Gorgeous grass and two fat horses

[starsandsun]

No questions, just venting about the annual challenge with my two fatties who want to eat the gorgeous green sugar-laden spring grass that would kill them.

Even with muzzles they are vet-limited to no more than an hour a day, so it seems like it’s hardly worth the chasing that is required to gather them back up. They do have a series of three dry lots interconnected so there is plenty of room to move around, and of course they have the right amount of hay to encourage weight loss.

I guess at this point I continue to strictly limit how much time they get, and hope that with restrictions on hay, along with increased exercise, we pass the hurdle.

I just hate that my beautiful dream of seeing horses on green grass isn’t a thing. I have some beautiful fields to ride in, though!

[Weezer]

I feel your pain! I have a similar struggle with my herd.

[Snowdenfarm]

Came here to say I feel your pain as well! Constantly mowing beautiful, lush, green, untouched pasture that I always thought I wanted.

[PaddockWood]

We’re feeling the pain over here too. Have the Best Friend’s tiny holed muzzle going and just this morning allowed them out for 30 min and will build up to an hour or two. Turnout on fresh grass, even just a little bit, is SO beneficial for healthy gut bacteria. IF, and a big IF insulin levels allow.

I think we’re learning that pulling insulin levels - just like testing for ACTH - is going to become a regular event to be sure we’re safe and healthy.

There is a big difference in the microbiome of horses that get fresh grass. So it’s worth the effort to get them out even just a little bit.

And, if we can exercise them, hay in slow feeders, testing hay and adding in minerals where needed I would think we’re checking many boxes towards their health.

I also ordered Dr. Joyce Harmon’s Sow Your Seeds product - pasture herbs to help with gut health.
https://shop.harmanyequine.com/shop/pasture-grass/sow-your-seeds/

[starsandsun]

Will check out these seeds! Love this idea.

[starsandsun]

Interesting that lemon balm is included … I have it EVERYWHERE and now I see a practical use!

[PaddockWood]

Then you might be interested in the Facebook group Equi-biome too.

Equi-Biome

They are a university-based UK group that offer biome testing (I’m about to do that) and present ideas about improving the microbiome. It’s fascinating and informative. A paradigm shift - for me at least. About how to create gut health and the affect on obesity, immunity, preventing laminitis and colic…their health!

[PaddockWood]

See, I don’t even know what lemon balm looks like. I’ll look that up. It’s a whole new way of looking at things. Maybe this pasture diversity idea needs its own thread!

[lenapesadie]

My sympathies. What a pita.

[Texarkana]

I feel your pain. And the problem seems to be worsening as we learn more about metabolic diseases.