Health E HORSE

21/03/2024

Check it out and let me know what you think!! 🧐

We have already explained why soy should be avoided in processed horse feeds.
The 4 categories below highlight additional ingredients that should be avoided in your feed program.

04/02/2024

Helping their mom deliver hay on a dreary Sunday afternoon

28/12/2023

By now I hope everyone has seen the posts about the toxic w**d Hoary Allysum found in some hay sold by a couple of local feed stores. If you buy hay from me--it either comes from Canada (straight timothy) or Kentucky (orchard alfalfa). Regardless, this w**d does grow all across the US AND Canada. As a horse owner myself it is always important to inspect your hay as you feed. That said ti is very easy to miss something like this and of course if you did not know about this particular w**d I hope this raises everyone's awarenesses..My heart goes out to those who have lost horses or who have sick horses now.

https://www.cariboord.ca/en/home-and-property/resources/Documents/InvasivePlants/Photos/HoaryAlyssum/Hoary%20Alyssum%20leaves%20445%20x%20270.jpg

https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/2072/2013/11/Image_00811.png

https://ritchiesmith.com/learn/equine/recognizing-hoary-alyssum

24/12/2023

From our farm to yours Merry Christmas 🎄

19/12/2023

Great info— and so easy to use!!!

23/11/2023

https://www.ecirhorse.org/assets/documents/ECIR-Group-DDTE-Safe-Feeds.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0_iYQhfKcRwfj5DDKJdF3MyLGCl2lLr4OKoCnMljZyKQasGJNlOPTaB00 interesting article about balancing hay in IR or Cushings or PSSM horses.

23/11/2023

Happy Thanksgiving to all our horsey customers ! Human and horsey!! 🐴🦄

12/11/2023

He really “nails” it har har 😀

03/11/2023

Pretty clevah ad!

26/10/2023

Now that is it fall— let’s talk about dewormers! What protocols do you use in South Florida?

20/10/2023

Super interesting research for those of us with

13/10/2023

What a great story — both the horses and the family!! 🤩

Alison O’Dwyer has had a remarkable string of successes in her four trips to the Thoroughbred Makeover, winning the dressage division three times. But this year, she found what she really wanted in a Makeover mount, in two very different horses. 

03/10/2023

Even though I ONLY feed my minis low sugar Tifton hay...I too am guilty of "giving in" and letting them on the grass where they live almost all year long with no problems....that said. ..TODAY I tried to keep them in all day...and my worst one...Dream...stood at the gate for literally a few hours wanting to go out. It is HARD to not let them do it but worth it...for their health!!!!

The dangers of paddock grass to our equine friends is not a new subject we are constantly talking about it all over the world due to it’s often catastrophic impact on our domesticated horses .

We talk about the spring and early summer burst of fresh lush grass .
We talk about the autumn flush of lush grass .
We even talk about winter frosts and sunny days with its impact on the grass .

So now it’s a year round problem for so many horses including most of mine .

How can we safely allow our horses to graze in the paddock without the worry of laminitis.

NOT EASY THAT FOR SURE. 😣and trust me I dont always get it right either.

We know that Grass that is shorter than six inches is very problematic and the shorter it is the more dangerous it becomes.

That said even if still fresh and green looking even at six inches and above can be a disaster for many .

Very Short eaten down to stubs grass is FULL of sugars as this is often called stressed grass which they love as it’s so sweet but this is extremely dangerous.

Sunlight , dew and dampness especially at spring and autumn causes this to absorb and replenish its reserves so at the end of a lovely sunny day it’s literally full of sugar and uses this over night to grow .

Early morning grazing is generally safer on this grass but certainly not full safe proof .

Adding to issues as temperatures drops over night to almost freezing or even a few degrees above this allow the grass to hold on to the sugar and not use it so early morning grazing is just as dangerous.

Mind blowing and very difficult to manage a sensitive horse , and even non sensitive types can very suddenly be affected by these spikes in grasses .

So can we help to create safer grazing by allowing the paddocks to grow to maturity before allowing any grazing , and keep moving the area so not allow short stressed grass to become a problem .
Putting in track systems are certainly the way forward and feeding ad lib hays , but again not everyone can afford to keep feeding ad lib hays or indeed it’s been difficult for many finding the right hay for horses all year round .
A combination of both track systems and correct management for the paddocks grasses and plant appropriate species may be a safer option for many .

This management should ensure lower sugars and better diversity fibre management intake plus more chewing time which is more species appropriate on their digestive system.

Any thoughts and are owners out there adapting to this practice.

Photo of one of my mature winter grass fields on the right that’s been left all summer to grow to full maturity ( verses a young lush area of growing unsafe autumn grass . 👇

28/09/2023

https://youtu.be/8a_tWZkgU9I?si=VByBJaVQiObKz-ul.

Featuring Dream, Moon, Mickey, Risky, Snowball, Warpaint, Breezy, Indy, Windy, Zsa Zsa and Skye and Sir Slivy....aka Alliance Designer Dream, Trehernes Dark ...