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.
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Part 2 of our in-depth 2 part series on Horse Supplements The Importance of Horse Minerals in their Diet In this article, we look at the importance of horse vitamins and minerals in their diet. With one or two exceptions, your horse manufactures most of the vitamins required in their gut. They will also get vitamins from green forages, and the sun (vitamin D). For that reason, most good horse nutrition supplements focus on supplying minerals rather than vitamins that may be deficient in a horse’s diet. Your primary consideration therefore when looking at horse supplements should be what supplements do horses need in terms of minerals? Horse Nutrition When it comes to nutrition, many minerals work synergistically with certain other minerals and vitamins. They also compete for uptake by the digestive system. For this reason, minerals in these ‘relationships’ need to be present in certain ratios so the body can absorb and use (metabolise) them correctly The relationship between calcium and phosphorus is one of the best-known examples of this. Essentially, both these minerals need to be present in a diet in a certain ratio so the body can use them efficiently. If this balance is significantly out of whack, the body will start absorbing the one in short supply from other sources i.e. from bones in this case. Exactly What Horse Minerals Are Needed? Sticking with calcium and phosphorus for the moment – for horses, the optimum ratio of calcium to phosphorus is around 2:1 respectively (6:1 is calculated to be the upper limit of tolerance for mature horses). They will also do OK at ratios of 1:1 but if the ratio falls below this (0.75:1 for example), the body will begin grabbing calcium from bones to restore the balance. The same happens in reverse – if calcium levels get too high, the body will start absorbing phosphorus from bones to compensate. Important Horse Mineral Ratios For Your Horse’s Diets There are a number of basic but important mineral ratios for horse diets. When deciding which minerals your horse may be lacking, you’ll first need to know what, and how much, they’re already getting in their normal diet. That may mean talking to an equine nutritionist or getting your horse’s diet professionally analysed. They may then suggest an appropriate commercial mineral supplement or will create one for you based on the results of the analysis. Calcium (Ca) to Phosphorus (P) Ratio Calcium and photophore are crucial for strong, healthy skeletal development, amongst other things. They also compete with each other for absorption in the gut. Maintaining the appropriate ratio between these 2 minerals is crucial. The ideal ratio is two parts Ca to one part P, with a range of 1:1 to 6:1 being acceptable. Calcium (Ca) to Magnesium (Mg) Ratio Calcium and magnesium work together to support correct nerve and muscle function, bone development, and overall metabolic balance. The ideal ratio for these 2 minerals is between 2:1 and 3:1 (Ca:Mg). Calcium (Ca) to Sodium (Na) Ratio Calcium, along with sodium, is also involved in maintaining cellular fluid balance, in nerve conductivity, and muscle function. Maintaining the correct ratio of between 2:1 to 3:1 (Ca:Na) is important for these functions. Copper (Cu) to Zinc (Zn) Ratio Copper and zinc are essential trace minerals involved in various physiological processes, including enzyme function, immune system support, and tissue integrity. Zinc is also important for good hoof health, which is why good horse hoof feed supplements always contain zinc (and its related minerals). In fact, some hoof supplements make good all-round basic mineral supplements. Copper is essential for triggering melanin (pigment) production, particularly red pigment. A deficiency of this mineral therefore can severely inhibit pigment production, resulting in dull faded coats (and orange chestnuts!). The recommended ratio for Copper and Zinc is between 1:3 to 1:5 (Cu:Zn). Iron (Fe) to Copper (Cu) Ratio Iron is necessary for oxygen transport and energy production. Excessive iron levels can interfere with copper absorption and lead to imbalances. Notably, iron toxicity can cause a condition called haemochromatosis. The optimal ratio for Iron and Copper is between 4:1 and 5:1 (Fe:Cu). NB: Because Iron, Copper, Zinc, and another mineral Manganese all interact metabolically, they are usually grouped together in a single ratio which should ideally be between 4:1:3:3 – 5:1:5:5 respectively. Sodium (Na) to Potassium (K) Ratio Sodium and potassium are electrolytes. They are involved in fluid balance, nerve transmission, and muscle function. The ideal ratio for them is around 1:1 (Na:K). Sodium (Na) to Chloride (Cl) Ratio Sodium and chloride are also electrolytes and work together to maintain proper hydration, nerve function, and acid-base balance. The recommended ratio is approximately 1:1 (Na:Cl). Sodium chloride is also known as common table salt! Although most forage contains enough sodium and chloride, you should nevertheless always ensure your horse has access to (preferably) free choice salt licks. And clean water… Why Horse Minerals are Needed? Ensuring your horse receives essential minerals, in the correct ratios, is important for its overall health and wellbeing. Horses that lack some of these minerals, or are getting too much of some at the expense of others, will eventually exhibit symptoms of these deficiencies. Poor hoof health can be a sign of zinc deficiency. Red or coppery tinges on the ends of black manes and tails can be indicative of an imbalance between Iron, Copper, and Zinc. Faded, dull, bleached, dry looking coats are often a classic indicator of copper deficiency. Orange coloured chestnuts for example may be copper deficient. And so on… While it may require some research and analysis, consulting with an equine nutritionist or other qualified professional can help identify any mineral deficiencies in your horse’s diet that need to be addressed. By providing the necessary supplements and horse minerals, you can help support strong skeletal development, muscle and nerve function, and immune system health in your horse.
