[TX_Buckskin_Lov]

I just got my herd, who is in 2 different pastures, a couple of nice grass hay round bales. My husband's uncle just baled them about 2 days ago, they are still green and smell great. My horses are in hog heaven. The one pasture is pretty overgrazed although they have been doing Ok they are in good weight if not too heavy And the other pasture is better still has quite a bit of grass but the bales were free and I thought it might help from overgrazing that pasture.
So my question is can they founder from good grass hay if they over eat?? None of my horses have ever foundered or anything but I usually don't feed round bales in the spring/summer time, but we are lacking rain this year Thanks

[alr001]

Miss Bandit can give good advice on this..if she doesn't come on soon PM her..

[Bella]

Horses can basically founder on anything, if the specific horse is suseptible... we had a mare who foundered on GRASS. Unfortunately we were unable to keep her because of it.

Most horses do great on grass hay. It's what we feed, and ours is really green, very good quality. They have no problems. They may get diarreah for a day or two if it is too rich, but they should get over that. It not, they need to be removed, or fed less.

But, yes. A horse can founder on grass hay. It is not common though. Just keep an eye on them, they will most likely be fine. Rememeber though that occasionally you get a horse that is super sensitive and founders on almost anything.

-Bella

[TX_Buckskin_Lov]

What are the first syptoms of founder, I have never delt with it before?? Thanks and I'll watch them !!

[ejforrest]

Keep in mind when feeding round bales that you should vaccinate against botulisum.
Botulisum is still not considered a common disease in horses. That, unfortunately is changing. Mortality rate in foals is 90% and in adults its 80%. Botulisum can strike very swiftly. Any farm considering feeding round bales, sylage, or haylage should consider protecting there animals from this disease.
First cut spring hay is high in sugars and there is a risk of founder do to the high sugar content, same with first spring pasture grasses.

[Super Step]

I suppose a horse could founder if it ate to much of anything. I really do not see much difference in feeding a round bale in the summer than I do in the winter. You have little grass in your pasture so the horses are getting their forage from the hay. Basically they are simply grazing from a bale.
If there much grass at all, the horses would not be eating hay. So I do not see where mixing the two will hurt.

Square bales are baled with no more than 14% moisture. Round bales usually are around 20% moisture. That is one reason the round bales from your uncle look a little green and smell so good right now.
Even with the higher moisture content the hay still has less moisture than green grass. All hay continues to cure after it is baled. More so with round bales.
I think you will be fine unless the horses were poor and gorged themselves.

[Blistering Winds]

Most Hays are lower in frucose and sucrose than fresh green grass. These are two sugars that have been linked to founder when ingested too much. (basically ANY sugar can trigger founder) Starch too.

Most Hays, however, have been dried, and as they loose moisture, the sugar content is lost as well. So the chance of founder decreases dramatically.

Illness, eating something new, almost anything can trigger a founder episode.

I have placed horses on round bales with great success over the years. (Knock on wood), not one founder yet off a grass round bale.

[dallasbarnone]

Ej- we got botulism here too- i always vacc against it -expensive to start it but well worth the money. Good vaccine . I use round bales but i wont use ones stored outside or wrapped ones either. If you heard about that Whisper syndrome - i think thats what killed those horses. Anyway-im sure if the round bales being used are dried and not hot inside and theres no mold -keep an eye for anyone being off feed or depressed etc. Should be ok. Sudden changes of feed-or hay can cause colic or founder -as can mold.

[MissBandit]

ejforrest, Super Step and BW are all correct. Grass hay in itself is generally considered a 'safe hay'. But yes, gorging of anything does pose a risk.

Originally Posted by TX_Buckskin_Lov

What are the first syptoms of founder, I have never delt with it before?? Thanks and I'll watch them !!

Read this thread that I posted some time back. http://www.horsegroomingsupplies.com...ote.php?u=1372
It should answer all your questions. Do not hesitate to contact me with any questions/concerns you may have.

[TX_Buckskin_Lov]

Thanks guys for all the info. I have always feed round bales in the winter, just never in the srping and summer, we just always had enough grass to get by with. But now we have a couple more horses and lot less rain LOL. I was feeding some square bales until he got these round bales done so its nothing too new to them just a little fresher and greener. This was his first cut for the season though so it might be high in sugars or whatnot. But they are not overeating from what I have seen, I have seen some out grazing today and then some in the barn. So I think we will be alright. Thanks again