Check blanketing:

If horses have worn blankets all winter, keep an eye on daytime temperatures as the weather begins to moderate. Blankets may still be needed at night but often should be removed during the day to prevent sweating.

Check skin:

As the horse sheds his heavy winter coat, look him over carefully for cuts or other problems. Even if you have been faithful with daily grooming, small injuries may have been hidden by long hair. Give the horse an all-over bath as soon as the weather is warm enough, thoroughly rinsing to remove all shampoo. Look for rain rot, ringworm, scratches, and other conditions that may have been encouraged by blankets and damp weather. Treat skin diseases, asking a veterinarian for help with any stubborn conditions that don’t respond to over-the-counter remedies.

Check hooves:

Whether or not the horse was barefoot for the winter, he needs to start the spring with feet that are in the best possible condition. Schedule a farrier visit to be sure the horse is trimmed or shod correctly before increasing his exercise or training. Think about the work the horse will be doing and the terrain he will encounter. Will he need studs for soft ground? Pads for hard or rocky terrain? Wedges or special shoes to accommodate injuries or conformational defects? Discuss these concerns with a farrier, and get a veterinarian’s advice if needed.

Check teeth:

This should be done once or twice a year by an equine dentist or veterinarian. A dental checkup can prevent some training problems like head-tossing and fidgeting, and will also help to ensure that your horse gets the most benefit from whatever he eats.

Check for parasites:

Start or continue a schedule of deworming. Some owners prefer to do a fecal check to determine parasite infestation, while others simply buy and use popular deworming products. Check with a veterinarian if you are unsure about the right products and scheduling for your horse.

Check vaccinations:

Consult immunization records or ask your veterinarian what shots your horse needs. The recommendations will vary according to the horse’s age (foals may initially need two doses of some vaccines while mature horses need only an annual booster); location (if a particular disease in not common in your area, your horse may not need protection); travel schedule (horses that never encounter other horses may be able to skip some shots); and special conditions in your area (the series of West Nile vaccinations needs to be completed well before mosquitoes are seen). There is some evidence that horses develop a stronger immunity and have fewer skin or metabolic reactions if vaccinations are spread out over several days or weeks instead of being given all at once.

Check fences, gates, fields, water troughs:

If horses have been stabled through the winter and will now be turned out, walk the pasture to find hazards such as holes, trash, or low tree limbs. Clean water troughs and check for sharp edges. Carefully check gates and fences for loose or broken parts and repair any defects before letting horses into the field.

Check tack and equipment:

Have blankets cleaned and repaired now so they will be ready for fall. Look over halters, saddles, bridles, and other equipment and repair or replace as needed before starting training or competition. Clean and condition leather to avoid irritating the horse’s skin.

Monitor grazing:

Pasture time may need to be limited at first to avoid problems related to overconsumption of lush grass. Because fresh spring grass contains a high percentage of moisture and very little fiber, continue to offer horses hay for the first few weeks of grazing. Heavy, cresty horses and those subject to laminitis may be sensitive to the fructans (sugars) in rapidly growing grass. The use of drylots or grazing muzzles can allow horses to get out of the barn without risking metabolic upsets.

Check condition:

The resumption of training or exercise is a good time to evaluate your horse’s body condition. If possible, weigh the horse; otherwise use a weight tape as a rough measure of body weight. If a visual examination doesn’t tell you whether your horse is too fat or too thin, try a “hands-on” determination—generally you should be able to feel, but not see, the ribs of a horse that is in moderate condition. Record the horse’s weight and condition as exercise resumes, and recheck the numbers periodically as you continue riding through the spring and summer to keep an eye on excessive weight loss or gain.

Evaluate feeding program:

Will you be asking your horse for a much greater level of exercise? If so, he may need more grain or a high-fat ration to meet his energy requirements. He may also benefit from electrolytes, a muscle recovery supplement, or a feed designed to minimize tying-up. In areas with extremely hot, humid summers, some sweet feed proponents change to feeding pellets to avoid problems with mold. Any modification of a feeding program needs to be made gradually over several days, blending new feed into old and allowing the horse to adjust to the new regimen.

