Can good grass make your horse fizzy

domsmith

domsmith

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This afternoons ride ending in me hitting the floor.

He has been lively for a week or so, but at every asking today for a trot or a canter he started with a huge leap. i feel i coped quite well but the last time he had a big buck and i lost it.

anyway. hes on grass, just coming back into really tremendous condition. upto maybe 3 weeks ago he was getting quite a bit of feed to help him on and no probs.
This last 10 days hes been good grass, but i was told he looked dehydrated and give him water with molasses in to make hime drink it, then some beet pulp well soaked again to get the water into him. and some balancer.

is it just how he is now high on life or do i need to get him off grass!

thanks

d
 
My chap definitely gets more 'alive' on decent grass! Takes same riding sometimes lol like a kid on haribo!!
 
Absolutely 'spring grass' is noturious! I'd start with cutting the sugar and beet and see if that helps.

Dehydration is unususal if he has good access to clean water - could there be something underlying causing that?
How bad was it? when you pinched his skin how long until the pinch disappears?
 
Polos Mum said:
Absolutely 'spring grass' is noturious! I'd start with cutting the sugar and beet and see if that helps.

Dehydration is unususal if he has good access to clean water - could there be something underlying causing that?
How bad was it? when you pinched his skin how long until the pinch disappears?
Click to expand...

Well i have a bit of experience in working with animals, and i didnt think he was dehydrated. but i went with the advice. they said he looked a little hunched up and thats what they thought it was.

the sugar in molasses and beet did worry me.
 
I'm in similar situation - ish. just bought new horse who arrived on Monday - he'd been on starvation paddock for four weeks and the three times I tried him, I thought verged on lazy (my preference to be fair!) However, he's been on succulent grass turn out for 12 out of 24 hours and today on his first hack on the country lanes I thought I was on a different horsey - jogging, hardly had to use my leg and when asking for 'stand' and wait 5 beats, he'd rein back!

Now I suspect, his antics were more than likely my nerves and his. However, I'm glad I've restricted his turn out, put hay up in the yard instead of letting him have grass and I too was concerned that since he's been with me (72 hrs now) he's hardly had any water. My very experienced friend said that he will be getting his moisture content through grass so not to worry.

If I were you, I'd stop the molasses and sugar beat - or find unmolested sugar beat (simply foods do it and are a brilliant company) he will be getting enough through grass. A farmer friend remarked to me today that the grass right now is "like spring grass"

Hope that helps and hope you're not too sore ;-)
 
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