[JeffK-MN]

A frend just got a 1 year old QH stud. It doesn't stop eating if you let it out of the pen all it does is eat.
She has 2 young horse in the pen and puts hay in 2 hay bags and the QH eats his and then eats the other horses also.
She wants to put them out on paster. Will this get him sick or will he fill up.
The other young horse stops eating before the hay is all gone. I have seen horse eat a lot but this guy is a pig. Thanks Jeff

[cassidy]

i would be carefull because when my william was about that age he ate alot an grew to big to quickly an it has caused him a few problems for instance he had to be kept in to reduce it an now he has big knees an his back legs are straighter than most

fortunately he has had all the x-rays under the sun an loads of vet checks an is thought to be fine now apart from the obvious an can be broken in like any normal horse

but only when hes older can we tell the extent of what he can do he was bred for showjumping but now may not be able to take the pressure on his legs to do it at an advanced level

[Simon Says]

if it can be done, i would try to seperate them, but cass is right w/ eating to much growing fast can occur and if the body isn't ready for a rapid growth spurt it will not be good on the joints. he should be eating a good amount but not eating until he explodes. i think if they could seperate them it would be good.

[Dawn]

Free feeding hay to any horse shouldn't be a problem unless there is some seperate issue. If these horses don't have access to grass, they should have access to all of the grass hay that they can eat. Instead of trying to limit his intake, she should give them more hay. Unless of course, he is overweight.

[Blistering Winds]

Many horses will continuously eat when placed in a pen with other horses. They fear not having enough (and some are just bullies and eat the other horses just cause).

Turning horses out is just fine. I've never had problems free feeding any horse. BUT, they can get over weight on a very good pasture. When he comes in his 2 yr old year to work, that weight will come off.

As long as he isn't over weight, adding more hay is just fine. Most colts have growth problems when Grain is introduced.

Horses are made to be continuous grazers. They WILL eat ALL DAY LONG. Stopping to drink and to sleep only in the natural order. When they are full, of course they will stand around and doze. But we have modified their diets down to 2-4 feedings a day, when consisnant feeding is actually the BEST for them and their body mechanisms.

So don't worry. Especially if it is hay he is eating.

[CANDYGIRL]

100% agree with Blistering Winds at 2 years old.

[probarrelracer]

Hay and pasture all day! That is how it should be. As long as he doesn't have free choice grain, I wouldn't worry.

[CANDYGIRL]

Just one thing to make sure of - has the yearling been wormed, they can carry a very heavy Ascarid burden at this age.

I would get your friend to check, and then worm herself anyway.

If she is going to start turning out on pasture, tell her to do it slowly over a few weeks, increasing the time spent out each day, so to avoid colic.(specially if the grass is rich)