Are we prepared for spring grass?

Oberon

Oberon

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 May 2009
Messages
7,241
Visit site
And the many posts titled;

"Why has my horse gone nuts"

"My horse is footy"

"My horse has laminitis"

yes.gif


Magnesium
thumbsup.gif

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MAGNESIUM...r_Equipment&hash=item3f13969dc6#ht_1296wt_952

and muzzle (for those that need it)
http://www.shiresequestrian.co.uk/shop/product.php?productid=493&cat=742&page=1
 
Good reminder oberon.

May I just also remind about the current weather you are having, frosty nights and sunny days especially, it's a recipie for laminitis for some horses grazing, even in winter. Forward thinking by taking susceptible horses off grass in these conditions can prevent a full blown attack.
 
Oberon said:
"My horse has laminitis"
Click to expand...


Thanks for the reminder.

But not just spring grass required to increase the risk of laminitis! Frozen grass does it for my shettie, back on the cinammon and a new muzzle has sorted him out..

I noticed that he has cunningly widened the hole in the bottom of the muzzle which was allowing far too much grass through the hole :eek::eek::eek:

He also got his head in the TB's bucket the other day and galloped, yes galloped across the field pushing the bucket along the floor, i was laughing so much my sides hurt :rolleyes:
 
Dab said:
He also got his head in the TB's bucket the other day and galloped, yes galloped across the field pushing the bucket along the floor, i was laughing so much my sides hurt :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
Lol! I have a mini that does this (well, walk trot and canters) and she then rolls with the bucket on her head!
 
RebelRebel said:
What rug should my horse wear for spring grass?
Click to expand...

Or how many rugs?

Can I leave mine out now at night?

Should I bring in for daytime?

WHEN do you leave them out at night?

Has anyone had to put on flymasks yet?

What is best fly repellant?

Do you poo-pick in the summer?

Gosh its very hot, how are you coping?

Too hot to ride, anyone else not riding?

I ride before work in this heat, does anyone else?

Ground is too hard to ride now, anyone else?

Then......
Anyone got their hay in yet?

How much for hay off the field?

Ad nauseum :D:D:D

sorry, will go for lunch now :o

:D
 
For those who find this thread demeaning or a joke just have a look at all the threads with horses coming down with laminitis now on various forums. :( Laminitis is NO joke! That's my cage rattled. :rolleyes:

Video is sadly beyond my capabilities! :( Something I must sort out though.
 
Muzzles at the ready! The lack of good grazing and snow means that if I stick to my guns I can allow them to shed more pounds before the spring, at the moment they are on 13 acres with very little grass and a slice of hay each per day.... both good doers and hairy.. feel I am being a bit mean but they still manage to poo for England! Anyone else allowing theirs to shed the excess pounds? I do feel mean though.
 
Im moving yars in 10 days and not sure how good quality the grass is on the 'other side'! Will buy in some yea sacc and mag ox tonight in preparation!
 
Mine already have all their supplements sorted out. So far I haven't needed to muzzle because she's on a bare field and I'm not moving her onto spring/summer grazing yet. Within a few weeks though she'll be out out muzzled in the day and a trickle net inside at night- I hate spring too :(
 
I've been on this forum for a few years now and every March/April time there is always a rush of threads wondering why a horse is acting strange or has come down with lami.

The thing about spring lami is it's usually a combination of factors. One problem too many is what pushes the horse over the edge.

If people start thinking now about what they can do.....maybe one less horse might suffer.

I hope so anyway.
 
Oberon said:
I've been on this forum for a few years now and every March/April time there is always a rush of threads wondering why a horse is acting strange
Click to expand...

In view of Oberons comment above can someone please tell my horse that it isn't March/April yet because she's been acting like a bl**dy loon for 2 weeks now :D
 
sonjafoers said:
In view of Oberons comment above can someone please tell my horse that it isn't March/April yet because she's been acting like a bl**dy loon for 2 weeks now :D
Click to expand...

Some horses are just more advanced than others. Be proud.
lol.gif


In all seriousness - the frosty grass is as high in sugar as spring grass. This high level of sugar will (in some horses);

Kill off the gut flora and cause toxin release in the bloodstream - leading to lami (hence the Yea-sacc/charcoal to try and help this).

Cause a mal-absorption of magnesium - leading to footiness/aggitation (hence adding more magnesium at this time of year).

And for metabolically challenged horses......muzzle and avoid eye contact
lol.gif


We are not suffering frosts at the moment in Blackpool, but I worry for horses around the country who are moving from frosty grass straight onto spring grass :(
 
So would you recommend Magnesium for all horses (that are as you described in OP)?

I asked a few supplement questions about a week ago and the options seemed to be, look at the Norvite selection or don't bother with supplements unless you know its required as can overdose.

