- Is it safe for a horse to graze in a pasture?
- Is lush pasture bad for horses’ digestive system?
- Can pasture cause colic in horses?
- Is lush spring pasture bad for horses?
- Is soaking hay good for horses with colic?
- Is it normal for horses to be overweight on pastures?
- Can spring pasture cause laminitis in horses?
- What does “lush” mean for pasture grass?
- Is it better to soak or steam Hay?
- Is soaking hay good for horses with COPD?
- How to feed a low NSC hay for horses?
- Is overgrazing bad for horses?
- How do I know if my horse has pasture-associated laminitis?
- Are legumes better for horses than grass?
- Is grassy pasture right for my horse?
- Is steaming good for horses with heaves?
- Can soaked hay cause colic in horses?
- What is the best hay for horses with insulin resistance?
- What factors affect NSC levels in horses?
- Is there such a thing as low NSC hay?
Is it safe for a horse to graze in a pasture?
For susceptible horses, there is no safe time to allow unlimited pasture access. If grazing horses show signs of problems (colic, warm hooves, reluctance to move because of hoof pain), remove them from the pasture and call a veterinarian. Gallagher, J.A.,
Is lush pasture bad for horses’ digestive system?
For some horses, though, the elevated level of highly fermentable carbohydrates in lush pasture can be overwhelming to the digestive system.
Can pasture cause colic in horses?
This accumulation of lactic acid is a direct cause of colic and laminitis in pastured horses. Virtually all horses are subject to some digestive upsets associated with lush spring pasture. The content of highly fermentable carbohydrates in lush pasture can be overwhelming to the digestive system.
Is lush spring pasture bad for horses?
Virtually all horses are subject to some digestive disturbances associated with lush spring pasture. It may be just a loosening of their manure from the high water content. For some horses, though, the elevated level of highly fermentable carbohydrates in lush pasture can be overwhelming to the digestive system.
Is soaking hay good for horses with colic?
Soaking Hay That said, soaking hay is an effective management strategy for horses prone to impaction colic. First, it increases water intake without the need for drinking more water, and secondly it softens the hay and makes it easier to chew.
Is it normal for horses to be overweight on pastures?
Obesity is a risk for any horse on spring pastures. We are far too accustomed to seeing overweight horses and thinking this is normal. It’s very easy for a horse to slip into dangerous obesity on spring pastures. Obesity significantly increases the strain on the horse’s feet, joints, and heart.
Can spring pasture cause laminitis in horses?
Based on the above-mentioned and other research studies, there are several management strategies owners can employ to reduce the laminitis risks associated with spring pasture consumption, especially in horses that have had previous bouts of laminitis attributed to grass intake, or those with insulin resistance or other metabolic conditions.
What does “lush” mean for pasture grass?
Horse owners and farm managers frequently use the word “lush” to describe the state of pasture forage as it begins to grow rapidly in the spring. What does “lush” mean exactly? Is this new grass good for horses, or dangerous for them to graze?
Is it better to soak or steam Hay?
Both soaking and steaming hay can be of significant benefit to horses with allergies or sensitivities to dust. Steaming hay for 50 to 90 minutes improves palatability and significantly reduces mold spores and dust. Steaming hay also removes far less of the nutrients that are leached out by soaking.
Is soaking hay good for horses with COPD?
Reynolds et al. 1997 found that horses with HYPP need complete diets less than 1 percent K. Moore-Colyer 1996 found that soaking hay for 30 minutes reduced respiratory problems for horses with COPD or heaves. Does soaking hay remove other nutrients?
How to feed a low NSC hay for horses?
Keep wet hay clean. For instance, soak in a wheelbarrow, drain the residual water and let the horse eat out of the wheelbarrow. Needless to say, do not allow the horse to drink the residual water. Soaking hay should be an emergency solution when low NSC hay is temporarily unavailable.
Is overgrazing bad for horses?
Scores of horses will gorge themselves on that long-awaited lush, green pasture of springtime. As many of us already know, overgrazing grasses and legumes that are high in water-soluble carbohydrates puts horses at risk for laminitis —a painful, life-threatening condition of the hooves.
How do I know if my horse has pasture-associated laminitis?
If you suspect your horse has either of these conditions, schedule a vet visit for blood tests that will help confirm a diagnosis. If your horse has a metabolic disease, consider it a huge warning flag that he is at high risk for pasture-associated laminitis.
Are legumes better for horses than grass?
However, for horses needing to gain weight, those in work, and other horses with higher caloric needs, legumes provide an advantage over grass-only pastures and may help alleviate a need for feeding grain. With the exception of white clover, all legumes and legume-grass pastures were below 12 percent nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC).
Is grassy pasture right for my horse?
Grass pasture alone often does not meet the greater energy and nutrient needs of growing horses, horses in heavy work, and lactating mares. But they may not be appropriate for horses that are overweight or prone to certain metabolic conditions.
Is steaming good for horses with heaves?
Steaming is great for the horse with heaves or other respiratory issues, as there’s barely anything left to inhale. The Water-Soluble Content (water-soluble content, aka “sugars” to be really simple about things) is only slightly reduced with steaming.
Can soaked hay cause colic in horses?
Ethanol soluble carbohydrates (ESC) wash out more easily than fructans. Starch is not water soluble and therefore remains in soaked hay. Soaked hay will stay in the stomach only for a very short time, allowing bacteria to reach the small intestine and cause abdominal pain or colic. Do not soak more hay than the horse can eat in one day.
What is the best hay for horses with insulin resistance?
The rule of thumb for feeding a horse with health issues such as insulin resistance, Cushing’s Disease, or Equine Metabolic Syndrome is sourcing hay with an NSC value of 10 percent or less on a dry matter basis. Nitrate Photo: Robin Duncan Photography
What factors affect NSC levels in horses?
Other factors may affect NSC levels, such as time of day the hay was cut (morning vs. evening), how quickly the hay was harvested out of the field, and whether it was rained on. If the hay spends more days drying before baling, NSC tends to be lower. Horse owners often work with equine nutritionists to formulate rations.
Is there such a thing as low NSC hay?
Though no hay can be reliably classified as low-NSC without being tested, some tend to be more appropriate for metabolic horses, according to Crandell. “In my experience, warm-season grasses like coastal Bermudagrass and teff tend to be lower in NSC than cool-season perennial grasses, such as timothy and orchardgrass.