Tips for Healthy Spring Grazing

By Kentucky Equine Research Staff | https://ker.com/

Even the healthiest of horses may encounter digestive disturbances associated with fast-growing grasses and overconsumption. Overweight horses and ponies with insulin resistance are particularly susceptible to high-fructan grasses. The amount of fermentable carbohydrates, including fructans, in lush pasture often overwhelms the gastrointestinal tract, escaping digestion in the small intestine and passing to the hindgut. These carbohydrates or sugars are then processed in the hindgut, setting the stage for hindgut acidosis and potentially resulting in laminitis and colic.

EquiShure, a research-proven time-released buffer, helps moderate the hindgut by supporting the residential microbial population and preventing the drastic drop in pH associated with acidosis. Choose EquiShure to reduce the risk of hindgut acidosis escalating to laminitis in horses grazing high-fructan pastures or receiving significant intakes of starch-laden grains, including those at risk for or with a history of laminitis.

Turnout Tips: When’s Best to Graze?

By Kentucky Equine Research Staff | https://ker.com/

Proper turnout offers innumerable benefits. Turned-out horses are typically more fit due to increased exercise; show less anxiety with fewer stereotypies; have healthier, more robust respiratory systems; maintain strong musculoskeletal systems; and potentially have fewer gastric ulcers due to a longer, more sustained feeding pattern.

Nonetheless, not all horses can be managed 24/7 on pasture, and there are some that should not be allowed to graze willy-nilly for fear of laminitis. If your horse has signs of insulin resistance (IR) or has been diagnosed with either IR or equine metabolic syndrome then timing of turnout needs to be optimized to maximize health and minimize ingestion of fructans.

“Fructans are short chains of a specific sugar molecule called fructose that cannot be broken down in the stomach or small intestine. Instead, they are fermented in the intestine. Large amounts of fructan aren’t tolerated well by some horses and can result in colic and laminitis,” explains Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D., an equine nutritionist at Kentucky Equine Research.

According to Crandell, the level of fructan in forage varies depending on type of grass or legume, time of day, season, and even which part of the plant is being grazed (leaves versus stems). As such, timing of turnout can impact how much fructan is being ingested.

Consider these factors when turning out your horse, especially if it is known to either have or be at risk for IR:

Horse owners can also restrict free grazing during times when fructan levels are likely to be elevated, beginning with several short grazing sessions each day and gradually increasing length and number Using a grazing muzzle to slow grass consumption, keeping the horse in a drylot for part of the day, and continuing to offer hay in addition to pasture are additional ways to provide more dry matter and limit the intake of fructans.

1. Fructan concentrations are higher during periods of fast forage growth. Minimize grazing in spring and after heavy rain following a heat wave. Grazing muzzles are often used for this purpose.

2. Fructan levels are higher in the stems than the leaves. Therefore, avoid overgrazing pastures so horses do not consume fructose-laden stems close to the ground. Pasture rotation can help achieve this goal.

3. Stressed plants produce more fructan than happy plants. Drought and poor soil conditions (e g , high salinity) are examples of stressors; thus, limit grazing when such conditions exist.

4. Fructans are produced in the leaves during photosynthesis in the daytime. In general, allow horses to graze either in the early morning or evening to minimize ingestion of fructose-rich leaves. Be aware that those are peak feeding times for mosquitoes, which can transmit a multitude of infectioncausing organisms, including the West Nile virus. Use protection in the form of insect repellants and sheets.

“It is also important to note that starches and sugars, including fructans, aren’t problematic for all horses. In cases of hindgut acidosis, a hindgut buffer such as EquiShure might be useful and pasture analysis can benefit IR horses,” Crandell said.

Saturday Night Pizza Party Added Money Sweepstakes Classes

MI Apple Blossom Prize Drawings

Daily & Year End High Point Awards

2023 Michigan Apple Blossom Classic Open Showss

MAY 12-14 JULY 7-9

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