10/11/2025
Some tips to deal with grass related behaviour. Earlier in October my new neighbours, very graciously let me run the horses through their place as they didn't have any stock as yet and had a heap of grass. It had been a funny old winter and while the grass wasn't really ideal, i was grateful for the offer so the farm could rest.
There was a lot of grass and was your typical cow grass (rye), lots of plantain and in some paddocks a lot of buttercup plus a traditional fertiliser history. By day 3 my herd of 7 were flying off the handle and were pretty full of themselves - not in a good way and of course I chose this time to introduce feed bags! All were accommodating, except Gracey who was very anti and there was no way that tiny flexible bucket was living on her head. It took a couple of days (after the below changes) for her to even put her nose in it, on the ground, with food in it. Initially i just thought it was Gracey not being used to it and her TB genes kicking in. But we will circle back to this.
The horses were on 500g Smart Chaff (lucerne based), 2 cups Cocomash, salt, 20g Foundation and 30g Restore (mostly oldies with arthritis etc) and hay was available but of course they weren't interested. Who wants to eat Weetbix when Nutrigrain is available!!
A simple tweak - removed Lucerne Smart Chaff, added timothy chaff, reduced to 1 cup Cocomash, salt, 20g Foundation, 30g Restore and added 30g Assist. Cindy (almost 30) and Cookie (expecting) remained on what they were getting but added 30g Assist. No omega 3 source needed as on plenty of quality grass 24/7. Also added trough dosing product to the trough to help Detox the liver and kidney.
Next day they were a lot calmer and back to themselves, they continued to settle and the high jinks behaviour didn't return.
Upon the return home and back into normal routine and home grass and the next weekends feed, which I do - Gracey had no issues with the feed bag and happily accepted it straight away. They were still on full grass and little hay as they had decided to go on a hay hiatus (stupidly i left the "not so nice" hay till last - nothing wrong with the hay just not as "nice" as the hay used through winter according to the herd - note to self for next year), yet the grass types are more meadow and horse friendly and a more horse appropriate fertilise program. We do have clover and rye, which can be problematic for horses in general, but its just not the dominant grass species here.
The addition of HHIO Assist really was the game changer, along with reducing the protein and energy levels in the hard feed to compensate for the high protein and energy levels in the forage they were eating.
A simple 30g dose of Assist which has dual action toxin binders covering both Polar and Non Polar toxins, organic magnesium and Vitamin B1 to help the nervous system. We use quality organic Magnesium proteinate not Magnesium Oxide. Here is some feedback also from a regular local client "Have had hardly any spooky behaviour at all this spring, its sooo nice. Love the Assist im sure that's what's making the difference. In the past I've always used Support but the Assist just seems to have an advantage when it comes to spooks". At just $20 for a 15 day supply and $40 for a 30 day supply it is great value for money for a toxin binder (TWO) and organic Magnesium!. https://www.healthyhorsesinsideout.co.nz/product/hhio-assist
Managing horses on grass really need not be a headache. Top tips:
- adjust your hard feed to accommodate the higher energy and protein intakes of the forage - the Base HHIO feed is ideal. We have easy choose options which take all the guess work out of it for you https://www.healthyhorsesinsideout.co.nz/page/thebasefeed If your having grass issues - stick to the yellow star options
- Get the minerals balanced - HHIO Vital, Foundation or Performance
- Address toxins and additional Magnesium - HHIO Assist or HHIO Toxin Buster provides the most broadest spectrum coverage for both Polar and Non Polar toxins. If you are using one type of toxin binder and still have issues likely one of those types of toxins is your culprit.
- Ideally managed grass and break feeding with hay included is the best way to go about it and is the normal way things operate here (with Cookie in foal and due soon, have allowed for more space)
- Removing from grass for a period if you have a full blown severe issue that can't be managed on grass. Get things stabilised and then gradually re-introduce the grass (managed with hay)
- For our laminitic prone or IR friends, active growing grass is not your friend or option and definitely stick to the yellow star feed options.
