Can My Horse Founder if...?

Question

I just turned 2 of my horses out to pasture last night and became concerned that they might founder the pasture is just grass no alfalfa will they be ok?

Answer 1

Well? have they been on grass at all this year? If so they might they might not. But it might happen if they were just let out for the whole night it is most likely then. You have to be careful on these things. but I think they will be fine of you take the safe route let them out of 30 at a time good luck

Answer 2

Horses that are used to eating grass on a regular basis and have been turned out on a seasoned grass pasture and have never had a founder problem in the past and are not overweight in the first place will probably have no problem.  It is usually the fresh spring grass that is available to horses all of a sudden and the horses of course pig out and are not used to all of this rich green stuff that causes the problem.  If you have a horse that has already had founder problems, there could be risk for this horse foundering again if let out all of a sudden on rich pasture.  MY horses are usually on pasture 24/7 365 days a year and have no problem,.  You really have to know your horses and their systems.  Some can hack it others have to be monitored.  rule of thumb though, if the pasture is grass rather than alfalfa, or cLover and is not fresh spring new growth it sould be fine.

Answer 3

I like 'Wahoo's' answer in that some individuals/breeds are more prone to founder. Alfalfa is hot; it is a legume (pea) which provides protein, but you might profit by gradual exposure to grass if it's unknown how your horse will respond. "Easy keepers"--those that fatten easily -may be something to watch for. If the grass is dry, results will differ vis a vis green (early) grass.  Regions differ, too. We're in the West. Red oat country: You may be in the East where rich timothy grasses are sometimes fed.

Happy riding.

Answer 4

Given the right stress, any horse can founder.  However, your question has no answer but there is no need to fret over founder issues if your horses are healthy and have not had problems in the past.  Relax and keep a check on them, just like you normally would do.

Answer 5

Let them out on the pasture for short periods of time. 20 to 30 minutes the first couple of days, then a little longer each day after that. A horse can founder and colic on grass even if they are on pasture all the time and used to eating it 24/7.

Answer 6

Have they been out on pasture daily before you turned them out here?

If they have not been out on pasture before you turned them out they can founder or colic.

Answer 7

Is this the first time they have been on grass all year?

Answer 8

last year I had a friend that turned her three horses out on grass . the grass was poor and they had no problems . then after a rainy spell the grass took off growing .a week or so later one of the horses developed laminitis. the other two were OK.

There are so many variables that no one can say with certainty yours will will be alright . the best thing to do is keep an eye on them and limit their their turnout until you feel confident they have adapted to the conditions

The horse that foundered was a overweight , mare which made her a good candidate for founder.

Answer 9

Hi, it is a good idea to keep an eye for this type of thing of course.  Make sure that the pasture you're turning them into isn't too "Rich".

A good way to judge whether or not to be concerned about rich pasture, is to watch how everything is growing around you, if you notice your lawn growing fast, and there has been lots of moisture producing fast growing hayfields, then this is the time to be concerned for a laminitic episode.

During the middle of summer here in north america, the dryness usually eliminates the worry of rich pasture, but with weather patterns changing, it is hard to give a concrete answer.

Answer 10

I have a horse that is foundered right now. It is not something you want to take a chance on. He foundered on grass. He spent eight days in the equine hospital to the tune of many $$$. He has to be in a small paddock area probably for the rest of the summer. I would be VERY cautious.