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 World 4D Champ
Posts: 28264
    
Location: PA | We just bought a house a few weeks ago, and we've been getting it set up to bring the horses home. Where the pasture will be, in years past, they've planted and used it for hay. Its now about a 2 foot high grassy area. Do I need to worry about putting my horses out on it? I know in the Spring I would have to worry...but what about right now?
They were on pasture at the place I boarded all summer...but its been eaten down alot over the last month or so.
Can I just put them out on this grass? Or do I need to worry? We've had a few small freezes already, not sure if that matters.
I do not have a barn yet, so they will only be outside...so if I have to worry, i need to come up with a plan.... |
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 Go Your Own Way
Posts: 4947
Location: SE KS | is it native or fescue - or what type of grass is it....?
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World 4D Champ
Posts: 28264
Location: PA | Dinero10 - 2014-11-05 3:16 PM is it native or fescue - or what type of grass is it....?
It looks to be a timothy/orchard mixture....with some clover mixed in throughout. |
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 Chasin my Dream
Posts: 13651
Location: Alberta | I wouldn't worry this late in the year...... |
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 Poor Cracker Girl
Posts: 12150
Location: Feeding mosquitos, FL | And why have there not been pictures? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm???  |
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 Party Gal
Posts: 3432
Location: fun meter pegged OK | I'm with dream chaser; it's to late in the season and the protien level is probably higher in your baled hay than in your pasture grasses. |
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Expert
Posts: 1695
Location: Willows, CA | You should be fine. But, I always recommend that a change of environment be done in stages. It is always best to make the change over a week or so. Turn him out for a few hours per day, and lengthen that time out every few days. That is a simple safety practice that should make the transition stress free. This can be a much bigger issue in the spring, but I would still be cautious at any time of the year. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1857
| Grass founder happens a lot in the spring and fall because the grass is high in NSC(non-structural Carbohydrates). I've done a lot of research on it due to having a gelding that suffers from laminitis. It's controlled as long as I pull him off grass during the spring and fall. The way I understand it is, once the temperature starts to fall the enzymes in grass that makes it grow stop working but photosynthesis(creation of sugar) is still happening as long as the sun is shinning. This increases the NSC in the grass, some say it can be double or triple normal levels. Once the grass freezes and winter hits you no longer have to worry. If you have any horses that are prone to grass founder or have issues with their feet I would watch them very close.
Edited by FlyingJT 2014-11-06 9:12 AM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 330
| FlyingJT - 2014-11-05 5:37 PM
Grass founder happens a lot in the spring and fall because the grass is high in NCS(non-structural Carbohydrates). I've done a lot of research on it due to having a gelding that suffers from laminitis. It's controlled as long as I pull him off grass during the spring and fall. The way I understand it is, once the temperature starts to fall the enzymes in grass that makes it grow stop working but photosynthesis(creation of sugar) is still happening as long as the sun is shinning. This increases the NCS in the grass, some say it can be double or triple normal levels. Once the grass freezes and winter hits you no longer have to worry. If you have any horses that are prone to grass founder or have issues with their feet I would watch them very close.
This.
Late grasses are just as dangerous as spring grasses, especially if it's not completely dead yet.
Even frozen grass under snow can cause an issue if you have a horse that's particularly sensitive and digs down to eat that grass.
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | SuckerForHorses - 2014-11-06 6:59 AM FlyingJT - 2014-11-05 5:37 PM Grass founder happens a lot in the spring and fall because the grass is high in NCS(non-structural Carbohydrates). I've done a lot of research on it due to having a gelding that suffers from laminitis. It's controlled as long as I pull him off grass during the spring and fall. The way I understand it is, once the temperature starts to fall the enzymes in grass that makes it grow stop working but photosynthesis(creation of sugar) is still happening as long as the sun is shinning. This increases the NCS in the grass, some say it can be double or triple normal levels. Once the grass freezes and winter hits you no longer have to worry. If you have any horses that are prone to grass founder or have issues with their feet I would watch them very close. This. Late grasses are just as dangerous as spring grasses, especially if it's not completely dead yet. Even frozen grass under snow can cause an issue if you have a horse that's particularly sensitive and digs down to eat that grass.
agree
start them out slow |
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  Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | yankeeredneck - 2014-11-05 4:39 PM I'm with dream chaser; it's to late in the season and the protien level is probably higher in your baled hay than in your pasture grasses.
this late its low and its timothy- orchard which is easily digested
Id also make sure plenty of water is being consumed.. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 330
| Bibliafarm - 2014-11-06 9:17 AM
yankeeredneck - 2014-11-05 4:39 PM I'm with dream chaser; it's to late in the season and the protien level is probably higher in your baled hay than in your pasture grasses.
this late its low and its timothy- orchard which is easily digested
Id also make sure plenty of water is being consumed..
It's not the protein that you need to worry about, its the sugar, which is high right now in most grasses regardless of grass type. |
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World 4D Champ
Posts: 28264
Location: PA | Thanks everyone.
Unfortunately i I don't have a way to get them off it for long periods of time. We don't have a barn built yet so pasture is all we have.
Were re going to eventually split the pasture into two sections so I can rotate but I'm going to wait a couple days after I get them home so no one runs into anything.
I don't have any founder/laminitis issues with any of my horses. |
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| You know my opinion. I think since they have been on the pasture this summer being boarded they will be fine. |
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