Once again CMHR is seeing way too many foundered horses. Seems like every other one we have foundered, is foundering, or has the potential to founder.
Spring grass is loaded with sugars. After being without grass during the winter, sudden exposure to
new grass growth can cause a laminitis attack, which can lead to founder.
My horses have been eased carefully on the new grass starting with a smaller field that was
pretty much still in the "nubs" stage. From there they went into the larger fields first for an hour a day or so, then it was built up for longer periods of time, 2 hours, then 3 and so forth, until now they are back on pasture for half a day presently and then to dry lot.
Although I was very careful about easing them back into the grass, low and behold, here came my sweet baby Brite Star on Saturday all dumpy with a belly ache and big runny green poo shooting out of her. The next day, she was joined by her sister Noelle, same thing. I had two belly aches going on. over the weekend Then it occurred to me that last summer, they never really experienced grass at all because we were victims of the draught and our grass never really came in as good as it usually does. So this was their very first real experience on grass ever. They couldn't tolerate it like the others. They both had some probios, and we had to start over with them again, and back into the smaller field where the grass is not growing lush or plush at this time. I also took them off of Jr food which was super loaded with sugar. You just can't be too careful.
Also don't forget that in the fall, same thing. There is grass dying out but still in many areas they have new growth in the fall too.
This has been a public service announcement.
Spring grass is loaded with sugars. After being without grass during the winter, sudden exposure to
new grass growth can cause a laminitis attack, which can lead to founder.
My horses have been eased carefully on the new grass starting with a smaller field that was
pretty much still in the "nubs" stage. From there they went into the larger fields first for an hour a day or so, then it was built up for longer periods of time, 2 hours, then 3 and so forth, until now they are back on pasture for half a day presently and then to dry lot.
Although I was very careful about easing them back into the grass, low and behold, here came my sweet baby Brite Star on Saturday all dumpy with a belly ache and big runny green poo shooting out of her. The next day, she was joined by her sister Noelle, same thing. I had two belly aches going on. over the weekend Then it occurred to me that last summer, they never really experienced grass at all because we were victims of the draught and our grass never really came in as good as it usually does. So this was their very first real experience on grass ever. They couldn't tolerate it like the others. They both had some probios, and we had to start over with them again, and back into the smaller field where the grass is not growing lush or plush at this time. I also took them off of Jr food which was super loaded with sugar. You just can't be too careful.
Also don't forget that in the fall, same thing. There is grass dying out but still in many areas they have new growth in the fall too.
This has been a public service announcement.
OH!
