Awareness
Towards the end of the colder months, we get excited about the thoughts of packing up the winter blankets. We can envision our still brown and bare pastures turning lush and green. We can see the full leafy trees and pops of color from budding flowers and bushes in our minds. And the warmth; we can almost feel the warmth of the sun on our skin as we imagine water buckets and tanks that flow freely, no need for hammer or heater to keep water accessible for our horses.
Inevitably, we are then brought back to reality at the ding on our phone indicating that the weekly forecast predicts cold temperatures and winter weather warnings. Isn’t it ironic that just as we are starting to see the light at the end of the ‘cold months’ tunnel that mother nature hits us with another blast of full on winter?!?
Even though spring has not yet officially sprung, it is still a good idea to start preparations for the coming warmer weather. Safeguarding our horses and ponies against the fresh, rich, incoming spring grass is something that all horse owners should take seriously. Certainly, this is a detrimental piece of management for those with horses that are overweight, dealing with metabolic conditions and/or are prone to laminitis. Nonetheless, it is worthwhile to consider even for those with horses that have never seemed to be bothered by the effects of sugars and starches in the grass. Being aware of the changes that are about to occur to your horse’s forage can be hugely beneficial in preventing issues from occurring.
What’s the Concern with Fresh Spring Grass?
When comparing grass from the different seasons, it’s safe to say that they all contain the same basic elements: water, carbohydrates, sugars and starches, fiber, vitamins, minerals and proteins. However, there ARE distinct seasonal differences in grasses that are critical to be aware of when managing horses. While the basic make-up of grass is the same year-round, the ratios within the elements fluctuate season-to-season.
Fresh spring grass tends to:
· Grow rapidly - embracing the ‘lush’ description of fresh spring grass
· Contain a significantly higher percentage of water than grass in other seasons – lending to loose, watery manure
· Be softer, more tender and thus highly desirable to horses - easily resulting in over-consumption
The over-consumption of spring grass can lead to a drastic increase in the amount of highly fermentable carbohydrates overwhelming the digestive system and passing into the hindgut; which ultimately can lead to colic, laminitis, founder and metabolic/hindgut acidosis.
Risk Assessment
First and foremost, it is important to determine the level of risk that the grass poses to your horse or pony. Individuals that are overweight, dealing with metabolic conditions and/or are prone to laminitis qualify as high-risk. In addition, certain breeds are more genetically prone to developing metabolic issues. These breeds are typically identifiable by their metabolism rate; the higher the metabolism rate, the less likely to develop metabolic conditions and vice versa. If you have an ‘at risk’ individual, the severity of their condition will direct the level of management necessary to keep them safe. Lastly, it is important to note that even if your horse has never had issues before and is of a breed with a lesser chance of developing metabolic conditions, this does not equate to impossibility. So, taking measures for prevention is still highly advised.
Metabolic Prone Breeds
- Coldbloods, like draft horses
- Warmblood Breeds
- Quarter Horses and Breeds with heavy QH influence
- All Ponies and Mini Horses
Transition Options to Manage Consumption and Support Gut Health
Next is to evaluate the multitude of options that you can realistically implement to aid as a safeguard. Having access to a large dry lot is one of the most ideal solutions for proper management of high-risk horses and ponies. However, if one does not have access to a large dirt turnout there are other creative options to consider. Some of these options can be used independently or in conjunction with each other. Their results will vary depending on the horse, the severity of their condition, their personalities, preferences and a multitude of other varying factors. It is always advised to consult with your veterinarian and/or equine nutritionist when determining the best course of action for your individual horse. Some options for management and prevention to safeguard against the incoming spring grass are as follows:
Reducing the amount of sugar and starch in the diet is a key component.
Accessible hay. The quantity of hay that one goes through can be considerably less during the months where horses have access to an abundance of grass vs when grass is not readily available. However, having hay available at all times can sometimes help to minimize grazing. Most horses and ponies find it far more appetizing to munch on fresh, rich grass. However, keeping hay available in areas near water and shade can offer a convenient alternative when horses are ‘taking a break’ from grazing.
Test your hay. Forage is the foundation of any equine diet. If you are feeding hay, be sure to have it tested to determine the level of sugar and starch (NSC); adjust as necessary. While alfalfa tends to have a higher caloric value, it tends to be lower in NSC. Moreover, orchard grass tends to have a higher NSC than alfalfa but lower than Timothy. Again, to know for sure, testing the hay is the best starting point.
Ditch the high sugar feeds. When possible, tweak your feeding program to swap out high sugar/starch feed options for either a feed guaranteed with a lower NSC or a Diet Balancer. Diet balancers offer the daily requirements of vitamins, minerals and amino acids without the sugar, starch and calorie content.
Soaking hay for 15-30 min in cold water can help reduce the sugar content. Soaking any longer runs the risk of depleting other important minerals. Be sure to discard the soaking water BEFORE offering the soaked hay to the horse.
