Feeding grass cuttings

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flirtygerty

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Heard today, while cutting our lawn that you shouldn't feed grass
cuttings to horses, although they couldn't say why.
Anyone else heard of this, or know why you shouldn't.
We were dumping the cuttings in the barn where the donkeys are kept,
I would hate to risk the donkeys, so stopped cutting the lawn
 
Because after grass is cut it's wet, and starts to ferment. This is poisonous to horses.

ETA it can also cause choke and colic.
 
Aaaaaaargggh no! Please don't ever feed them. They will ferment in the horse's stomach and can be fatal. I also know of a horse that had got some and was choking as it breathed in a throatful of the fine clippings. Very very dangerous.
 
My sisters horse colicked after a kindly neighbour chucked their grass cuttings over the fence. Thought horse was a gonner.

Exactly they are not cows and the cuttings ferment.

I would not do this ever but I do know people that have fed a few when cut fresh and scatter a bit.But no way would I recommend this!
 
Merry Crisis said:
What are you doing in charge with an animal if you have to ask such a stupid question.
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Pahahaha!! I had to laugh at the abruptness of that!

Seriously though, OP it is VERY basic knowledge that cut grass should never be given to equines, same as potato peelings. But we live we learn, and I am glad you asked and now know not to do it! :)
 
I think that in 'the olden days' most people studied the BHS or Pony Club books, went to a good riding school or had experienced familybefore having a pony/horse - which clearly explained most things, including not to feed grass clippings. It's a shame that people don't have the proper training, not enough good riding schools, etc these days.
I wouldn't take offence, but I would certainly go back to the drawing board and read up about correct horse care. Start with the BHS.
 
I am 38yrs old and have had horses all my life, but didn't know about potato peelings.

Better sell my horses for their own safety...!
 
I knew about grass clippings, but not sure how I knew..... just one of those things, it doesnt surprise me that some people never got told this fact..... certainly doesn't mean you shouldn't be owning a horse!!
 
It's often good to question these equine fundamental rules.

Quite a lot of them are simply myths that we still believe.

I knew that grass cuttings shouldn't be fed, but I couldn't reliably explain exactly why.
Now I do.

Thanks to the OP.
 
A snotty reply might stop someone from posting to ask a question because they're afraid of being ridiculed and that could potentially lead to a horse suffering in some way. What's wrong with sharing information in a way that will help people rather than humiliate them?
 
Merry Crisis said:
What are you doing in charge with an animal if you have to ask such a stupid question.
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This reply annoys me beyond belief. If a person cannot come on to a specific forum and ask a well-intentioned question without being belittled by a frankly stupidly arrogant person, then these forums are worthless.
If he/she didn't know, they wouldn't have asked! And if they are too scared to ask for fear of being made to look stupid, then they will carry on doing the inappropriate action.
So, think before you say such things. Shame on you.
 
flirtygerty said:
Merry Crisis, I will explain further, if you have never had horses and a garden
together, why would I know automaticly it was wrong.
Get over yourself
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I have never had horses and a garden together - it's just something that I learnt from a very young age (4) through the old Pony Club books and BHS etc. They really were invaluable those books, albeit very outdated now most likely in some respects.

Don't take it to heart OP - MC has a very 'direct' manner in which she posts. I have learnt to mostly take it all in good humour now.

If it makes you feel better - I am so out of date after having 11 yrs off horses that when I bought my latest two yrs ago, I wasn't even aware they did large flake shavings, what a barefoot diet was, and recoiled in horror at the sight of a rubber mat with no bedding on!!
 
Best thing to do with grass cuttings is to compost them, it is so simple to build a compost bin even in a small garden with wooden pallets. Build two, one to fill this year and one for next year!
 
Thanks for all the support, as stated in previous posts, I am self taught for the most part, I didn't have the luxury of regular riding lessons, I rode beach ponies and helped out at our local riding school, but never got lessons in return, I am talking many moons ago, but I have never been afraid to ask a question or take advice, I do read a lot but some articles are conflicting.
My horses are bright of eye and glowing with good health and that is down to my care. The day I think I know it all, will be the day I give up
 
Something you might find helpful is to do the BHS horse ownership certificates. Have a look on their website as I think it gives details of instructors who run the courses in different areas - my friend and I did ours some years ago at night school. There are 4 stages and it covers all aspects of horse ownership gradually getting into more detail as the stages go on - there's no riding involved and you don't actually have to be at a stable to do it, it's classroom based. (Although we did ours where we had access to college horses) It was good fun and I defy anyone not to learn something they didn't know from it regardless of how long they've been round horses!

ETA this link: http://www.bhs.org.uk/Training_and_..._Qualifications/Horse_Owners_Certificate.aspx
 
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Sorry to hijack a thread, I know that grass cuttings are a huge no no! Never really know why, just knew. But why potato peelings? Don't blast me for not knowing! :D
 
i think you asked a relevent question that alot of horse owners would ask too!!!!..
i think alot of horse owners dont know the basic things about horses...but still keep their horses very well,..a forum like this is available for people who want help with their horses,..

i live in ireland and the irish showjumping society is bringing out a system where anyone showjumping their horses has to pass an exam first.just to prove they have some knowledge about keeping a horse...this will stop anyone ... coming in with a horse and nearly killing him/herself, or the horse .its a good idea that we sould all do some kind of course...be it bhs or other
:rolleyes:
 
That is an excellent question to ask. Don't ask, never learns, and this is important and you got some great answers. Ask away, 99% of us are here to help:)
 
My what a harsh comment for a perfectly innocent question. I just learnt on another thread you can put curry powder in a horse's feed to make it more appealing, I never knew that!

Potatoes are part of the nightshade family, so they contain some levels of toxic compounds (especially any green parts including 'eyes') that's why we cook them. You shouldn't feed raw potato to any animals really (I was always told to never feed them to a rabbit or guinea pig either). I don't know about cows, their digestive systems are pretty hardcore.
 
NoltonSeaShell said:
Sorry to hijack a thread, I know that grass cuttings are a huge no no! Never really know why, just knew. But why potato peelings? Don't blast me for not knowing! :D
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There's too much potassium in them (at least that is what I was taught). It is ok to feed them after they've been boiled though.

I have an ongoing battle at the field that's near the council estate. Every summer I put up polite notices stating that grass cuttings will make the horses ill, every summer some bugger rips them down. :mad: Luckily, the message seems to have got through. Before I rented the field there was a lovely Arab stallion who went down with bad colic after eating it.
 
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