Spring is here! And so is the risk of founder and laminitis!

It's great to see the lush, green grass of spring, and important to know that beautiful, fast-growing spring grass stores much more sugar than it needs for growth, and definitely more than most horses should consume in quantity. Too much of the good stuff can cause grass founder or laminitis, which is the inflammation of the laminae of the horse's foot, an extremely painful and dangerous condition.



If you know your horse is sensitive to spring grass, now is the time to limit their intake! And if you aren't sure, be careful anyway. Watch your horse's stools - if bright green and/or runny, cut back!

Solutions:

• No Grass - for those horses and all ponies that are in any way sensitive to grass. Confine to a dirt area that is grass free. Use hot wire to create a temporary paddock if necessary.
• Limited Grass until later grass (not so green) is in. (Fun fact: grass has less sugar in the morning than later in the day. A short turn out early is best.)
• Grazing Muzzle - for horses and ponies that need their turn out time but can't have grass. 

Horse Foundered? We can help.

We've been getting calls from folks whose horses have had too much of the good stuff - that fabulous spring grass so high in sugar.

If you are having trouble, we have pens available that are grass-free and staff that can help you with your horse's recovery.

(Originally published May 2014)