Over-consumption of pasture can quickly lead to weight gain and increase the risk for metabolic dysfunction. On a mixed pasture providing 20% crude protein and 2.5 Mcal/kg digestible energy, a 500 kg (1100 lb) horse at maintenance could obtain 150% of their daily energy requirement and over 300% of their required protein intake. Horses can consume 1.6-3.2% of their body weight in grass over a 24-hour period, supplying a lot of calories and sugar. However, excess weight gain is possible with free-choice access to lush pasture. Carefully managed turnout on pasture can support healthy weight gain in under-conditioned horses following potential weight loss during winter. Preventing Weight Gainįor metabolically healthy horses, lush pasture can be a rich source of protein and energy. Submitting multiple samples can increase the reliability of the results.Ĭonsult with a nutritionist for help with interpreting the results of your grass analysis. Note that there can be significant variation in sugar levels between samples taken from the same field. Pasture samples should be frozen until analysis to avoid fermentation, which can lower the sugar level and lead to an inaccurate test result. The only way to determine the sugar content of your pasture is to take a grass sample and submit it for analysis. Stress conditions such as overgrazing and frost.The level of nonstructural carbohydrates in pasture is affected by several factors including: Some horses can tolerate a higher level of carbohydrates in their grass, whereas others such as those with metabolic issues, may need to avoid all but the lowest quality pastures. How do you know whether your pasture is safe for your horse to graze on or whether a grazing muzzle is necessary? You should also consider good pasture-management techniques to keep your horses safe while turned out on grass. Īlthough free-choice access to pasture can be a health risk for many horses and ponies, turnout onto pasture has several benefits, including the ability to express foraging behaviours and socialization.įitting your horse with a grazing muzzle lets you give your horse freedom of movement and contact with their social group without letting them consume unhealthy amounts of sugar.Ī grazing muzzle slows down the rate at which your horse can consume grass. Horses respond to the increased length of daylight by eating more in preparation for decreased availability in winter. This is particularly problematic in the spring and summer when horses naturally have a higher appetite. If your horse has unrestricted access to high-quality pasture, they could end up consuming too much sugar, contributing to a number of health problems including weight gain, metabolic syndrome and laminitis. Lush pastures or paddocks contain high levels of nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs), consisting of simple sugars, starch and fructans. But the pastures used for grazing horses in domestic management settings tend to contain improved grass species with significantly higher nutrient density. Horses evolved as efficient grazing animals, capable of deriving all the energy they need from relatively poor-quality pastures. The image of a horse spending all day grazing on a lush, green pasture may seem idyllic but, in reality, those lush grasses could seriously harm your horse. These devices are safe when used properly and have not been shown to cause psychological or physiological stress in horses or ponies. Grazing muzzles allow the horse to be turned out in a herd, enabling social interaction and providing more space to move around. If your horse is over-conditioned and needs to lose weight, using a muzzle while on pasture will help you manage your horse’s weight without needing to isolate them to a stall or dry lot. These devices can help prevent laminitis and obesity in horses or ponies by decreasing calorie and sugar intake. Grazing muzzles have been shown to reduce dry matter intake by between 30 – 80%. These muzzles fit over the mouth and nose of a horse and restrict grass intake while allowing access to pasture. Grazing muzzles are a staple in the tack room of many pony and horse owners.
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