Grass Sickness - Any Experience?

[Froddy]

I've just been told that the summer field used at our yard has a history of GS deaths so obviously I'm slightly concerned. My horse was out in the field last year with no ill effect, that was late July until October, but now it's the time of year when GS is more prevalent and said field has just been harrowed (harrowing is a risk factor apparently according to the GS website) so I'm worried

 

[sandi_84]

I've just been told that the summer field used at our yard has a history of GS deaths so obviously I'm slightly concerned. My horse was out in the field last year with no ill effect, that was late July until October, but now it's the time of year when GS is more prevalent and said field has just been harrowed (harrowing is a risk factor apparently according to the GS website) so I'm worried

I'm not particularly knowlegable on this subject but I know of two horses and a pony who died from grass sickness. One of them was at my yard in the field my boy was kept on. My lad was there for a good 8 months previous to the pony who died and was there for another 4 months after and he is A-ok.
It was tragic, the pony who died was there for breaking and I was his jockey. He was such a sweet little guy and it was heartbreaking to hear he'd passed away - I was on my holiday when it happened

 

[moana]

I lost a horse to GS some years ago. No further cases in that field (or nearby). I believe a horse needs susceptibility, and that it is not down to the field.

 

[Javabb94]

I lost my Shetland to acute grass sickness last July

I have heard once past 7 years of age their susceptibility is reduced

I have another pony grazing there (24) who has been there 8 years ish with no issues and my other horse has Been there 2 1/2 years with no issues since he was 12


Just depends on circumstances I think

 

[Highlands]

All I know is that forage ( hay or hayledge is important) think its to do with if not enough forage and horses disturb ground. Horrible disease, pure evil.

 

[forever broke]

My lad had this a few years ago, we were amazingly lucky and he survived though. We've had no other cases and still using the same field. I gather it's down to the horse being susceptible along with the suspected bacteria being in the ground and various factors coming together at once. There's an excellent group on facebook, Equine Grass Sickness Awareness, which has lots of tips for reducing risk factors