Equestrian Life April 2018 Issue

feed and veterinary
Safe grazing in Spring
Here at Trickle Net
HQ, we can clearly
see the effects of the
Spring grass already.
Owners are calling in everyday
to purchase Trickle Nets and get
advice on avoiding or managing
laminitis.
It’s wonderful to finally feel
the sun and see the grass grow.
Though you must consider, is
your horse in danger? Is your
horse obese? Do they have
EMS or Cushing’s disease? Or
have they suffered any stress
or trauma recently? Have they
suffered from laminitis before?
If your horse or pony is in the
‘at risk’ group, you need to take
measures to prevent the onset
of laminitis. Spring brings the
sun and brighter warmer days,
but with the cold nights not yet
over we see dangerous levels of
NSC’s in the new grass.
NSC’s are Non-Structural
Carbohydrates. NSCs in
grass can be split into sugars
(fructose, sucrose and glucose),
starches and fructans (chains of
fructose) Eating large amounts
of NSCs can cause trouble
for horses with metabolic or
digestive problems.
NSCs are produced through
photosynthesis, the process
by which plants use sunlight
energy to produce sugars. This
means that NSC levels will be
highest at the latest sunny part
of the day, around 3 to 4pm.
However, if night temperatures
fall below 4.5 degrees, the
plant cannot use the stored
energy for growth. This means
frosty morning grass can be
particularly high in NSCs.
What can we do to reduce the
risk of laminitis in our horses
through Spring?
Reduce sugar and starch intake.
Look at the content of your
horses feed, and question does
he really need this? Soak hay
and keep hard feed to bare
minimum if any.
Increase exercise. Even ten
minutes daily, walking in hand
can make a difference to insulin
levels. Walking burns 4 times
the calories of standing!
If there is frost in the morning,
consider turning out after it has
thawed.
Once the frosty nights are over,
night time turnout will provide
grass with lower sugar levels.
Get familiar with your horse’s
digital pulses. Learn how to
check and monitor for changes.
Use a weigh tape regularly.
While it may not be very
accurate, it will enable you to
keep a record of any weight loss
or gain and make appropriate
changes.
Consider grass free turnout. If
you are lucky enough to have a
ménage or crew yard, you can
add low sugar forage in Trickle
Nets to simulate grazing while
keeping sugar intake minimal.
If your horse is overweight, don’t
rug! Horses burn calories to keep
warm. Overweight horses in the
UK climate do not need rugs.
Consider the necessary evil
which is a grazing muzzle. We
don’t like them, but they do have
a place.
If your horse looks ‘footy’ at any
time, get them off the grass and
call the vet. If laminitis is caught
early, management and recovery
are much easier. Prognosis on a
mild attack is usually favorable,
but a mild attack can quickly
become severe if not managed.
Lastly, don’t be under the illusion
that your horse or pony won’t get
laminitis. ANY horse or pony can
become laminitic when certain
triggers are active. It’s up to you
to look for those triggers and
prevent them where possible.
Preventing laminitis is the most
successful way to manage it,
guaranteed!
Happy Easter everyone!
For more advice on laminitis or
Trickle Net products, give us a call
on 01522 720972.
Trickle Net UK
www.tricklenet.co.uk
The strongest most effective slow feeder nets!
Ideal for weight management. Promotes a natural
trickle of forage through the gut.
FREE
DELIVERY!
Recommended for horses with laminitis, ulcers or colic
prone. Tough enough to use for ground feeding with
barefoot equines. Eliminates wasted hay.
Call 01522 720972 or visit
WWW.TRICKLENET.CO.UK
www.equestrianlifemagazine.co.uk 35