Finally, begin training:

If the horse has been off work for the winter, you need to schedule steadily increasing work to bring him back into condition. Start with brief periods of walking, moving to longer rides and faster gaits over a period of several weeks. Conditioning involves not just the horse’s muscles but also his lungs, heart, tendons, ligaments, and bones. By progressing slowly and paying attention to the horse’s reactions, you can often avoid lameness and injuries.

Regular intake of suitable forage, adequate chewing and moistening of this forage with saliva, and proper hydration status are important in preventing impaction. Exercise also encourages movement of ingested material. Horse owners need to be sure they are carrying out management steps to help their horses avoid problems.

Water:

Horses should always have access to a source of clean water that is not too cold. Tank or bucket heaters can be used to keep water at a temperature that is well above freezing. The water doesn’t need to be hot or even warm; a temperature in the mid-forties to mid-fifties Fahrenheit is fine. If heaters are not used, owners need to change the water in the horse’s buckets often enough to be sure the water is at an inviting temperature. If the horses aren’t drinking plenty of water every day, don’t ignore this situation; figure out the problem and correct it.

Hay:

Offering the right kind of hay is important. Hay should be clean, sweet-smelling, and free of mold. It should not contain a large percentage of tough, stemmy vegetation and weeds. Hay can be chopped or steamed to make it somewhat easier to chew and digest. Hay cubes or pellets, fed either dry or soaked, are other alternatives. Horses are not eating the hay that is provided? It is possible that it is moldy or dusty or unappealing for some other reason. It is vitally important that horses consume plenty of forage, so finding something that they are willing to eat is a priority.

Deworming:

Horses should be on a suitable deworming schedule before going into the winter months. Heavy loads of parasites can cause damage to the walls of the intestines, possibly restricting the flow of ingested material. Having the horse’s teeth examined and any problems corrected before cold weather arrives is another way to be sure that all ingested feed and hay can be thoroughly chewed and moistened.

Pasture:

Some horses are pastured during spring, summer, and fall, and then are confined to barns for the winter months. This may be necessary for very young, very old, or ill horses, but for most equines, standing in a stall for hours every day increases the risk of impaction. Owners should try to keep horses moving as much as possible during the winter, either by riding or driving them regularly or by turning out for at least a few hours each day. Pasture turnout is ideal, but even a period of free exercise in an indoor arena will help to encourage movement of material through the digestive tract.

Owners need to monitor not just the amount of water that the horse is drinking, but the moisture content of the manure the horse is passing. Very dry manure may be a sign that the horse is becoming dehydrated. Wetting the hay and adding water to the grain ration will help to get a bit more liquid into the horse, but the owner should also check to be sure clean, fresh, not-too-cold water is always available.

Signs to Watch Out for:

A horse that has an intestinal impaction is often less interested in eating. He may seem depressed and show little interest in moving around or interacting with people or other horses. He will probably begin to display common colic signs. For example pawing, nipping or kicking at his belly, and wanting to lie down or roll. A veterinarian can treat impaction colic. Waiting to see if the horse will feel better on his own is a bad idea. While some colic cases do resolve without treatment, impaction colic usually needs to be dealt with promptly. The veterinarian can decide whether the horse needs to be treated with fluids. In addition, intestinal lubricants, pain medications, or even surgery in some cases.

Obviously, it is better to avoid impaction than to allow it to develop. To minimize this problem,  owners should make water available. Monitor water intake and manure production. Keep to a schedule of deworming and dental care for their horses. Offer clean hay that is free of coarse material; and provide as much exercise as possible through the winter months.

Article Sources: Kentucky Equine Research

Meadow saffron is also known as autumn crocus because of its fall-flowering habit. Furthermore, it’s widely dispersed throughout Europe.  In addition, it’s in many areas of the United States, notably Kentucky, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Vermont, New Hampshire, Oregon, and Utah.^** 

Above all, the meadow saffron is not a true crocus, like those that come as signals of spring. As meadow saffron grows, broad leaves erupt from the ground, similar to those of the more familiar garden tulip. In early fall, once the leaves have died back, flowers erupt from the corms. As this photograph taken by Enrico Blasutto shows, each stalk produces a single flower that is typically light pink or purple. All parts of the plant are toxic.

