It’s wonderful to have finally had some rain and with a tank full of water it feels like the drought has broken. The weather is still warm enough to grow grass, but the lovely green tinge is already presenting problems for some horse and pony owners.
When grass has been stressed by drought and suddenly has a growth spurt, it contains toxins which are designed to protect it from over grazing. Our domestic horses often don’t have a lot of choice when confined to small areas (less than 1,000 acres!) so can be affected by this grass, commonly called the ‘Autumn flush’.
Cases of laminitis in prone equines increase at this time of year, almost the same as in spring.
Horses who haven’t had a severe laminitic episode may show minor symptoms such as tenderness when ridden on gravel, or shortness of stride and refusal to jump.
Some horses can even show signs of ‘ grass staggers’ – which are excitability, nervousness, a staggering unsteady gait or trembling. An excellent site for information of how mycotoxins affect horses (and these occur in other grasses, grains and hay as well) is www.horsetalk.co.nz
Horses that show symptoms of any being affected by grass or other toxic plants such as capeweed and flatweed (false dandelion) do well if fed additional magnesium.
Magnesium plays a role in the metabolism of the muscular and nervous systems. One very good high-quality source is a product developed in New Zealand called Alleviate. It is an organic chelate – the highest grade available and includes boron which is required to reduce the excretion levels of magnesium.
The Calm Healthy Horses website says: “A ‘Grass-Affected’ horse cannot process information so is not able to be in a ‘learning frame of mind’.
When thus ‘affected’ it is a waste of time, unpleasant for the horse and potentially very risky, to be trying to ‘work through’ any of these issues because they are not training issues.
Rather they are bio-chemistry issues affecting the horse’s nervous system including all his senses: his eyesight, his hearing and his proprioception, his co-ordination and ability to properly operate his muscles.”
Removing your horse, pony, donkey or mule from the short, stressed grass is the first step and this can be achieved by setting up a bare sacrifice area, or a grass-free track.
Then address the feed by providing free-choice slow feed hay nets and minerals plus an exercise program if they are overweight.
