Managing Spring Grass: Protecting Your Horse from Laminitis Spring grass looks beautiful, lush, and inviting, yet it poses serious risks for horses prone to laminitis. Understanding why spring pasture is dangerous and implementing smart management strategies protects your horse while still allowing them to enjoy grazing safely. Why Spring Grass is Dangerous Spring grass contains significantly higher sugar and fructan levels compared to mature summer pasture. Rapid growth in optimal conditions produces plants storing maximum energy. Horses prone to laminitis, those with Equine Metabolic Syndrome, Cushing’s disease, or previous laminitis episodes face particular risk from these rich pastures. Identifying At-Risk Horses Horses and Ponies Predisposed to Laminitis: Overweight or obese horses, those with cresty necks, ponies and native breeds, horses with previous laminitis episodes, those diagnosed with metabolic conditions, and any horse showing insulin resistance all require careful spring grass management. Review our spring care checklist for comprehensive seasonal management strategies. Warning Signs to Monitor: Increased digital pulse, heat in hooves, reluctance to move, shifting weight between feet, pottery gait, or sensitivity when walking on hard ground all warrant immediate veterinary attention and pasture restriction. Practical Spring Pasture Management Strategies Restrict Grazing Times: Limit turnout to early morning (before 10am) when sugar levels are lowest. Avoid afternoon grazing when photosynthesis has maximised sugar content. Start with 15-30 minutes and gradually increase only if your horse shows no adverse signs. Work with an equine nutritionist to develop a safe grazing plan for your horse Use Grazing Muzzles: Grazing muzzles reduce intake by approximately 80% while allowing horses to move and graze naturally. Ensure proper fitting, introduce gradually, and supervise initially to confirm your horse adapts successfully. Create Sacrifice Areas: Establish drylots or sacrifice paddocks with no grass access for high-risk horses. Provide appropriate hay, companionship, and environmental enrichment. This eliminates guesswork about safe grazing times and provides complete control over intake. Implement Strip Grazing: Use temporary electric fencing to restrict access to small pasture sections. This limits intake while allowing grazing behaviour and reduces waste from horses camping in paddocks. Monitor Body Condition Carefully: Weigh regularly using weight tapes or scales. Track body condition scores weekly. Spring weight gain happens rapidly on rich pasture, and excess weight significantly increases laminitis risk. Frequently Asked Questions About Spring Grass Management Can I strip graze at specific times of day? Yes, combining time restriction with area restriction provides additional control. Turn horses out early morning in limited areas, then return to drylots for the remainder of the day. This strategy works well for multiple horses with varying risk levels. What should I feed if restricting grazing? Provide good quality hay analysed for sugar and starch content if possible. Look for mature hay rather than early cut grass hay. Soak hay if necessary to further reduce sugar content. Balance with appropriate low-sugar supplements to meet nutritional needs. Find quality hay and feed suppliers near you who can provide analysed hay and appropriate low-sugar supplements. How long does spring grass stay dangerous? Risk typically peaks during rapid spring growth but continues until grass matures in summer. Weather influences sugar levels too – cold nights following sunny days create particularly high sugar concentrations. Monitor conditions and adjust management throughout spring and early summer. Do all horses need restricted spring grazing? No. Healthy horses with good metabolic function typically handle spring grass well. Focus intensive management on horses with known risk factors. However, all horses benefit from gradual introduction to spring pasture rather than unlimited immediate access. Can I do anything to make my pasture safer? Allow grass to grow taller before grazing (over 8cm). Avoid overgrazing which stresses plants and increases sugar. Consider pasture species less prone to high sugar accumulation. However, management strategies are more effective than attempting to change established pastures. Consider consulting fencing specialists to create sacrifice areas or strip grazing systems. Key Takeaways About Managing Spring Grass Spring grass poses real risks for susceptible horses, but sensible management allows safe grazing while protecting against laminitis. Know your horse’s individual risk factors, implement appropriate restrictions, monitor carefully for warning signs, and work with your veterinarian/horse nutritionist to develop a comprehensive plan. Prevention is always easier than treating laminitis after it develops.
Read More