Okay guys, one more grass/founder question

drafts · 11-23-2005, 12:52 PM

My horses come home Saturday. We are supposed to have several inches of snow by then, as I speak it is coming down hard.

How does snowfall affect the richness of the grass? Should I still use the grazing muzzle? It may melt, it may stay around, hard to tell. I don't see them getting a whole lot of grass right now, through the snow.

Thanks, again

ItsAThought · 11-23-2005, 01:01 PM

The first snow fall came today too, I took Amira's grazing muzzle off from now till the end of winter. The grass is dying and the snow only helps it along. I'm just telling oyu what I did with her, I'd like to hear what others have to say

Sue B · 11-23-2005, 01:18 PM

It depends on what stage the grass is in. If it is now dormant...brown and dead looking, then the snow won't make any difference and it should be safe to graze. However, if you haven't had a "killing" frost and the grass is still green under the snow and growing, then it will be the warmer days and cold nights that raise the levels of the sugars in the plants. As long as the grass is "dead", it is basically the same as hay and as long as your horses can eat hay with no problem, then they should be able to eat the grass.

Don't think that they can't eat grass just because it is covered with snow. While most domestic horses are generally provided piles of hay during the winter and therefore don't have the urge to dig, digging through the snow is a standard way for horses to get food. Some just seem to enjoy it and I have seen them plowing their noses and digging with their feet to get to the grass.

Putte · 11-23-2005, 01:28 PM

But as long at its covered it wont get enough light to produce more carbohydrates.
PL

Sue B · 11-23-2005, 01:44 PM

I would agree with that Putte..but, then there is the factor of the grass freezing prior to dying and thus containing stores of sugar. This seems to be a reare occassion in some parts of the country...but may happen more often in others. I remember one winter when I was able to harvest a nice fresh crop of frozen herbs for about 3 months until the snows got too deep to dig them out....the grass that was next to them was also frozen and still green.

drafts · 11-23-2005, 05:35 PM

Thanks, Sue!

ejforrest · 11-25-2005, 01:41 PM

After the first frost, pastures might be higher in carbohydrates and put horses in danger of laminitous and is not good for metabolically challenged horses(cushingoid ones).
Conditions for high-carb pastures and hay are: Sunny, cold, and dry. Cold temperatures and sunny weather stimulate lots of sugar production, but little sugar untilization for growth, so the sugar builds in the plant.
There is some research now available from the UK suggesting that "fructan content" is a primary contributor in the incidence of laminitis in pasture grazed horses. As fructan content is highest in 'stressed' pasture, such as a pasture that is over-grazed or "after" a frost. Only way to tell how much sugar your pasture has is to have it tested.

belle4 · 11-25-2005, 02:31 PM

Drafts,

We just had a blizzard yesterday, temps in the single digits, about 6 inches of snow on the ground...the grass is still green. I'd be careful.

11-23-2005, 12:52 PM	#1
drafts Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,988 Images: 133 Blog Entries: 6	Okay guys, one more grass/founder question My horses come home Saturday. We are supposed to have several inches of snow by then, as I speak it is coming down hard. How does snowfall affect the richness of the grass? Should I still use the grazing muzzle? It may melt, it may stay around, hard to tell. I don't see them getting a whole lot of grass right now, through the snow. Thanks, again

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11-23-2005, 01:01 PM	#2
ItsAThought Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bloomfield Hills, MI Posts: 2,191 Images: 421 Blog Entries: 76	The first snow fall came today too, I took Amira's grazing muzzle off from now till the end of winter. The grass is dying and the snow only helps it along. I'm just telling oyu what I did with her, I'd like to hear what others have to say

11-23-2005, 01:18 PM	#3
Sue B Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 3,824 Images: 6	It depends on what stage the grass is in. If it is now dormant...brown and dead looking, then the snow won't make any difference and it should be safe to graze. However, if you haven't had a "killing" frost and the grass is still green under the snow and growing, then it will be the warmer days and cold nights that raise the levels of the sugars in the plants. As long as the grass is "dead", it is basically the same as hay and as long as your horses can eat hay with no problem, then they should be able to eat the grass. Don't think that they can't eat grass just because it is covered with snow. While most domestic horses are generally provided piles of hay during the winter and therefore don't have the urge to dig, digging through the snow is a standard way for horses to get food. Some just seem to enjoy it and I have seen them plowing their noses and digging with their feet to get to the grass.

11-23-2005, 01:28 PM	#4
Putte Full Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Sweden Posts: 224	But as long at its covered it wont get enough light to produce more carbohydrates. PL

11-23-2005, 01:44 PM	#5
Sue B Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 3,824 Images: 6	I would agree with that Putte..but, then there is the factor of the grass freezing prior to dying and thus containing stores of sugar. This seems to be a reare occassion in some parts of the country...but may happen more often in others. I remember one winter when I was able to harvest a nice fresh crop of frozen herbs for about 3 months until the snows got too deep to dig them out....the grass that was next to them was also frozen and still green.

11-23-2005, 05:35 PM	#6
drafts Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,988 Images: 133 Blog Entries: 6	Thanks, Sue!

11-25-2005, 01:41 PM	#7
ejforrest Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: U.P. Michigan Posts: 2,523 Images: 363	After the first frost, pastures might be higher in carbohydrates and put horses in danger of laminitous and is not good for metabolically challenged horses(cushingoid ones). Conditions for high-carb pastures and hay are: Sunny, cold, and dry. Cold temperatures and sunny weather stimulate lots of sugar production, but little sugar untilization for growth, so the sugar builds in the plant. There is some research now available from the UK suggesting that "fructan content" is a primary contributor in the incidence of laminitis in pasture grazed horses. As fructan content is highest in 'stressed' pasture, such as a pasture that is over-grazed or "after" a frost. Only way to tell how much sugar your pasture has is to have it tested.

11-25-2005, 02:31 PM	#8
belle4 Senior Moderator Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 8,830 Images: 417	Drafts, We just had a blizzard yesterday, temps in the single digits, about 6 inches of snow on the ground...the grass is still green. I'd be careful.