[RC] Switching from green grass to hay before a ride - Jonni
When we are not in a drought, and actually HAVE
green grass, I start the 5 days before the ride bringing in my horse, locking
him up in the corral for a few hours with a flake of hay, then back out on
pasture. I do that usually Monday - Wednesday, so he gets a mix of hay and
pasture. Then, Thursday, he is put on hay, with maybe a little grazing,
depending on when I leave for the ride, then just hay, as that will be what he
eats at the ride. I also start the beet pulp mashes the days before, with the
hay.
One of the very worst colic's I saw was a horse who
went to a ride to just "hang out". It was a 5 day multi day, and the other
2 horses were getting ridden. He had been on pasture, and was switched to hay at
the ride, but was not getting out, and was not getting "mashes" as he was not
working. Got an impaction, which thankfully was able to be cleared with drugs,
as it was miles to any vet clinic. I won't make that mistake again.