If I was to consider taking my horse barefoot (as I would like to), then I'd need to get her diet sorted. But when I've asked on here, I haven't had many answers and not sure where else I can get the answers I need so I'm keeping my two on their current programme.

If I can get further info. on magnesium and whether it would help my two, then I would try it but how do I know if they need it? I'm not too sure of the analysis etc as it isnt my land.


As for all the rugging, feeding, fly treatment, barefoot etc posts that come up regularly, yes thjey don't always apply to me but I go in and read some of them as you may never know when there's something you may think, oh hang on, that's a good idea. :)
I'd never even have considered my horse barefoot but after reading posts on here I have learnt a lot regarding foot balance, what a healthy foot looks like etc.

I'd rather people ask questions (even if its similar ones constantly coming up), rather than them not asking and potentially neglecting a horse through ignorance. :D
 
fidleyspromise said:
So would you recommend Magnesium for all horses (that are as you described in OP)?

I asked a few supplement questions about a week ago and the options seemed to be, look at the Norvite selection or don't bother with supplements unless you know its required as can overdose.

If I was to consider taking my horse barefoot (as I would like to), then I'd need to get her diet sorted. But when I've asked on here, I haven't had many answers and not sure where else I can get the answers I need so I'm keeping my two on their current programme.

If I can get further info. on magnesium and whether it would help my two, then I would try it but how do I know if they need it? I'm not too sure of the analysis etc as it isnt my land.


As for all the rugging, feeding, fly treatment, barefoot etc posts that come up regularly, yes thjey don't always apply to me but I go in and read some of them as you may never know when there's something you may think, oh hang on, that's a good idea. :)
I'd never even have considered my horse barefoot but after reading posts on here I have learnt a lot regarding foot balance, what a healthy foot looks like etc.

I'd rather people ask questions (even if its similar ones constantly coming up), rather than them not asking and potentially neglecting a horse through ignorance. :D
Click to expand...

Magnesium is helpful to most horses (most 'calmers' is basically magnesium with a price tag) not because of shortage in the forage - but more because of imbalances or difficulty of absorption within the horse.

When a horse was 'footy' a few years ago - removing sugar and adding more magnesium was the only advice we had.

Now we are moving into whole mineral balancing with excellent results.
http://www.forageplus.com/

If is isn't possible to have the forage analysed - then there are two mineral supplements that are recommended (Equimins META Balance and Pro Hoof) in a neutral carrier, instead of bags of feed/balancers.

However, just adding magnesium is a good start. While most minerals can be dangerous to supplement blind - magnesium is safe.

These threads might help
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=508098&highlight=feed+barefooters

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=490832&highlight=feed+barefooters&page=5
 
If you're still wondering why your horse suddenly starts breathing fire this season... consider your alfalfa intake... many feeds contain alfalfa and it is very high in protein. That combined with a rush of fresh sugars from grass is the reason many horses go footy/loopy.

Cut the feed in spring, but keep up the vits n mins. What I would do is speedibeet & mins with veg rather than the usual balancer/alaf-a lite etc... just until summer.

Please don't forget your copper & zinc. Consider mineral licks in the field instead of hard feed in spring according to workload/breed/type etc.
 
The Fuzzy Furry said:
Or how many rugs?

Can I leave mine out now at night?

Should I bring in for daytime?

WHEN do you leave them out at night?

Has anyone had to put on flymasks yet?

What is best fly repellant?

Do you poo-pick in the summer?

Gosh its very hot, how are you coping?

Too hot to ride, anyone else not riding?

I ride before work in this heat, does anyone else?

Ground is too hard to ride now, anyone else?

Then......
Anyone got their hay in yet?

How much for hay off the field?

Ad nauseum :D:D:D

sorry, will go for lunch now :o

:D
Click to expand...
LMAO - Wait for the fun to begin:rolleyes::D:D
 
Oberon said:
Magnesium is helpful to most horses (most 'calmers' is basically magnesium with a price tag) not because of shortage in the forage - but more because of imbalances or difficulty of absorption within the horse.

When a horse was 'footy' a few years ago - removing sugar and adding more magnesium was the only advice we had.

Now we are moving into whole mineral balancing with excellent results.
http://www.forageplus.com/

If is isn't possible to have the forage analysed - then there are two mineral supplements that are recommended (Equimins META Balance and Pro Hoof) in a neutral carrier, instead of bags of feed/balancers.

However, just adding magnesium is a good start. While most minerals can be dangerous to supplement blind - magnesium is safe.

These threads might help
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=508098&highlight=feed+barefooters

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=490832&highlight=feed+barefooters&page=5
Click to expand...



Thanks.
I'll read these through the night :)

If I add magnesium / pro hoof to feed, what would be classed as a neutral carrier?
Ponies are currently fed - 1 is on high fibre nuts in a treat ball and 1 is fed formula4feet in a treat ball.

My aim is to keep their feed as simple as possible.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top