10/04/2019
I want to explain something to people. Right now with the drought going in SC the grasses are at their most dangerous.
I hear constantly that “the grasses are dried, dead” or “not that good/much”.
This is grass at its most dangerous.
Grasses store sugar in periods when they can’t grow.....this can be during a drought, overgrazing, freezes or any other period that grass won’t grow but the sun hits it.
This is ANYTIME......spring, summer , fall, or yes.....even winter. As long as the sun hits the grass, it produces sugars. If it’s too cold, too dry, too damaged it won’t utilize sugars and grow.....it will store it. This means an unwatered, unfertilized, over-grazed pasture could potentially produce sugars as high as 30-40%!
Laminitis is rampant right now. If your horse is on pasture a good portion of the day or even first thing in the evening when sugars are highest, they are at risk!
Hoof quality goes down. Cracks, wall flares, white line disease and laminitis are all part of it.
Does your horse have ridges in the wall? Red lines in the walls? Separation of the wall? Chronic abscesses? Flat soles? It’s all signs of sub-clinical laminitis! Don’t ignore it! Do something! Reduce grazing time, muzzled the horse or remove them from grass if you can! It’s easier to prevent laminitis than treat it! remember that donkeys and ponies are even more at risk than horses!
