Can I feed grass clippings to my horse?

[Circe]

Hello,
Apologies if this is a stupid question.....
I am in Australia, in a very dry area, and we have now reached the point where there is next to no grass in my boys paddock. He is on bucket feeds and hay, but missing fresh grass.
My garden has some grass still, and I was wondering if I could cut some of my grass ( by hand ) and take it to my horse. It wouldn't be much, probably only a few mouthfuls, and would be fed about 30 mins after I cut it.
I know wisdom says not to feed grass cuttings, but is that just a large pile tipped out from the lawnmower?
I'd appreciate your opinions.
Kx

 

[Ranyhyn]

I think you'd have to be so careful that the cons would outweight the pros for me.

 

[Carrottom]

I would rather cut a small square of turf out and take that to him 🙂

 

[Beausmate]

The racing yard I worked in fed hand-pulled grass with each feed. I'd pull it, rather than cut it and feed as soon as possible afterwards.

 

[Thistle]

Scatter it around so he can only eat a few strands at a time, only give a very small amount. The longer the grass the better.

 

[holeymoley]

You could hand pull some and put them in a bucket.

 

[Carrottom]

The problem with putting cut grass in a bucket is that it will start to ferment very quickly especially in a hot climate. I wouldn't want to take the risk.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

I doubt it will be around long enough to ferment. Scatter it then any that does get left will dry out.

 

[Circe]

thank you for the replies.
It will only be a small amount (thats all there is ), just a couple of mouthfuls probably. Handpicking seems to be better than cutting?
I just feel so sorry for him not having the chance to eat grass!
Kx

 

[Queenbee]

Why not just take him in the garden for a graze? I wouldn't be considering it if it were me x

 

[bonny]

I used to do this with stabled horses in the spring, they enjoyed it and it did no harm

 

[Red-1]

Not sure how picking it rather than cutting it would make any difference?

I would allow a few mouthfuls. Not more than 1/4 of a bucket, as long as it was grass of a fair length as opposed to a grassy mush.

I would only give the odd mouthful of grassy mush. Maybe f it were sprinkled on something less appetising it would add interest.

 

[bonny]

Not sure how picking it rather than cutting it would make any difference?

I would allow a few mouthfuls. Not more than 1/4 of a bucket, as long as it was grass of a fair length as opposed to a grassy mush.

I would only give the odd mouthful of grassy mush. Maybe f it were sprinkled on something less appetising it would add interest.

There is a big difference between lawn clippings which should never be fed and picked grass which I think is absolutely fine. I used to feed as much as I could pick, I can’t see how that could possibly do any harm .

 

[Red-1]

There is a big difference between lawn clippings which should never be fed and picked grass which I think is absolutely fine. I used to feed as much as I could pick, I can’t see how that could possibly do any harm .

OP said she/he would cut by hand, not cut with a lawnmower. This is what I was talking about.

 

[Lois Lame]

I wouldn't feed any grass clippings from a lawn mower. Grass that can be cut by hand is a different thing.

I've taken hand cut grass to my pony on occasion.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

Clippings from a lawn cut with a mower could be detrimental for the horse. It may cause colic & there may be some kind of 'weed & feed' or fertiliser on the grass that you've cut. Pull grass from safe places for feeding by be careful.

 

[Berpisc]

If it was feasable I would graze my horse in hand on the garden for a bit.

 

[tiahatti]

I wouldn't be comfortable giving grass from a lawn mower but can you pick a bucket of long grass to give them. I realise that wouldn't last them very long though.

 

[Leandy]

The problem with grass clippings from a lawnmower is that in a heap they start to heat up and ferment very quickly, they are also very short and don't therefore require much chewing and just compact down in a fermenting mass in the stomach and are a colic risk. Handpicking an amount of grass and feeding pretty much straight away should be fine and is common practice.

 

[Gloi]

In a severe drought the grass will be bone dry so unlikely to ferment.

 

[HollyWoozle]

I have hand-picked longish grass for an elderly pony when he was unwell and reluctant to eat - fed it straight away and it didn't cause any problems for him.