I keep hearing this. Does this mean I need to bushhog off a new pasture area so they can not eat it so fast? If they are in a new pasture how do you stop them from eating too much. With this only occur the first few days or that they had been hungry of weeks before getting to a new lush pasture. They now graze about all of the time but it is so short they can not get too much at a time. If they swallow really long blades of grass is that the problem?
One mare was trying to eat dirt when we went to look at them (assumed a block of salt had set there before) and in about two days she had eaten a brick size block of mineral salt but she is not licking like at first. The other mare did not but did lick some.
Alot depends on how lush the grass is. All most all horses need pasture regulation when the spring grass emerges and is overly rich in nutrients compared to the dryer summer grass but the lushness can continue into summer with lots of rain. To much grass protein, etc. can lead to colic or laminitus or simply to much body fat. I know that ponies and older horses are more prone to grass issues.
They won't like it but sometimes you have to allow them to graze a few hours then put them on a dry lot, ie; no grass for an equal period of time. Make sure there are no toxic weeds on the dry lot else they will eat them as a last choice. Grass length in itself should not matter. To long and it gets bitter which may help limit the intake but more than likely will lead to overgrazing one area and ignoring others.
Some horses actually need to wear a grazing mask that limits their intake. Some will eat dirt just to have something to eat or because the lack some sort of minerals.
Though I do have one larger pasture and several smaller ones, the ideal is to have similar paddocks or grazing areas. As one is grazed down but not out, move the horses to a new area, cut the grazed one and keep them off while it recovers and to keep them from eating the clippings which undergo chemical changes but will soon dry out. (You probably know but I will mention anyway, never ever dump grass clippings in their pasture or paddock for them to munch on)
You want your paddocks to not be too short and not to weedy. The grass will vary in length but should be relatively similar in color so the horses diet remains the same.
Don't let your baled hay run low then bring in a new batch. Blend a little old with the new especially if you switch to orchard from timouthy. I don't know but I would think that you should never feed alfalfa or an alfalfa blend hay to the mini's. Too much protein. Same with any grain if you are giving any. Consistant type and amounts with slow changes are an absolute with grain. With so much grass, they probably don't need any grain right now anyway.
We put salt blocks in our horses stalls so they have free choice. Some horses will consume much more salt than others with no issues. The vet or someone else who knows may suggest different for the mini's. Don't use a cow tub.
