Prepare Now For A Safe Spring Says SPILLERS
8 years ago 
950 views
Prepare now for a safe spring says SPILLERS®
With spring just around the corner we are all looking forward to turning our horses out onto grass for longer, or for the first time since autumn but it’s essential to be mindful of the risk of laminitis. The nutrition experts at SPILLERS® have put together eight top tips to help you keep your horse safe this spring.
1. Act sooner rather than later
The grass starts to grow actively when the soil temperature consistently reaches 5oC and can be very calorific! For every kilogram (dry matter) eaten, your horse could be consuming up to 75g of sugar and 500g of Water Soluble Carbohydrate (WSC). Studies have shown that ponies turned out un-muzzled can consume up to 5% of their own bodyweight in grass. If the same applies to a 500kg horse, this would equate to a whopping 1.9kg of sugar and 12.5kg of WSC per day from grass alone.
2. Slim your horse down now
If your horse is overweight use what’s left of winter to instigate a slimming programme. Reduce feed or change to a lower calorie alternative and switch to a lower energy forage. Soaking hay for at least three hours or even better up to 16 hours will reduce the WSC level, making it safer for those susceptible to laminitis.
3. Use fewer rugs
Fewer rugs or no rugs at all will cause your horse to have to burn off a few extra pounds to keep warm.
4. Restrict time out at pasture
Consider turning your horse out at night when the grass will contain less fructan (storage form of sugar). Install a strip grazing system to moderate the amount of grass your horse has access to but remember to back fence to maintain a consistently small field size.
5. Try a grazing muzzle
A grazing muzzle can reduce intake by up to 80% but it must be properly fitted, allow drinking and you must allow your horse to get used to it before leaving it on for long periods.
6. Feed an alternative safe source of forage
For horses and ponies at very high risk consider removing them from pasture altogether and feeding them a suitable forage/ short chopped fibre, preferably one that has been approved by the Laminitis Trust.
7. Beware of late frosts
On sunny, frosty mornings, fructan can accumulate to high levels and this may trigger the cascade of events that can lead in laminitis.
8. Up the exercise
Regular exercise will help keep your horse’s waistline in check and support a healthy metabolism.
Did you know that SPILLERS, Through its work with the WALTHAM® International Laminitis and Obesity Research Consortia, is conducting important research into many of the areas that are thought to be involved in the development of laminitis and SPILLERS® HAPPY HOOF® has been used successfully in several of these studies.
SPILLERS® HAPPY HOOF® is a low calorie, short-chop forage containing all the vitamins and minerals needed for good health. It can be used as a partial or total replacement for hay and helps extend eating time. SPILLERS® HAPPY HOOF® is approved by The Laminitis Trust.
For free advice on how to help keep your horse safe from laminitis ring a friendly SPILLERS® Care-Line advisor on + 44 (0)1908 226626 or visit www.spillers-feeds.com.
ENDS
More from Spillers
