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Discussion on Fall grass and frost
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Member:
Scooter
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 - 11:48 am:
Hi Dr.O. I have been managing my horses according to your article, and also my vets help. I made it thru the spring with no reoccuring laminitis. With fall arriving, I am again limiting their pasture time, as we have had quite a bit of rain, so far, so good. I know in recent research it has been said that frost can cause rapid sugar release in the grass, thus making horses prone to lamintis at risk for attacks.
The thing I'm not sure of, is how long do they have to be removed from pasture? Do I just keep their turn out the way I do it it now (limited) or should they be removed completely until we have had a few frosts. I did have a horse have a laminitis episode in the fall of last year, when the frost began. Thanks
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Member:
Erika
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 - 8:03 pm:
Diane, I remember hearing reports in Lexington,KY on the radio about frost warnings that told horse owners to keep horses off the grass until noon after a frost.
(That was before they found cause of Mare Reproductive Loss SynDrOme, though, so may not be relevant for laminitis.)
As I understand it, the frost doesn't create the sugar, it keeps it from being used by the plant in the so-called "dark reaction" of photosynthesis. When it is too cold for plant metabolism, the sugars can't be converted into cellulose (the structural parts of grass). So all the sugar that is produced during the sunny warm day is stored during the cold night instead of being converted to a less dangerous form of carbohydrate. Does that make any sense?
Therefore, IMHO, the most dangerous time for grazing would be very late afternoon through early morning when frost is forecast.
Correct me if I'm wrong, those of you who might know more!
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Member:
Scooter
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 - 9:42 pm:
Hi Erika, if I recall, I think you are right about noon. I just found this on safergrass.org. I will take it to mean they shouldn't graze at all?
The Fructan Jingle
by Katy Watts
When you wake at crack of dawn
Graze your pony on your lawn
But sugars rise in afternoon,
For foundered ponies, this spells doom
When frosts cause fructans to increase
Your ponies grazing now must cease.
Hold off a day, or maybe more,
Or else your pony may get sore.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 - 10:24 pm:
Diane,
I have sifted through the information on the diurnal variation on fructan production and quite frankly have not been able to make heads or tails on the actual effect of causing founder. Or in other words is the difference in levels significant. This is still highly conjectural information and probably individual sensitivity makes any one rule faulty for particular individuals.
In my experience sensitized horses vary tremendously in their ability to tolerate fall or spring grasses and have found effective management resolves around keeping them off of these pastures continuously during the rapid growing seasons. Whether your horse can tolerate limited exposure I cannot say and exposure should be looked upon as experimental, whether you use a minimum fructan model or not, and changes made slowly.
DrO
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Member:
Scooter
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Posted on Wednesday, Sep 27, 2006 - 6:49 am:
Thanks Dr.O. the information I have read confused me also. I think I will just continue with the limited turnout.
During the evening and morning, when frost will occur, they are in a chewed down to nothing pasture, however they still can pick. I believe the horse that seems sensitive to this will be put in the paddock. Sometimes it's hard to call a frost tho.
I have had such a good year, I don't want to tempt fate.
My new farrier did the horses feet yesterday, and their hooves are in much better condition. Which will help also. He actually removes flare, without an argument!!! Thanks
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