Grasses are a common component of a horse’s diet, but not all grasses are created equal. Some grasses can contain compounds that cause symptoms and health issues in horses. In this article, we’ll explore some of the common grasses that can cause problems for horses.
Fluorescing pigments are found in some grasses, such as rye, clover, lucerne, St John’s wort, buttercup, and plantain. These pigments give the grass a dark green color, but they can also cause photophobia and photosensitization in horses. Horses that consume these grasses may develop symptoms such as mud-fever and sunburn.
Oxalate is another compound that can cause problems for horses. Grasses such as kikuyu, setaria, couch, signal, buffel, buffalo, pangola, para grass, and guinea grass contain varying levels of oxalates. When consumed in large quantities or for extended periods, oxalate grasses can cause shifting lameness, facial swellings, and bighead disease in horses. The only form of calcium that can be absorbed by the horse when consuming oxalates is a calcium in a chelated form. This is so important and often missed in diets.
Some grasses and hay such as lucerne, clover, kikuyu, and rye, contain high levels of potassium. While potassium is an essential mineral for horses, high levels of potassium in the diet can cause spooky behaviour, along with many other behavioural issues, and even lameness in some horses.
Mycotoxins are compounds produced by certain types of fungi that can grow on grasses. Grasses and hay such as rye, tall fescue, paspalum, phalaris, couch (Bermuda grass), clover, and kikuyu may contain mycotoxins, which can cause grumpiness and behavioral issues in sensitive horses.
Clover is a weed that contains hormonal disrupters, which can affect the hormonal balance in susceptible horses. This can lead to reproductive issues and other health problems in both mares, stallions and geldings. This can also be true for all legumes including lucerne.
There are several horse pasture grasses that are generally safe for horses to consume. Examples of these include rhodes, brown top, cocksfoot, praire grass, Yorkshire fog, timothy, creeping bluegrass, Qld bluegrass, and redgrass. However, it is important to monitor the quality and quantity of these grasses to ensure that horses do not develop any symptoms as even safe grasses may cause issues during certain growth periods such as when it is stressed, after frosts or when lush & green.
In conclusion, while grasses are a common component of a horse’s diet, not all grasses are safe for horses to consume. It is important for horse owners to be aware of the types of grasses that can cause problems for their horses and to monitor their horse’s diet accordingly. By doing so, you can ensure your horses remain healthy and happy.
Please seek the advice of a qualified animal practitioner for the most appropriate treatment recommendations for your horse.
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