Too much grass - behaviour

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sugar111

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Help - I have recently bought a 10 yr old mare who has been easy to handle and calm. Over the last week she has been in a field with a lot of grass. She has been restricted on her grazing and I am checking for any signs of laminitis, but her behaviour is becoming awful. She is becoming spooky. Could this behaviour be caused by the amount of grass????? (She isn't getting any other feed.)
 
I have this problem, but not becoming spooky, just bad mannered! Eg. Coming in from field will rear and try and bolt off! Going out of stable will try and pull me out to the field, gets jumpy when leading her out! If going on a hack and past her field, will rear until i let her go in.... I think it could all be realted, so horses just act differently! Allthough would have to say that if shes not getting any other feed does seem slighly odd. Anything else changed in her routine?
 
Not really, apart from being in a new field. She is new to me still so she may be trying to test me? We have been going to the field and slightly extending the electric fence each day and I wonder if she is just focusing on that? It's not helping my confidence any!
 
Fleur just went loopy on too much grass. She was the sort that a handful of mix sent her nuts.

Cut out all hard feed and just give hay for the moment and pray for the grass to go down.

Fleur had to be kept off all sugar/molassed products, and rich grass is high in sugar, hence the energy overload.

I used to dread spring though by autumn the grass was low in our field so I didn't have to worry about the autumn flush. Handling I could deal with - her chain would be threaded under her jaw, but riding was something of a challenge.
 
Take her off the grass! Half the field or something with electric tape, as obviously your worried about how much there is of it. You dont want to be "checking for signs of laminitis" as thats like sitting back and waiting for it to happen - dont let it!

Sorry but I hate seeing horses on a lot of grass at this time of year, its just ASKING for laminitis to cripple the poor horse!

Yes, it probably is the grass making it hyper - just like in the spring when the grass starts coming through, usually everybodys horses suddenly wake up!
 
The grass has gone down in our paddock so I have actually removed his grazing mask today, that he's had on for months. I never wanted to use one but now, following this year, I am a great fan. He's got on great with the 'Greenguard', however I don't think much to the nose bucket type one's that some use.

He has come in to his stable in the afternoons & chilled out, had a doze, had some hay before being schooled later. He hasn't suffered any 'grass bloat' & is in great condition. (He's Hann x TB) His schooling has gone well to with no pratting about & he listens. When we're done he has a little Hi Fi Lite, handfull of Blue Chip & some carrots if I've got them
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I dread to think how fat he would have been without it, some on our yard are obese.
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This has worked for us this year & we'll probably do the same next year.
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Sounds like your horse is reacting to the excess sugar load - Imagine what children are like when they eat lots of sweets - they go all hypa and naughty - Which is the reaction that your horse is giving to the excess sugar overload from the fructose - Try sectioning the field off with electric tape or using a grazing mask - Laminitis and colic aren't nice and there's no point sitting and waiting for it to happen!
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Kate x
 
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