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The GREEN HORSE - sustainable horsekeeping

AUGUST SEPTEMBER 2010
Vol 32 No 2

In the August September 2010 issue of The Green Horse you will find the following articles:

The GREEN HORSE
sustainable horsekeeping
Information Exchange
Reader’s Tips, Views and Questions
Weed Watch - Morning Glory by Nicola Field
Deeds, Steeds & Weeds
The Biochar Option in Pasture Health by David Mason-Jones
Brumby Salt Traps by Wendy Elks
Gordian Worms
Grazing Firsts - Spring Reminder with Dr John Kohnke
Property Safety - Chainsaws
Fodder Technology by Andrea Carmody
Equine Herbs - Plantain with Cath McDowell
Composting Manure by Chris Ferreira
Book Review

Grazing Firsts: Spring Reminder
courtesy of Dr John Kohnke BVSc RDA

Spring rains and warmer weather result in the growth of lush grass, which can trigger the onset of founder in grazing horses and exacerbate other metabolism problems. The most dangerous period is when the early spring days are still cool, but bright and sunny during the day, and the nights are still cold, which limits the plant’s use of sugars.

Heavily conditioned horses and ponies, with fatty deposits behind the shoulders above their tail-butts and hard, almost ‘cresty’ necks, have a high risk of developing Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) as they reach middle-age 12-14 years of age. EMS is a metabolic problem usually affecting ‘good doers’ or ‘hoovering’ horses. It which is linked to a high intake of Non-Structural Carbohydrates (NSCs) and soluable sugars over the years when grazing high producing grass based pastures (diary pastures) and fed on good quality grassy hay, as well as over feeding hard feeds based on grains and grain by-products, to help maintain show condition, often without regular exercise.

The excess intake of these sugary compounds results in a glucose intolerance and increased blood levels of insulin hormone in an attempt to limit blood sugars, which leads to insulin resistance (IR). The end result is the increased risk of insulin-induced laminitis and symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes. Many horses and ponies, which have developed IR are on a ‘knife edge’ of balancing blood sugar and insulin surges, and even grazing on sunny days or paddocks spelling without regular training can trigger a laminitic episode.

Planning a winter ‘strip out’ by turning a horse out for 4-6 weeks during the daytime is one way in which you can help your horse readjust his glucose-insulin response and lower blood insulin levels to below a laminitic trigger level. Slow-grazing or dormant winter grasses contain less soluable sugars and the increased walking as the horse and pony grazes each day, as well as the colder weather requiring more energy to maintain body temperature, helps to reduce the glucose overload and insulin surge. Most over-conditioned horses will lose excess tail-butt and neck fat and trim down over a 4-6 week period.

An over-weight, high risk EMS horse must be confined to a stable or yard each night to limit overnight grazing. Weight loss can be assisted without starving the animal, which can trigger a metabolic condition such as Hyperlipaemia in fat horses and ponies, by reducing the hard feed to half and feeding additional soaked hay to provide bulk without excess energy. There are also a number of feed additives available that can help reduce the chances of laminitis and or assisting in reducing the weight of horses and ponies.

To reduce the risks of founder, limit grazing to 1-1.5 hours in the morning after the dew disappears off the pasture before 10am, and again for 1-1.5 hours after 4pm on sunny days, and confine him to a yard overnight and feed soaked hay. Confine the pony to a yard overnight from nightfall and feed soaked hay - soaked grass hay in particular in twice the volume of warm water from 1 hour to remove dangerous sugars, then drain for 2-3 hours before feeding.

Remember that it is actually shorter grass that contains a higher level of sugars. Similarly, pastures produce more sugars during night time when the plant is ‘repairing’ itself from grazing and stress that occurred during the day.

Text provided by Dr. John Kohnke (www.kohnkesown.com). For more information on safe pastures and feeds for EMS and IR affected horses and ponies, or laminitis, email newsletters@kohnkesown.com.