Is grass 'safer' when it's this dry?

[muckypony]

In terms of sugasr?

Mine have never had lami and I want to keep it that way, but with a welsh, 2 Shetlands and 8 acres of grazing its hard! Their current field is now bald and brown, they aren't interested in hay and just want to be in the other fields. I was greeted this morning with a lovely broken fence!!

Would it be safer now to let them graze it? The grass is long and brown (seedy stuff) with some green at the base. They are out 24/7 but could come off the longer grass for day or night.

 

[ameeyal]

I would say yes it is, its done all its growing, im starting a track system for my horses and ive given them a strip of long grass like yours and they do not want to eat it, { well at first they did} ive opened up more track for them but they spend more time on the short grass, so that speaks for its self.

 

[JillA]

I would say no - it is continuing to photosynthesise but not growing due to lack of moisture. When it starts again it will be packed full of sugars, same as when it has been frosted (same process).
Long grass doesn't contain so much, it is the short new stuff - at least I hope so, I am picking long grass for my horse who is just starting Prascend due to a lammi event and is living in my manege for the surface to support his feet. Anyone know about long grass, which has flowered?

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

The levels of sugar are less in long grass, but they can eat more of it so a starvation paddock with a pick of short sugary strands is better for lami prone ponies than an area the same size of long less sugary grass.

In JillA's case picking the long grass is better for her horse, unless she is super humans and can pick kgs of the stuff :biggrin3: when grass has seeded it is less sugary than before IIRC so again better for your ned

 

[SO1]

My understanding is the sugar content is lower but as they can eat more of it then the actual amount of sugar they could consume could still he high enough to be problematic. I imagine the sugar content is similar to hay so would be similar to feeding ad lib unsoaked hay if out 24/7.

The grass at our yard is long and dry looking but native ponies all still muzzled and on soaked hay at night when they come in.