Beware of spring grass - a hidden danger for your horse 🌱🐴.
Spring is coming and that means greener pastures and more grass for your horse. But beware - the fresh, juicy spring grass can do more harm than good, especially for sensitive horses.
Why is spring grass so dangerous?
Spring grass is full of sugar, especially fructan. When it is sunny, the grass produces a lot of sugar through photosynthesis, but when the nights are cold, it is not used for growth and accumulates. And too much sugar is not good for horses! It can lead to metabolic problems and, at worst, to laminitis.
Lameness: a major risk
One of the biggest risks of spring grass is laminitis. The high sugar content can disrupt your horse's metabolism and cause an inflammatory reaction in the hooves. Not only is it painful, but it can cause permanent damage. If you see signs such as stiff movements, weight change between the legs or warm hooves, you need to act quickly.
Which horses are most vulnerable?
Some horses are more sensitive to spring grass than others. Here are some examples of the horses you should pay extra attention to:
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Horses and ponies that gain weight quickly.
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Horses with Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) or insulin resistance
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Horses that have previously had laminitis
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Older horses with PPID (Cushing syndrome)
The importance of cloudy weather
When it is cloudy, the grass receives less sunlight and produces less sugar and fructan. This makes the grass less risky to graze on, but it is still a good idea to choose the right times of day.
The fructan content in grass can vary and depends on several factors, such as sunlight, temperature and time of day.
Morning: After a cold night, fructan accumulates in the grass and is released when the temperature rises in the morning.
Mid-day: When the sun shines and the temperature rises, the grass begins to use the sugar for growth and fructan falls.
Evening: When the temperature drops again, fructan begins to accumulate in the grass again.
If the day is also cold, the grass will not use as much of the fructan stores for growth as it normally would when it is warm. This means that fructan levels can remain high throughout the day, which can be a problem for horses that are sensitive to fructan, as it can increase the likelihood of problems.
So if both night and day are cold, the grass will struggle to use sugar for growth and fructan can accumulate in greater amounts. Therefore, it is even more important to pay attention to the amount of grass your horse has available. If you have a horse that is sensitive to fructan, it may be a good idea to limit access to grass on cold days.
How can you best protect your horse?
Your horse should of course enjoy the fresh grass, but it is important to do so gradually and at appropriate times:
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Start carefully: Start with short periods when your horse is grazing (10-15 minutes) and gradually extend the time.
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Choose the right times: It is best to graze your horse in the early morning or late afternoon, when fructan levels are lowest (but consider any weather conditions)
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Use a grazing mask: If your horse is sensitive to sugar, a grazing mask can help regulate grass intake.
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Keep an eye on your horse: Watch for weight gain and signs of laminitis.
Exercise helps, too!
Regular exercise is an important factor in preventing laminitis (and obesity). It helps improve metabolism, increase insulin sensitivity and regulate weight. At the same time, exercise strengthens the body and improves circulation. Make sure you give your horse the right amount of exercise - it doesn't have to be intense training, but regular rides or even walks can make a big difference.
Did you know ... grass grows fast in the spring?
Grass grows very fast in the spring - it can grow up to 3 cm per day if conditions are right. So beware: your horse can quickly gain quite a few pounds!
Spring grass is tasty, but it can be dangerous if you don't pay attention. With patience, caution and attention, your horse can enjoy the fresh grass without worrying about health problems.
Always be alert to your horse's reactions and ask for advice when in doubt. Are you unsure about how to best manage spring grass for your horse? Contact us, we are happy to help with advice and products that support your horse's health. 💚🐎
Remember: This InfoBlog is based on our (the people behind Equinics) personal experience, both in terms of the problems, products, therapies and gadgets discussed, but also in terms of our equine experience in general. 😃 We would like to emphasize, that we believe you should always ask your veterinarian for advice, if your horse needs help.😊