Intro to pasture (and grass clippings)

["guest@endurance.net" <guest@endurance.net>]

Barb Peck bpeck@together.net
Bette:
Like almost everything, it depends on what kind
of grass you're talking about 
(young vs mature plants and where you live).

Here in the NE, after a long  winter of hay, we start
turning the horse out on grass as early as late April
(but usually the middle of May). My horses get 1 hr the
first 3 days, then increasing in increments of 1/2 hr
so in about 15 days, so they're out all nite on grass
 in about a month.  I watch their manure, and if it
 isn't holding together they get cut back,
 and hay added to the diet.  AFter the
grasses mature, there's never a problem 
(usually mid June and on Of course who knows this
 year as we STILL have over a foot of snow on the ground)

  We have LUSH grass growing in the spring here, 
and the Vets get alot of cases of colic,
 and some founder in May and June.

As far as grass clippings fo.. my Vet says the
 same as yours.
Although, if you feed them right away, 
as he says, they won't have time to ferment.
 If you mow the lawn, let the
grass clippings cure like hay.. you can rake them 
up and feed them that way 
(I only mow the law once every 10 days or so, so
the clippings are long)

I have a friend in Ocala Fla.. horses are on grass all year
round.. sigh, riding all year round too. Lucky.

Barb