
04/08/2025
I love you can mean a lot of different things.
…Sometimes it means an extra scratch in that sweet spot.
…Sometimes an extra carrot.
…Sometimes it means a slow, quiet walk to reconnect.
…And sometimes, in the spring, for some horses,
𝗜 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗻𝗼 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀.
Where I live, the grass is just starting to grow. It’s not lush yet, but it’s already high in sugars—especially in the late afternoon after a full day of sun. While some horses can tolerate it just fine, others simply can’t. For our metabolic horses—those with insulin resistance, Cushing’s, or a history of laminitis—even a small amount of pasture can trigger a downward spiral. It can sneak up quickly.
𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗜 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
•Skipping turnout altogether for now. Early spring grass is high in sugars (Studies show that early spring grass can exceed 20% non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) with levels peaking in the late afternoon after a sunny day. As the grass matures in late spring sugar content decreases, but it’s still important to be cautious for metabolic horses!
• Offering early morning-only turnout when sugar levels are lowest.
•Using a grazing muzzle
• Choosing low sugar and high fiber hay over even a small amount of grass.
•Slowly increasing turnout time and carefully monitoring how your horse responds.
•Monitoring insulin levels and supporting with herbs or meds if needed.
•Spacing out injections, dewormers, and vaccines (when possible, checking titers instead) The HHC just had a great webinar with Dr Lisa Jacobson on this topic! Check it out: www.holistichorsecollective.com
Laminitis doesn’t always show up in obvious ways. It can be quiet at first:
• Slight heat in the hooves
• A digital pulse that wasn’t there yesterday
• A shorter stride
• Hesitation or a misstep in tight circles
• Shifting weight
• A shift in energy, mood, or posture
Those early signs are important. And so is trusting your gut when something feels just a little “off.”
Sometimes I love you sounds like, “Not today… not this season… not anymore” when it comes to pasture.
And that kind of love? It’s proactive. It’s protective. And it can make all the difference. 🌱💫