Turnout Rotation/Timing when sugars in grass are at their lowest. The sugars and starches in the grass are highest when exposed to sunlight. For this reason, a deliberate turnout rotation between 3am and 10am is best for those individuals with sugar sensitivities. These times can fluctuate depending on the time of the year and where you are on the time-zone. So, think of the sun as powering up the grass. After basking in the sun all day, like with a solar powered light, the further away you get from the sun exposure, the less ‘power’ is emitted. Even after dark, it takes several hours before the sugars in the grass are less charged. Similarly, in the morning, the grass will need to build up that solar powered energy for the sugars to be at their most potent.
Utilization of a dry lot for either all or part of turnout rotation. This allows for the horse to still move around but restricts forage intake. When a horse is contained in any way and does not have access to forage on it’s on, it is essential to provide fibrous alternatives with safe levels of sugars/starches to maintain the necessary gut fill and avoid gastric upset and ulcers. * Important to note: Weeds can have just as much sugar and starch content as luscious grass, sometimes even more. So if considering a dry lot, be sure the area is not only free of grass, but also free of weeds.*
Utilization of slow feed hay nets. Comparable to the grazing muzzle, the slow feed hay net allows the horse to consume small amounts of forage without scarfing it down. This is helpful for several reasons. Horses left to fast for periods longer than 4 hours stand a much higher risk of developing gastric upset and ulcers. The slow feed hay net extends the life of the hay while still allowing adequate gut fill to keep the digestive tract happy. This is a great option for horses that tend to mow through their hay when they are stalled, traveling or confined in a dry lot. The act of ‘foraging’, chewing, creating saliva and eating are natural behaviors. This, not only, satisfies their digestive tract, but also provides mental stimulation. This mental stimulation is important, especially for confined horses, to avoid discontentment which can lead to behavioral issues.
Grazing Muzzles during pasture turn out can help restrict grazing consumption; thereby limiting the sugar/starch intake from the grass. The horse’s motivation to work around the muzzle, the amount of time the horse has access to the pasture and the fitting of the muzzle can all contribute to the level of restriction grazing muzzles offer. The general rule of thumb is up to 30% reduced consumption, but that percentage can vary drastically one way or the other. The grazing muzzle should not be worn more than 10-12 hours a day. This option still allows the horse to:
- Move about freely
- Continue with slow gut fill through some grazing
- Enjoy of the company of his/her pasture-mates in their natural ‘herd’ environment
Encourage the horse to eat a meal before turnout. If you can feed at least a couple handfuls of hay or hay alternatives 15 minutes prior to feeding any grain or turnout, it helps to slow the digestion process down. The long stem forage creates a sort of basket-weave that slows the feed material down as it makes its way through the digestive tract. This allows for better absorption and utilization of the nutrients. The slowed down process for digestion is also important for minimizing the risk of overwhelming the hindgut with rapidly fermentable carbohydrates. When sugars and starches pass through their system too quickly or in too large of quantity, serious health issues such as colic, laminitis, founder or metabolic/hindgut acidosis can occur. Ensuring that your horse has a ‘basket-weave’ in place before turnout is helpful. Plus, a full tummy prior to being turned out can help avoid the ‘scarfing’ effect of a hungry horse. Same principle for us of not going to the grocery store when we are hungry!😉
Fly control! While this option has nothing to do with reducing the amount of sugars and starches in the diet, it holds a legitimate weight in the fight against metabolic complications. Hear me out, a horse with metabolic issues can easily have sore feet. If that same horse is stomping hard after those pestering and biting flies all day it can invite further foot soreness; which can, in-turn, exacerbate the result of metabolic conditions.
- Consider starting all the horses in your barn on a feed through fly control program such as, Simplifly. This product is a highly palatable top dress supplement that stops the growth cycle in house and stable flies in the manure of treated horses; effectively decreasing the number of flies in and around your barn and horses.
- Fly Spray and Wipes
- Fly Gear such as fly masks, sheets and leg protection, as necessary
- Utilize high powered fans in areas of shade and confinement. Air circulation, especially when at high volumes, can deter flies from being in the wake of those fans. This offers the horse a safe place to go to when wanting a break from the biting flies.
- Keep manure picked up in barns, paddocks and trailers. The less manure that is out and around, the less opportunities for flies to leave their eggs.
- If you have a manure pile that sits for long periods of time, consider introducing fly predators, such as from Spalding Labs. These beneficial insects come securely packaged in their cocoon stage. Once you see at least a dozen have hatched, sprinkle the whole packet around the manure pit. Introduce a new packet of fly predator hatchlings every 3-4 weeks during warm months to help keep the fly population down.
These tips are a collaboration of ideas than can be used interchangeably with each other. Consider your individual horses and ponies and level of management they require. Then chose one or several options that are reasonable for you to implement. Managing metabolic or metabolic prone horses and ponies is a big responsibility; and safeguarding/prevention is the best line of defense for success.
Here’s to warmer weather and a safe introduction to the incoming spring grass!
