|
|
Post by corabella on Sept 11, 2011 9:58:40 GMT -1
When clearing out a hen enclosure cut down lots of blackberry branches and nettles which I dumped on the ground in the turnout paddock and the ponies are tucking in, especially Maddie.
Have moved them from the grass paddock back into the barn and turnout as we are expecting very heavy winds and would rather have them near the house. Less grass here which is prob a good thing so feeding hay as well.
Do other people provide cut grass, herbs, "weeds", shrubs etc? Obviously avoiding potentially poisonous plants.
|
|
|
|
Post by SuzieP on Sept 11, 2011 15:56:22 GMT -1
Never, never feed cut grass. It can ferment quickly and cause severe digestive problems. OK to pull up a handful and feed immediately, but grass clippings are a huge no no.
Quite a lot of plants are beneficial to horses, which is why good pasture has a mix of different plants in it. Horses will select what they want to eat. Nettles are fine, as is goose-grass, hawthorn and so on.
There are others on here who know the benefits of each different plant....
|
|
|
|
Post by corabella on Sept 11, 2011 16:42:31 GMT -1
Thanks SuzieP for the warning about grass clippings I meant the odd fresh handful that was put down and eaten straight away.
When I top the paddocks I remove all of the grass clippings and have seen how badly and quickly they ferment.
I have comfrey, mint, willow, native rosa rugosa and hips, apples, pears, some salad & brassica crops (which I am less sure about), fennel, sage and lots more.
|
|
|
|
Post by harveydales on Sept 11, 2011 19:17:17 GMT -1
Nettles are excellent and I often cut them down and then feed them as they begin to wilt. Mine love rose hips too and they are very high in vitamin C and biotin. They also like brambles but only the fruits. They usually know what they need. I do cut goose grass/clivers in the spring which they go mad for and is very good for them.
Most of the other things you mention are fine too, except brassicas. Obviously you shouldn't feed too many apples and pears in one go but a few are fine. Some one on here once mentioned we should have a list of plants you should and shouldn't feed to horses.
|
|
|
|
Post by heathera on Sept 12, 2011 5:11:27 GMT -1
I think your ponies are going to be in heaven  Mine love it when we cut brambles and we go for picnic hacks in hand where they munch the hawthorn and beech. With nettles they are high in minerals and my lot love them once wilted. Rose hips are high in antioxidants so are good support for their systems. Apples and pears I wouldn't feed more than one per pony per day but I'm very paranoid about laminitis. I know other people feed more and are fine. The same with carrots. I've never fed salad or brassicas but, again, i know people that do  Potatoes are poisonous. |
|
|
|
Post by valerie n scout on Sept 12, 2011 11:23:58 GMT -1
Scout loves dried nettles and wild pea, I think its also called vetch.
|
|
|
|
Post by harleydales on Sept 12, 2011 13:49:36 GMT -1
Mine like things like cow parsley as well, and of course they LOVE clover! Monty eats the tops off thistles and rather enjoys rushes as well, and they all love beans and peas.
|
|
|
|
Post by corabella on Sept 12, 2011 15:40:47 GMT -1
There are some lists on the Internet of herbs & plants ok for horses. There is not entire agreement about what is safe. For instance horses do like clover but some concern it may be harmful - I think White is safer than red. Good to know that Monty likes rushes - got plenty of them! We also have lots of reeds, and have sown some canary reed grass which apparently is made into hay in US. I think it is avery subject that I want to know more about. After all wild horses do seek out all kinds of plants and minerals.
|
|
|
|
Post by Debbie on Sept 12, 2011 16:55:23 GMT -1
Hmmm, I didn't know that about the canary seed being used as hay, but then the US is huge, and sometimes the hay is very regional. We use brome here.
Blossom typically gets mulberries and hawthorne and sometimes native grape and wild roses. She loves the greenery.
|
|
|
|
Post by The Moo on Sept 13, 2011 10:30:09 GMT -1
Mine get quite a varied diet of brambles, cow parsley, wilted nettles etc which I am happy about them eating but i have loads of comfrey in the field and I don't want them eating too much of that so try to remove it before letting them into that part of the paddock. If you know how I can rid of the stuff - let me know!
I'd be a bit careful with too much clover, it is very rich in nitrogen (good for the soil) and also contains phytowotsits which can make mares very mareish, also white clover contains very small amounts of cyanide.
|
|
