Hi folks, I just wanted to remind everyone to be careful allowing horses to graze unrestricted on spring grass in their pasture. Horses may develop diarrhea if they are not introduced gradually to spring grass. Taking hay away from horses suddenly in exchange for grass is a big change in feeding habits for them and may cause problems in the horse’s digestive system.
Horses cannot always digest all the protein found in spring grass, it can be as much as 20% higher than normal, and what is not completely digested or absorbed in the small intestine may end up in the horses hindgut. This can lead to excessive gas causing the horse to colic. Colic can be very dangerous to horses and in extreme cases can lead to death.
Make sure spring grass is introduced to your horse gradually while at the same time continuing with their diet of hay, reducing the amount of hay gradually. If your horse is too greedy when eating spring grasses limit his time in the pasture. He or she may not like it. You’ll probably feel sorry for them but it can be for their best interest and your’s too.
Skimbleshanks
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