Dreaded spring grass strikes again!

Penny Less

Penny Less

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10 March 2009
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I have a very nappy horse that I have been struggling to get out on his own for nearly 3 years now!During the winter things slightly improve, but the last 3 weeks he has been back to his absolute worst, and it always starts this time of year(goes right through summer as well) BUT the grass growth is so miniscule its hard to believe its making a difference must be powerful strong stuff ! He just cant wait to be in his paddock
 
Hi Owlie, hes still coming in at night so far, so only getting about an extra hour out.
Hes just so bloodyminded, but I am being even more bloodyminded at the moment even though Im not enjoying hacking out! No school so cant work there. I keep saying" He will not win, He will not win " what is is they say nil illigitimum carborundum or something similar !
 
My horse always goes footy and uncomfortable in spring, and I though he had LGL - put him in a starvation paddock and fed a low sugar diet. But this year he has been so reluctant to go freely forward I have investigated more - he has very thin and very sensitive soles, probably what has been causing him problems in spring has been the harder ground. He has been barefoot for years but his soles have never improved, so to save him further discomfort he now has shoes on. He may have had problems for most of his life - we just considered him lazy - he has never been happy on the roads.
I am looking into minerals to improve his feet but both vet and farrier (both very good) are of the opinion it is a conformation thing. We'll see, I will investigate the mineral balnce but could it be that your horse doesn't suffer from the grass at all??
 
The short fresh shoots of grass are the ones loaded with sugar, also if you've had a few frosty mornings like we have then that also increases the sugar in the grass.

All mine get Magnesium oxide which helps a lot with their behaviour (it is used in most comercial calmers) and stops them getting footy (they are barefoot).
I would certainly look into trying it for your lad, you can buy it on ebay for under £10 :)
 
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