|
|
Discussion on Pasture for horses that have foundered in the past
|
| Author |
Message |
Member:
Amng
|
Posted on Saturday, Feb 8, 2003 - 8:25 am:
I read a lot about grass founder and the articles indicate to reduce or eliminate the bad types of grasses that contain high levels of sugars. What types of grasses should be avoided (other than alfalfa) better yet, what types of grasses are recommended for horses that are more susceptable to founder?
|
Member:
Suzym
|
Posted on Saturday, Feb 8, 2003 - 11:16 am:
In the case of my Quarter/pony mare, there is NO spring/summer grass that is safe for more than about an hour or so.  She can't be on full turnout from about April until we've had a couple of hard frosts.
I have a good bit of clover in my pasture but almost no alfalfa. Timothy, Orchard grass and native grasses make up 95%.
If I keep her in a small paddock with just enough grass to nibble, she's fine, but she cannot tolerate the full pasture when it's lush.
|
Moderator:
DrO
|
Posted on Sunday, Feb 9, 2003 - 8:02 am:
It is an interesting question David and I do not think we know if some grasses are worse than others or if they are, what that mechanism is exactly. I have seen studies of when the fermentable carbohydrate is high in a particular pasture, and as you would expect it is during the rapidly growing seasons.
However I do believe that one of the worse grasses from a foundering standpoint is fescue. I have had at least a dozen clients over the years who moved here from other states where they did not have a problem keeping their horses at a healthy weight and not have problems with founder. Here there horses grow fat and have problems with spring founders. It is substantially richer from a nutritional standpoint than orchardgrass which is richer than timothy. I also wonder if the endophyte toxin that causes fescue foot in cattle might not contribute to the founder problems we see on lush fescue. There is no doubt there is a relation between obesity and founder and that is were I would put my focus.
DrO
|
Member:
Amng
|
Posted on Tuesday, Feb 11, 2003 - 4:40 pm:
Thanks for the response. I'll stay away from fescue. Looks like I'll be going after timothy and orchard grass with sort of legume. I generally keep a muzzle on my mare during growing months or at least restrict her grazing time.
|
|
|