The plant contains a substance called colchicine that inhibits cell division when eaten, potentially causing severe clinical signs. The gastrointestinal system associates with many signs of toxicity. For example, excessive salivation, difficulty swallowing, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.⁺ In addition, bloody urine and coughing have also been observed in horses.

Study Results:

In the study, a veterinary research team offered hay contaminated with meadow saffron to six mature horses, expecting them to avoid the poisonous plant. To their surprise, none of the horses steered clear of the meadow saffron despite having clean, uncontaminated hay available at all times.

“The behavior of these horses shows sharp contrast to the widely held belief that horses will voluntarily avoid toxic plants when safe plants are available,” said Catherine Whitehouse, M.S., a Kentucky Equine Research nutritionist.

“This study offered free-choice good-quality hay. As a result, suggesting that the intake of meadow saffron was likely not due to hunger but perhaps curiosity,” Whitehouse explained. “Most horses investigated and consumed the meadow saffron at the beginning of the feeding period and less so as the study progressed.”

Why were those horses enticed by the meadow saffron? According to the study, a variety of sensory cues. Therefore, taste preferences, and experiences all influence what a horse will and won’t consume.

“The bitter taste of meadow saffron may be palatable to horses,” she said. Colchicine and similar plant products have bitter flavors, often considered a protective mechanism for plants against grazing animals. Indeed, some studies show that horses seem to prefer—or are not put off by—bitter flavors, like fenugreek.

“Surpisingly, the odor of meadow saffron attracted horses. During the study, horses displayed investigative movements with their nostrils before ingesting the meadow saffron,” Whitehouse said.

Feed Composition:

Feed composition may provide another potential explanation why the horses preferentially consumed the poisonous plant. Horses reportedly prefer feeds rich in carbohydrates (sugars) and protein. The meadow saffron used in this study had higher crude protein and lower fiber fractions than the safe hay, which potentially increased palatability.

“In addition to the willingness of horses to consume toxic plants, this study shows that owners should carefully evaluate pastures and hay prior to feeding their horses,” Whitehouse advised.

In one case report from Europe, three horses developed colic within a few days of consuming hay that was heavily contaminated with meadow saffron. One of the horses died, and the necropsy revealed an abundance of hemorrhagic fluid in the thorax and abdomen. Thereupon, toxicology uncovered colchicine overload.⁺⁺

Importance of Vitamin E:

In addition, when worrying what is in dried hay, be sure to consider what isn’t. “Above all, dried forages are frequently low in vitamin E. As a result, horses fed all-forage diets that do not include fresh forage should be supplemented,” explained Whitehouse. “When choosing a vitamin E supplement, look for a product with proven bioavailability.”

For example, Nano-E is a water-soluble formulation that features advanced nanotechnology. Above all, it supplies a rapidly absorbed natural-source of vitamin E.

In conclusion, questions about Toxic Plants for Horses: Meadow Saffron? Contact us at J & J Hay Farms by clicking here!

Resources:

Article by: Kentucky Equine Research

*Mueller, C., L. Sroka, M.-L. Hass, S. Aboling, A. These, and I. Vervuert. 2021. Rejection behaviour of horses for hay contaminated with meadow saffron (Colchicum autumnale L.). Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition:13648.

^**USDA, NRCS. 2022. PLANTS Database. Colchicum autumnale L. National Plant Data Team. Accessed March 6, 2022.

⁺Cortinovis, C., and F. Caloni. 2015. Alkaloid-containing plants poisonous to cattle and horses in Europe. Toxins 7:5301-5307.

⁺⁺Kamphues, J., and H. Meyer. 1990. Meadow saffron (Colchicum autumnale) in hay and colic in horses. Tierarztl Praxis 18(3):273-275.

Picky eaters are very sensitive to feed quality. Be sure that premixed feeds and straight grains are within their printed expiration date. In addition, store feeds correctly to avoid mold or oxidation from exposure to air and moisture. In very hot weather, buy only enough feed to last a week or so. Prevent fermentation of grains and molasses in storage. Be a discerning customer when buying hay and chaff, and accept only clean, fresh-smelling forages that are free from weeds, dust, mold, and evidence of rodent infestation.

