand for nearly 30 years now. I've had 6 horses go from dry lot to grassy pasture at Ridecamp many times and we've never had a problem. I use the electric corral and make a pen that's about 15 X 20 and will put up to 3 of them in there (they have a history of getting along, if not, I will put dividers in the pen to separate them). I don't move the pen over the weekend, so I guess the amount of grass they get in that small area is not enough to hurt them. I even have one mare that is in LOVE with food and anything rich immediately gives her gas colic. She gets separated from the rest for grain/beet pulp as she cannot have beet pulp and would inhale hers and theirs if I wasn't careful (then she would colic). The dry lot to grass switch doesn't affect her either. I would think, that unless you're turning your horse out on a very large, grassy pasture for 36 hours, it shouldn't be a problem. Rae Tall C Arabians - Central _____ From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Val Nicoson Sent: Monday, January 29, 2007 9:57 PM To: Kristi Schaaf Cc: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: [RC] [RC] limited pasture/horse and hoof health I too am considering the Paddock Paradise concept for our 4+ acre property for our horse(s)...we have 1 today but will soon be adding a second. Right now she's in a 1/2 acre paddock that wraps around the barn in a U shape and enjoys going around it every day. There's trees there too and I spread the hay out in various places to keep her moving. She has the ability to go into the barn into a run-in stall and can come and go as she pleases. When it was really super muddy she tended to stay in the barn and look out. At nights I think she stays in the barn but obviously moves around thru out the night. The biggest question/concern I have as we get more involved in endurance riding...is the amount of grass they can or cannot eat. As the tracks become worn down to where little to no grass grows, then the horse is limited to a complete hay diet. Then what happens when you go to an endurance ride and set up an electric pen on grass? I think we would want them on grass at least to some extent so when we take them to endurance rides or just general trail riding they will be accustomed to grass. I know when I take my current horse out riding she is really eager to eat grass along the trail because she has none in her paddock. Val + Sania =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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