Kentucky Performance Products: Safe Spring Turnout

Have grass, will graze? You might want to read this first: Kentucky Performance Products has some tips for best managing your spring pastures for the health of your grass and your horses.

It is that time of the year—the cold, gray winter is transforming into a warm, sunny spring and the grass is starting to grow! For normal horses the spring grass is a lovely change from hay, but for sugar-sensitive horses it is a dangerous time of year.

Things to know about spring grazing:

• Sugar levels in grasses increase during the spring growing season when days are warm and nights are cool (40 degrees or below).
• Grass does not grow on cool nights, so high concentrations of sugar remain in the leaves where horses can consume it.
• Healthy horses have few problems adjusting to the extra sugar in spring grass, but for sensitive horses the high sugar content can be overwhelming and lead to laminitis.
• Keep in mind that overgrazing stresses grasses and increases sugar levels. Keep pastures between four to eight inches in height to reduce overgrazing stress.
• Fat or skinny horses may need more or less time out on grass. Take the time to evaluate your horse’s weight and body condition, and adjust his feeding program accordingly.
• Design a turnout schedule taking into consideration your horse’s current body condition, sensitivity to spring grass, and changing nutrition requirements.

Spring grazing for overweight horses and horses prone to equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) and Cushing’s disease (PPID):

• EMS and PPID horses are at a high risk for laminitis in the spring because they have trouble metabolizing sugar correctly.
• Limit or stop grazing altogether with high-risk horses during times when nights are cold and days are sunny.
• Limit grazing, and turn out only in the early morning hours when days and nights are warmer. Morning grass contains lower levels of sugar in these conditions.
• Research planting warm-season grasses lower in sugar. Check with your local extension office for the best options in your area.
• Provide digestive tract support to aid in the digestion of sugar.
• Don’t starve your overweight horses. Click here for tips on managing your easy keeper’s nutrition requirements.
• Remember, at-risk horses can experience the same issues with fall pastures.

About Kentucky Performance Products:

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The omega-3 fatty acids in Contribute support reduced inflammation. Research has shown that supplementation has a positive effect in mitigating allergic reactions related to heaves (COPD), skin allergies and seasonal pruritus (sweet itch).  Contribute contains both the powerful marine source omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA plus flaxseed oil.  One ounce provides 10,780 mg of omega-3 fatty acids.  Best of all, Contribute is affordably priced and horses like the flavor.

The horse that matters to you matters to us®.

Not sure which horse supplement best meets your horse’s needs? Kentucky Performance Products, LLC is here to help. Call 859-873-2974 or visit KPPusa.com.