---- Mic Rushen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:24:10 -0800, you wrote:
>
> >How does one put their easy-keeper, pre-disposed ponies on acres and acres
> >of land without them eating too much and foundering themselves in the
> >process?
> >I can see this working in the desert, but not where there's any kind of
> >forage to speak of. I surely couldn't do it with the acreage and the types
> >of ponies I have.
>
> Put them on pasture that has never been "improved", never had
> fertiliser added, a good mix of grass, herbs and so on.
You've been lucky with your mare Mic. . . .knock wood. I hope things
continue to be good for you and Molda on that issue. There's nothing worse
than watching a horse suffer with terribly sore feet. I told myself I
wouldn't put Rocky (nor me) through another round of founder like he had two
years ago . . . It was awful.
But, it's not just lush, "groomed" pastures or heavy Spring pastures that
tend to founder a horse. From what I've read on the safergrass.org website,
stressed pastures (from drought, over-grazing, etc.) can have very high frutans
in them too, which is a big no-no for Cushings, IR, and/or founder-disposed
horses.
I have both so to speak: VERY lush, green grass in the Spring and fall,
then, because we're on sandy loam, well-drained soil, a dry-spell will "shut
down" my pasture for a few weeks mid-summer. I haven't done any fertilizing
of the pasture beyond regular harrowing and spreading of composted manure as
well as mowing here and there to keep the milkweed in check.
Our pasture was a hayfield before we moved here 17 years ago. The first
summer, I nearly lost the horses (Quarter horse and Arab) in the grass, like
your picture.
-- Renee M. in Michigan
P.S. Congrats on getting to buy that lovely mare you leased previously!
