Feeding grass cuttings

[oldhat]

Hey there folks, this will probably be thought a daft question but my friend in USA always feeds her horses the grass cuttings after mowing - as soon as they are cut obviously and I am now confused. I had it drummed into me my entire life that you never do this though she never has any probs, she has an old Arab and a Shetland and they seem fine! I only ask as, like everywhere else, we have so little grazing. I stopped myself letting my two eat the lawn in the garden, so today I'm about to mow it hence the query! What do you all do? I expect mine will end up on the muck pile as per usual !!

 

[hayinamanger]

It is ok to feed freshly mown grass, the problems arise once the fermentation process has begun.

 

[MerrySherryRider]

No, I wouldn't feed cuttings either. I guess its like most things, its a risk, not every horse fed cuttings will colic, just as some people feed potatoes and get away with it.
Its a risk we don't need to take here in the UK.
It could also be, that the grass in your friends part of the USA is not as lush and rich as ours is, living on a wet island as we do.

 

[WelshD]

I would feed grass that I had cut by hand but not ones that had come through a mower

Fresh or not the bits are short and have been bashed by the blades so are 'stodgy' you only have to see the cubes of grass that come out the collection boxes to see it's compacting abilities!

 

[Dr_Horse]

Nope.

Have seen a horse die from grass sickness caused by eating fresh grass cuttings

 

[oldhat]

I concur wholeheartedly! I have now mowed the entire croft to make sure they can't get at it! Thanks for the replies; I just daredn't go there! Heaven knows why after 22 years of horse owning I felt I had to ask!!! It was sorely tempting tho!!