By Juliet M. Getty, Ph.D.
Are you tempted to cut your grass, then rake it into soft, fragrant, tasty piles of clippings for your horse to nibble? According to equine nutrition expert Dr. Juliet Getty this should be the last thing you encourage your horse to eat. It has to do with that extra step: raking. Grass clippings that stay on the pasture after mowing, where they can dry in small amounts, are generally not a problem. But never gather them into piles to feed them to your horse. Here’s why:
- Clippings are too easy to over-consume, and eating large amounts at one time can lead to excess fermentation in the hind gut, potentially causing colic and laminitis.
- Piles of clippings can rapidly invite mold to form (especially prevalent in hot, humid environments), which can lead to colic.
- Because there is no air inside a dense pile, botulism can develop, which turns this “treat” absolutely deadly.
Three really good reasons those pretty piles are no kind of treat for your horse!
Juliet M. Getty, Ph.D., is an internationally respected equine nutritionist, author, lecturer, and consultant who has spent more than 30 years educating horse owners on the vital role nutrition plays in equine health. She is the author of Feed Your Horse Like a Horse and the Spotlight on Equine Nutrition book series. Her guiding philosophy is to feed horses according to the way they were designed to eat, digest, and live. Through her writing, teaching, consultations, and monthly newsletter, Forage for Thought, Dr. Getty translates nutritional science into practical guidance horse owners can use every day. Learn more at www.gettyequinenutrition.com.