Grass Sickness

[_April_]

Hey guys,

I lost my last horse to grass sickness about 7 years ago. It is a subject which now gives me sleepless nights worrying about my new mare.


Am on a totally different yard but grass sickness is very prevalent in Scotland and I would like to minimise risk where possible.
At the moment I feed a probiotic (Coligone) any time I think Tara might encounter a stressful situation - when we relocated, moving fields, new companions etc.



Last night I was reading a post in the Vet forum and one tip given was to avoid grazing where game birds were in abundance.
Our YO also runs a shoot and there are always loads of pheasants running about the fields so I am naturally concerned now

Could anyone give me more information on this - am going to spend some time googling this morning too.



The other thing that is stressing me is that our YO has plans to harrow the winter field once we have moved out of it...

this is also highlighted as a risk area on the grass sickness.org website.
Is it just whilst horses are using the land or should the land never be harrowed if to be used for equine grazing?

I think she is planning to harrow it now and then rest it till Oct ish.



I am going to gather as many facts as possible to show her and of course if necessary I will have to move yards - although would rather not.
As far as I am aware no horses onthe yard have had grass sickness - but tbh you would be hard pushed in my area to find one that hasn't suffered at one time or another

Sorry for long ramble but an advice would be greatly appreciated!


L x

 

[Donkeymad]

For the most up-to-date and accurate information, I would contact the Grass Sickness organisation. I feel asking Joe Public is a little risky as you may get all sorts of weird, wonderful and inaccurate information, along with the good. I too have lost a mare to GS, and know how horrible it is.

http://www.grasssickness.org.uk/

 

[Cuffey]

Sounds like you already know more about GS than most of us.
Disturbing soil when horses are in the field is a negative as is mechanical poo picking.
The first cases were associated with spreading guano as fertiliser and I am aware of a pony taking GS on a field that had been used for large numbers of poultry

Positives are said to be mixed grazing--other livestock cattle/sheep
Feeding hay
Feeding probiotics
Taking care to prevent stress--dont worm and vaccinate too close together and think through your activities to keep stress minimal

Despite all the research we still dont really know how to prevent it--so just stable your new horse for part of the day and feed hay and provide a small feed containing 'good bacteria' eg Yea Sacc daily

Most susceptible--new horses, newly backed horses, just wormed (ivermectin) and take particular care when weather has been cool and dry for over a week--perhaps when grass is 'stressed'

 

[_April_]

Thanks guys! I have been looking into it all day and official websites seem to back up everything in your post Cuffey.

Little Donkey - I think I will email my questions to that organisation good idea

It's a horrible illness