. "20min of grazing 4" pasture is equal to 10lbs of > hay". I'll try to confirm or dispel that, it sounds like an awful > lot, plus there would be so many variables. If anyone knows where I > could find info I'd appreciate it.
Hi Janine, I'm glad to hear Safi is doing better. I wonder if your vet's above comment is that she meant the amount of sugars in 20 min of grazing equals the amount in 10# of hay, altho hay can still have plenty of sugar in it. Here is the safergrass website-- it really is one of the best resources online: http://safergrass.org/ One thing I do on a regular basis w/ both horses during the spring/summer is check their digital (foot) pulses daily. I do this at the pastern area, on the inside of the leg. If you want to swing by my place sometime I can show you where/how. Or maybe I can come up when you're home--you can give me a call. Santana often has a mild pulse as his norm--if it were to get strong I'd know he's in some trouble. I check both front feet for pulses, and also the general temperature of their front hooves. The fat takes some time to come off. Mine are in a dry lot now for most of the day--it's a pretty big area that I use for an arena as well. In the spring/summer they get turned out for about 2 hrs in the am and 1 in the pm, then they get some hay in the late pm to keep them busy. The rest of the time they are in the dry lot. Wintertime they have the run of the pasture. Once the grass matures a bit more I will probably turn them out for the day, and just keep an eye on their pulses. Robyn
