Your horse and spring pasture

Article from 'Straight from the Horse's Mouth' - September 2009

Fast growing spring pastures can often be a problem for horses. The quality and quantity of New Zealand pastures, especially in spring, are often too rich for a horse's system.

Horses are naturally forage animals with very selective grazing habits. Their digestive systems are adapted to handle grass and forage based foods. If you notice behavioural changes with your horse, then chances are, these could be attributed to the new spring grass. Not only is there a sudden increase in energy from the grass, but the horse's system can also experience vitamin and mineral imbalances. Over the next few weeks some grasses will be starting to increase in sugar levels which can upset the bacteria in your horses' intestines. Horses lack the enzymes necessary to break down the soluble sugars found in spring grasses. This means grass often passes undigested into the large intestine where it undergoes bacterial fermentation. Problems such as stress, spookiness, overexcitability, muscle soreness and even laminitis can result from absorption of the by-products of this process.

The other change in grass, especially in ryegrass pastures, is an increase in the amount of mycotoxins. This is basically a fungal growth on the grass which is not necessarily visible to the naked eye. Horse-sick pastures are great environments for mycotoxins to grow due to their acidity. Some horses seem to be quite immune to mycotoxins and others very sensitive. This means you can have two horses in the same paddock but only one of them may be exhibiting symptoms. Signs you can see will be anything from muscle soreness, spookiness and skin problems to diarrhoea.

Many sport and pleasure horses are kept in situations where the amount of available grass is not sufficient to meet dietary requirements. A supplemental grain mix is usually fed to provide the necessary extra energy. If too much is fed at once, or if the passage through the small intestine is too rapid, an undigested amount passes through to the intestines where it undergoes bacterial fermentation. The by-products of starch and sugar fermentation can affect both temperament and performance; over-excitability and muscle tye-up are common problems.

There are two main treatment options available. One is take your horse off grass entirely and just feed hay and feed. If this is not an option then it would be worth trying a toxin binder supplement, combined with magnesium and vitamin B. There are several toxin binders on the market, some cheaper than others, but note that some are cheaper for a reason (containing less ingredients or not as effective ingredients). After two weeks you should start to notice a change; if things are not getting better by then, further investigation needs to be made.

RD1 stocks the Bomac product COMPOSE which is a combination of the well known herb St John's Wort, along with the B Complex Vitamins B1, B6 and Magnesium. These ingredients all promote the normal maintenance and function of the nervous system and, therefore, help manage unwanted behaviour from dietary deficiencies.

It's also the perfect time of year to give your horse a warrant of fitness. Ensure you have a good worming and nutrition programme in place, applicable to each horse. Check teeth condition enables food to be well chewed and digested, rather than spilt on the ground, as this will assist in improving condition. Make sure the hooves are in good order and, if possible, commence a regular grooming programme to assist the summer coat coming through.

While horse health and pasture management is important, equally critical is maintaining the right soil conditions for growing grass. A soil sample can be tested for as little as $50 and plant matter for about $85. You can then talk to the team at RD1 about any deficiencies and what you can apply to maximise long-term grass growth. You may think you're saving money by not doing a soil test, but there's a good chance you'll end up applying fertilisers you may not need, and still not address one or more key deficiencies.

Some fertilisers require horses to be kept off the pasture for a little while, sometimes only until the first dew. The main issue is fertiliser dust, which can irritate the lungs.

For grass seed, horse feed and supplements, as well as fertiliser for your pasture, talk to the team at your local RD1 store today.

Some products may not be available in all stores but can be ordered on request. Disclaimer: Any views and comments expressed in this article are not necessarily the opinions of RD1 Limited nor associated agencies. This content is copyright of RD1 Limited.