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Part 1 in our in-depth 2 part series on Horse Supplements What Supplements Do Horses Need? There are several factors that determine what horse supplements are needed for Australian horses. Your horse has evolved over millions of years (55 million to be precise!) to utilise the nutrients available in a forage diet. However, when compared to other equids, like donkeys, horses are relatively wasteful in terms of nutrient absorption. They not only can’t metabolise forages as efficiently, they also tend to pee and poop out quite a lot of nutrients. Whilst this is good news for gardens – horse manure is great garden mulch – it’s not so great for you, the horse’s owner! In particular, it means that your horse very likely requires some type of horse feed supplement, regardless of diet. That being the case, the question is – what supplements do horses need? **This article does not constitute medical advice. Please consult your equine veterinarian for profession advice on horse supplements. The Factors that Influence what Horse Supplements are Needed What horse supplements are needed depends on several things… The first is age Young growing horses – foals, weanlings, yearlings, 2 & 3 year olds – have different nutritional requirements to mature horses. Pregnant and lactating mares likewise require a different balance of nutrients to dry mares. Horses in work need more supplements than horses that are not. Geriatric horses are different again. And so on… The second is diet Horses that only eat forages (hay and/or grass) typically benefit from a good all-round balancer supplement that is designed specifically to top up nutrients lacking in hay and/or grass forages. These are available as balancer pellets, loose licks, or concentrated supplement products. Horses that get a hard feed as well as forages will need a supplement that balances out the forages and whatever is in their hard feed. Grains for example have a different nutrient profile to pelleted and pre-mixed horse feeds, which contain added minerals and vitamins. One advantage of pelleted and pre-mixed feeds is that feeding them at the manufacturers recommended rate for your horse’s size, age, weight, and work will usually provide the right balance and quantities of essential nutrients. Overall Health and Body Condition Your horse’s overall health and body condition also determines what supplements s/he needs. Horses with metabolic disorders and conditions such as Equine Cushings Disease, Equine Metabolic Syndrome, founder etc have very specific dietary and nutritional requirements. These will influence your choice of supplement for them. Some other disorders that likewise require careful dietary and supplement management include: PSSM (Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy) HYPP (Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis) RER (Recurrent Exertional Rhabdomyolysis) MFM (Myofibrillar Myopathy) Why Feed Your Horse Equine Feed Supplements? Horse nutrition supplements are designed to help address mineral deficiencies in standard horse diets. Although most common pelleted and pre-mix feeds do contain essential minerals and vitamins, they often have to be fed in large quantities if used as the primary supplement source. In some instances, this may be up to 3 or 4 kilos for big horses, which can get expensive! This is where products like balancer pellets and mineral supplements come in. These concentrated products can be fed in small quantities to top up, or balance out, a standard or forage only diet. As mentioned, if your horse is mostly fed hay or lives in a nice grassy paddock and needs very little extra food, you can balance out his/her mineral intake by providing… A handful of balancer pellets (use as directed on the product label) A small hard feed containing a mineral supplement, or Free access to a LOOSE mineral lick. Horse Mineral Blocks Mineral blocks, although popular, have several issues for horses. The primary one is that horses do not have rough tongues like cattle and sheep so struggle to ‘lick up’ enough minerals from hard mineral blocks. It’s also hard to monitor how much nutrients they’re getting too. The second issue is that many of these blocks contain molasses so horses tend to treat them like giant horse lollipops! They’ve been known to chew through a 5kg block in 24 hours! So, if you want to use a mineral block lick, either choose one that doesn’t contain molasses (but then you risk your horse not using it at all) OR restrict access to the block. Or consider using a loose lick instead… Incidentally, NEVER give a horse access to mineral licks designed for cattle and sheep. They often contain urea, which can be toxic to horses if consumed in large enough quantities! Always read the packaging, and do not use it unless it says it’s safe for horses. Does Your Horse Really Need Horse Supplements? Nearly ALL domestic horses, and ponies, DO require some type of feed supplement. There are several reasons for this… Grazing Restrictions Their grazing range is restricted, and therefore restricted to whatever forages are available in that range i.e. in their paddock. Many horse paddocks, particularly in agistment centres and around metropolitan areas, are overgrazed and/or consist of tropical grasses like Kikuyu. These grazing environments create nutritional problems that must be managed properly i.e. with appropriate supplements. Soil types Soils influence the nutritional quality of the forages grown in them so many forages in and of themselves are not nutritionally complete foods for horses. They either fall short in some essential nutrients, or are excessively high in others, like iron. Soils in Western Australia for instance are low in selenium, which is why most horses feeds and supplements produced in that state contain added selenium. Looking after the soil and correcting mineral deficiencies in that can help improve the nutrient profile of forages grown in it, reducing the need to rely on supplements in feeds. In most cases though horse owners should consider feeding a supplement that has been designed to suit their local soil conditions. Key Takeaways About What Horse Supplements Your Horse Needs What supplements do horses need, or more importantly, what supplement does your horse, or pony,
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