Simple steps to prepare for the spring
Simple steps to prepare for the spring
The grass has started to grow and although tiny these little shoots are packed with nutrients and sugars, there are some little things that you can do to help prevent the onset of an early attack of laminitis this spring whilst ensuring that the horse still maintains a healthy routine.
- Reduce any hard food intake by using a low calorie chaff or grass nuts as a token feed.
- Limit access to high sugar treats, lick tubs and blocks and mixes.
- Use hay not haylege and if possible old land hay rather than seed hay.
- Use trickle nets or double net hay ration so less lasts longer.
- Hay can be soaked to reduce nutrient content.
- Leave an hour between coming in from grass and giving haynet the horses stomach will be full of grass, and will improve digestion by having a little break.
- Increase turnout time gradually, don’t just suddenly turn out for full days when turnout has been restricted over the winter.
- Horses don’t think ‘ohh I’ve had enough’ its your job as a responsible owner to limit rations.
- Use a weigh tape or weigh bridge to monitor horse’s weight, its useful to have a spring weight to try to maintain during the summer months.
- If your horse is known to be susceptible to laminitis take steps now don’t wait
- Be honest with yourself as to the weight of your horse, many horses are overweight without owners addressing the problem until its too late
- If possible increase work, steady trotting and hill work are best for burning calories and fattening, this does apply to riders as well as horses