Many people don’t realise their horses are Grass Affected until it is too late and they have a nasty accident or the horse becomes unrideable due to head-flicking, behavioural issues or laminitis.
In most cases the symptoms occur long before the horses get to this stage – so our aim is to help you to recognize the first signs and how to correct the horses diet immediately once you notice any changes in the horse.
Despite many horse carers spending vast amounts of money on professional advice, thousands and thousands of horses and ponies all over the planet succumb to a wide array of serious health and behaviour problems every year. Thousands are put down, turned out, sold for the wrong reasons, don’t reach their full performance potential or are retired far too early.
Thousands of horses become metabolic, suffer from laminitis, are diagnosed with ‘sacroiliac’ problems, become head-flickers/shakers, get mysterious bouts of colic, allergies and skin conditions or mud-fever, buck or spook people off, are forever needing therapies and treatments for ‘muscle-soreness’ or have endless trouble with saddle-fitting.
Even more horses become over-reactive and therefore dangerous. The combination of an over-reactive horse with a person who does not ‘read’ these signs is a recipe for a serious accident.
The emotional toll on their carers is significant. If your horse isn’t right it ruins your whole day. The economic toll can strain relationships because the non-horsey half doesn’t understand. Desperate owners spend significant amounts of money on every treatment known to mankind. They spend it on everything except the ‘one thing’ that will make the most difference: their grass and its proper management.
Do any of the following sound familiar?
- Excessively spooky
- Girthy
- Constant saddle-fit issues
- Doesn’t like to be brushed
- Pulls back at the slightest thing
- Difficulty backing up or walking downhill
- Leans in on circles
- Impulsive, wants to go too fast
- Can’t cope with pressure or going anywhere different
- Takes small first steps when saddled up
- Bunny hoping at canter
- Doesn’t like ‘up’ transitions
- Bucking or bolting off suddenly
- Muscle sore, continuously needing chiro or other treatments
- Stumbles over nothing or drags hind legs
- Recurring skin conditions
- Dull, lethargic
- Needs joint supplements
- Uncharacteristic behaviour
- Geldings behaving like stallions
- Moody mares
- Overly herd-bound behaviour
If so, then download the full checklist of Horse Symptoms.
Many of the above symptoms are signs of mineral imbalances and, or toxicity. Symptoms may come and go and many are very common but that doesn’t mean they are normal!
The major mineral imbalance comes from too much potassium, nitrates and not enough sodium, calcium and magnesium.
CLICK HERE for more information on why your horse may be ‘grass affected’ and what you can do to help them.
For more advice, complete our complimentary Horse Questionnaire.
