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Tips for managing horses during the
spring flush
Horse SAwww.horsesa.asn.au
2016iStock
Obesity is a modern issue in horses, leading to a range of problems including laminitis, Cushing's disease, equine metabolic syndrome and other disorders. Laminitis is more prevalent in spring for pastured horses.
A growing body of research indicates that under conditions of stress, the horse’s body is “tricked” into gaining weight just to survive.
Stress points may include:• confinement• social isolation • sleep deprivation• change in environment• travel• excessive training or competing• pain and illness• exposure to toxins• Reduced access to forage for
grazing and browsingiStock
Modern pastures, developed for high production in livestock e.g. cattle for dairy, or livestock for fattening and breeding is often too rich and high in sugars for many horses.
There is the traditional approach for having a ‘Jenny Craig’ paddock or bare area for keeping horses, which is part of a solution but not all of it.
Care must be taken not to over-restrict forage (grazing and browsing), causing stress, so that fat is placed on the horse just because of the living environment and care regimes- which might have in fact been originally designed to reduce weight gain.
iStock
A few tips:
Work out ways to promote the natural grazing behaviour of horses (constantly walking and eating) supplemented with exercise if needed. Property layout will greatly assist, as will equine friends.
Know what plants are in your paddock, and what your horse is eating (promote preferred grasses, remove toxic plants).
Use a multi-vitamin supplement (deficiencies may be identified in part by blood tests available)
Arrange for a soil test to see if deficiencies exist and may be able to be corrected.
Seek professional case management advice from veterinarians and qualified
farriersiStock
For obesity prone horses:
Use a yard as part of an Equicentral system, or if need to for part of the season (especially with a horse that has already foundered previously).
Source hay that is low in energy, sugars and starch (less premium, without being old, mouldy or full of weeds e.g. meadow/grass hay)
Use slow feeders and other ways to prolong chewing time + promote walking. Limit grazing muzzles to a few hours.
iStock
Can you identify what is in your horse’s pantry?
Obesity is not the only spring flush problem.
iStock
http://www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/eyrepeninsula/news/151028-farm-forum-pasture-weeds-horses
Common Name
Amount Onset of Symptoms
Symptoms
Blackberry Nightshade
0.5 to .5 Kg Soon after ingestion
Depression, weakness, onset of diarrhea & colic
Cape Tulip (One or two leaf)
Unknown Sudden death 12-24 hrs
Sudden death
Flatweed Unknown Sudden death possible. Un-coordinated. Neurological
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEOfpdPifIQAustralian Stringhalt: Horses mostly recovers with veterinary assessment and return to a clean paddock
Marshmellow (small flatweed mallow)
Unknown Several days to weeks
Staggers, rapid breathing
Gilford Grass (Onion grass)
Unknown Death within 24 hrs.
Grass forms balls in horse’s intestine and blockage occurs.
Salvation Jane(Paterson’s Curse)
Unknown Accumulates over 2-8 yrs
Weight loss. Loss of appetite, wandering, staggers, yawning. Causes lung and liver damage, jaundice and eventually death.
St. Johns Wort Large amounts 24 hrs to 5 days St John’s wort contains the toxin hypericin, which causes photosensitisation. The skin damage associated with this problem leads to weight loss, and, in extreme cases, death
Adelaide Plains Equine Clinic Ryegrass toxicity: Week 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPw2-l4GPdMWeek 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcGfW-ah9JU
Common problem plants
Equine Veterinary EducationE. W. Herbert,K. E. DittmerFirst published: 8 July 2016Full publication historyDOI: 10.1111/eve.12605http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/eve.12605/abstract
Acute and chronic oxalate toxicity in Miniature Horses associated with
soursob (Oxalis pes-caprae) ingestion
• 14 miniature horses in six separate outbreaks presented with clinical signs consistent with acute or chronic oxalate toxicity.
• All animals had access to Oxalis pes-caprae or soursob
• Chronic oxalate toxicity was associated with ill-thrift, stiffness, enlarged heads, kyphosis and neurological signs
• these horses responded to treatment with intravenous and oral calcium.
Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxalis_pes-caprae
Video of symptoms: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHkJpg4XRs8Case study on South Australian ponies
A FEW LINKS
Horse SAhttp://www.horsesa.asn.au/horse-care/horse-keeping-in-south-australia/
NRM Adelaide & Mount Lofty Ranges (Free landholder advice)http://www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/adelaidemtloftyranges/land/landholder-services
The Equicentral System http://www.equiculture.com.au/setting-up-the-equicentral-system.html (join The Equicentral System Group Chat)
RIRDC Plants Poisonous to Horses https://www.horsecouncil.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Plants-Poisonous-to-Horses-Aust-field-guide.pdf
Farm Forum - Common Pasture Weeds That May Poison Horseshttp://www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/eyrepeninsula/news/151028-farm-forum-pasture-weeds-horses
Obesity: The Real Cause - The Real Fixhttp://equimed.com/news/health/obesity-the-real-cause-the-real-fix
Affluent Malnutrition_EMS/obesity/laminitishttps://www.facebook.com/phytorigins