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Discussion on Winter Grass/Hay
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Member:
Rob10549
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Posted on Tuesday, Dec 5, 2006 - 4:43 am:
Hi Dr. O,
I was wondering if you could educate me on winter grass. Now that we have had several frosts and the grass is not as nutritious would it be a good idea to throw hay to my horses? I have them at a boarding barn where they are out all day long and I do not want them to be undernourished. I have one 2 1/2 year old and one 15 year old horse. Currently the barn is not throwing hay to them during the day. Also, can you tell me if there is a rule about putting horses out early in the am when there is a frost? I have read different things about the dangers of frost. Thank you! Robin
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Member:
Corinne
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Posted on Tuesday, Dec 5, 2006 - 10:51 am:
Robin,
I can't tell you about the nutritional quality of the grass after a frost and not sure if this applies but I wonder if they might get dew rot and scratches from the moisture...however I am not sure if bacteria can live after a frost so Dr. O will be able to help you better. Good Luck in finding our more information you should get some pretty good answers.
v/r
Corinne
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, Dec 5, 2006 - 8:57 pm:
Robin we have edited the article Horse Care » Equine Management & Routine Procedures » Wintertime: Caring for Horses in the Cold to include information on your issues and more about pastures in the winter, check it out.
DrO
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 6, 2006 - 10:17 am:
Robin, glad you asked that question. I've always heard that grass was bad for horses with frost on it or right after a frost. It's so hard to sort out fact and "old wives tales" when dealing with horses!
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Member:
Ajudson1
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 6, 2006 - 12:33 pm:
I had to put my horses on their big pasture after the ground froze, which was right after days of rain. Their winter hay area was so rutted up they couldn' walk on it, nor could I. I also worried if they should be on the winter grass being there wasn't any snow cover. What has happened is they are grazing the "manure areas" now. Which is the only place there is grass of any length. They prefer that to hay, unless I put the really good alfalfa mix out. I guess they know something about the parasites life cycle that we don't?
Only bad part of the whole deal is that they have also found the couple of burdock plants that we didn't get around to torching, so now I have 4 unicorns, and the fun of taking the burrs out with frozen fingers!
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Thursday, Dec 7, 2006 - 8:26 am:
Angie it is wrong to assume that just because they choose to eat around the manure pile that this means their good sense indicates that it is OK. Important to remember that though its cold, parasites survive freezing weather very well and on very warm days may even expose your horses to a concentrated blast of intestinal parasites. You should develop a strategy to 1) improve the surrounding pasture and 2) avoid bathroom areas from developing. Rotation and dragging is a possible solution.
DrO
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Member:
Paardex
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Posted on Thursday, Dec 7, 2006 - 8:48 am:
Robin , Glad you asked this question. I live in Normandie haven't had any important frost grass looks as green as ever and the horses have all the grass they want. Everybody over here[I am new to this area and situation] tried to convince me they need sweet feed or an equivalent with high energy. I need to go and get them and ask PLEASE could you eat your dinner.
After dr O's answer I will stop this ridiculous scene each day. Bit of hay and food if they get hungry!
Jos
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Member:
Ajudson1
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Posted on Thursday, Dec 7, 2006 - 8:52 am:
DrO,
I didn't realise about the "blast of parasites on warmer days". Normally we mow the pastures to keep weeds down and mowing the manure spots also spreads that to help break it down. It was so dry here though that we didn't mow this past summer, hence the weeds and more concentrated manure spots. I do rotate, fertilize, and do frost seedings as pasture management; thanks for pointing that out about the hardiness of parasites!
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, Dec 8, 2006 - 7:16 am:
Jos, the decision to give concentrate should be based on their condition and not the pleading looks for a bit of grain, what is your horses condition? Angie this is a common mistake about parasites, it is the hot dry weather that actually kills them, for more on this with management recommendations see Diseases of Horses » Colic, Diarrhea, GI Tract » Parasites and Worms » An Overview of Intestinal Parasites.
DrO
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Member:
Paardex
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Posted on Friday, Dec 8, 2006 - 8:09 am:
Dr.O, They are in perfect condition though the Half Arab is on the fat side. As she is the one who works regularly I give them all 1 flake of hay[they do not even finish it immediately] and a pound of concentrate. They have mineral and vitamin licks and salt and 18 acres of grass. Deworming according to your schedule.
IMO this is more then enough but people over here are feeding their horses in winter at least two to three kilograms concentrate even if they are fat because they tell me there is no value in winter grass. I am used to feed according to condition and it is not as if they ask for more, they do not eat their concentrate and hay!
I am keeping my old system after reading this discussion: good condition no more food!
Jos
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Sunday, Dec 10, 2006 - 10:16 am:
It greatly increases the chances your horses will live long and healthy lives, jos.
DrO
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