Forage:

In cases where horses are being fed a lot of grain, adding more forage to the diet can help to avoid problems such as gastric ulcers and hindgut acidity that may reduce appetite. Add forage as long-stem forage (hay or pasture) rather than chaff or other fiber sources. Offering at least 1% of body weight in forage per day is the best way to avoid digestive problems that may dull appetite.

The high glycemic index of grain feeds and the corresponding high blood sugar and insulin levels following grain meals can suppress appetite. As hard feed rations are increased, overall appetite is suppressed.

Horses find best-quality forage most palatable. The hay does not have to be prime lucerne (alfalfa) or clover hay; any clean hay that is free of dust and mold with plenty of leaf and not too much rough, woody stem that has been cured and stored correctly is preferred. Rough, stalky hay is retained in the digestive tract  longer than good-quality, leafy hay. This can affect appetite and intake of forage. Although this type of hay is unsuitable for picky eaters, it can be useful for overweight animals.

In horses that must consume concentrated energy, lucerne (alfalfa) or clover are good choices but are often better in combination with non-legume hays (grass, and cereal hays) than fed alone, where they can sometimes be too rich and cause scouring and further digestive upset.

B Vitamins:

In some cases, a deficiency of B vitamins can be the reason for suppressed appetite. Feeding plenty of forage ensures correct hindgut digestion, allowing adequate production of essential B vitamins in most cases. However, in horses that are working very hard, or those that are under stress or are scouring, B-vitamin production may fall short of requirements.

Supplementing B vitamins to horses with reduced appetite can stimulate appetite. Supplementation is best in an oral form rather than injectibles. For horses that refuse feed, mix powders with water, Give orally via a dosing syringe. Supplements should contain the full complex of B group vitamins at appropriate levels.

A course of daily supplementation for 14 to 20 days will help to stimulate appetite in horses that have gone off feed suddenly. Strategic supplementation prior to and at a show and competition can help to maintain appetite at these critical times. In some rare cases, regular supplementation seems to be required, with the horse going off feed as soon as the supplement is taken away, but correct nutritional and work balance can often alleviate inappetence enough that this is not necessary.

Oil and Fat:

In horses where no cause of poor appetite can be established, the owner or manager must come up with clever ways to get enough energy into the horse to do the job that is required in a safe way that will not affect the horse’s behavior or performance. High-fat feeds and fat/oil supplements can be a great way to get extra calories into the feed bucket in a relatively small volume of feed.

Oil and fat contains about three times the amount of energy as oats on a volume to volume basis. One cup of oil has about the same energy as 1 kg (2.2 lb) of oats. Adding oil or a high-fat supplement increases the energy density of the feed, making each mouthful more calorific.

Even if the horse only eats half of the supplemented feed, the calories taken in are significantly more than with grain feed alone. Appropriate oil choices are canola, corn (the most palatable), sunflower, or mixed vegetable oil. Choose only new oil. Avoid any oil claiming to be recycled or anything from the restaurant industry. This has been used for frying and has different properties from fresh oil.

Other high-fat supplements include rice bran, sunflower seeds, and soybean meal. These can be useful for horses with an aversion to oil. It can be used in combination with oil to reduce the overall volume of oil required. A regular amount is 1 to 2 cups of oil per day or a total of 1 to 2 kg (2.2 to 4.4 lb) of high-fat supplements with or without added oil.

Electrolytes and Salt:

Electrolytes and salt are very important in horse diets. Particularly in working horses. However, feeding too much can suppress appetite and reduce feed palatability. Generally, palatability is reduced once salt is included at more than 1% of the feed. With picky eaters, the tolerance level can be much lower than that.

In many cases, it is better to allow free-choice salt separately from the feed. Dose horses daily by syringe to get the right amount of salt and electrolytes into them. When adding or increasing salt in the feed, the best approach is to do it gradually. This will not always work with picky eaters. Yet, it can help to get the horse eating if no drastic changes are noticed in the feed.

In cases where it is imperative that the horse eats. For example, such as if the horse is sick and weak. If refusal of feed over a period of time while away at competition is affecting performance. If a horse is competing in a long-distance endurance event and is not eating well along the way. The smorgasbord approach can be very useful. Providing a range of different feedstuffs in an attempt to find something that the horse will voluntarily eat will help to satisfy the immediate requirement of getting something into the horse.

New Feedstuffs:

Do not offer new and strange feedstuffs to horses. However, in cases where the horse must eat something, this rule takes a back seat. Smorgasbord meals are usually small (around 0.5 to 1 kg or 1.1 to 2.2 lb per feed type). Once the horse has chosen a particular feed, the others are generally removed. Feedstuffs offered may include a variety of hay types. The preferred type may surprise owners who imagine that prime lucerne (alfalfa) must be the only hay they should try. Do not underestimate the palatability of fresh grass.

In terms of hard feed, the menu may include pellets. In addition, sweet feeds of different types (micronized, steam-flaked, and so on), and straight grains such as steam-flaked barley or straight oats. Leave additives and supplements out of the feed. However, additions such as carrots, apples, a little molasses, apple cider vinegar, or even fruit juice can sometimes be just the temptation the horse needs. The traditional bran mash can be a powerful tool in trying to tempt the picky eater.

A good helping of wheat bran or pollard with the addition of a handful of grain and perhaps some molasses and some carrots and/or apples soaked with warm water and fed fresh and warm can be to a horse as chicken soup is to a convalescing human patient. Bran mashes are often the first feed of choice in equine veterinary hospitals following surgery. For good reason: their proven palatability and as a great way of getting some vital fluids into a horse.

Dealing with picky eaters can be frustrating. The trick is to work out why the horse is not eating. Then, fix the root cause of the problem.

Resources:

In conclusion, do you have questions about Strategies for Increasing Appetite and Tempting Picky Eaters? Contact us at J & J Hay Farms by clicking here!

Article by KER.

Haynets help prolong the time it takes a horse to consume forage by providing a physical barrier that prevents fast consumption. They are manufactured with holes of varying sizes, and differences in this design feature can affect how fast a horse consumes hay.

Researchers at the University of Minnesota found that horses took longer to consume hay from haynets with small holes (3.2 cm) or medium (4.4 cm) holes compared to large holes (15.2 cm) or the control group fed without haynets*. The researchers even found a difference in consumption rates between haynets with small and medium holes.

Aside from slowing consumption, there is another benefit to using barriers to extend consumption of forage. Researchers concluded that the use of haynets decreased overall stress in horses on restricted diets, while simultaneously achieving weight loss**.

Hay Management:

Depending on the management situation, owners sometimes find that a lot of hay is wasted when not fed in a haynet or feeder. Hay wastage can be minimized with proper use of a square-bale feeder. A study on feeder design (basket, slat, or rack) found that feeders reduced the amount of hay wasted when fed outside compared to hay fed without a feeder+. With less waste, feeders reduced the overall cost of providing hay.

Further, while many horses can maintain their weight on all-forage diets, forage does not provide all of the nutrients horses need for top-notch nutrition. Mature horses should be fed a vitamin/mineral supplement to make up for any nutritional shortfalls.

Whether the goal is to carefully control forage intake or simply to minimize waste, haynets and hay feeders offer practical solutions.

Resources:

Interested in learning more about the Advantages of Haynets and Hay Feeders for Horses? Visit or call J & J Hay Farms for more information!

*Glunk, E.C., M.R. Hathaway, W.J. Weber, C.C. Sheaffer, and K.L. Martinson. 2014. The effect of hay net design on rate of forage consumption when feeding adult horses. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 34(8):986-991.

**Glunk, E.C. 2014. Methods of restricting forage intake in horses. Dissertation abstract, accessed online.

+Grev, A., A. Glunk, M. Hathaway, W. Lazarus, and K. Martinson. The effect of small square-bale feeder design on hay waste, hay intake and economics during outdoor feeding of adult horses. University of Minnesota Equine Extension.