Question about horses and grass clippings...?

Question

A while ago there was a question very similar to this one, and it got me thinking...

I've heard that when you cut the grass in a pasture, the grass clippings can give the horse colic? So do you have to wait a certain amount of time before you let the horses out into the pasture or something? Like what do you do about the grass clippings so the horse doesn't get colic?

Please answer! Thanks :)

Answer 1

I've never had any problems with mowing a pasture and then turning out, but then, I don't have overly lush pastures either.  I think the big problem with yard clippings is that they're typically just pitched over the fence in a pile, the horse can stand there and gorge in one easy convenient location, plus, being piled up like that, the grass builds heat while decomposing.  If it's just a mowed pasture, they do have to pick as they go, and the cut grass wouldn't be  in such large quantity in one area to cause the rapid decomposition either.  Another thing is, yard clippings can sometimes contain toxic plants that aren't typically in a pasture.  Yew, or red maple leaves comes to mind.  Both are ornamentals not typically found in pastures, and toxic to horses.  If the leaves get swept up in the bagger and then thrown out, the horses have access to the toxins.

Answer 2

Depends on how healthy the horse is.  If it is use to eating all the grass it wants it should be fine.  It will normally only colic a horse that is malnourished.  If so give the pasture a day to dry/cure before letting the horse in.

Answer 3

Honestly, all you can do if either rake up and remove all the clippings from the paddock, or just spread them out and leave the paddock to rest for a bit, so they break down. You will need to leave the paddock for quite a while though, so there are no more in there once you put horses back, so if you don't have another paddock to use, I suggest grabbing a rake and a wheelbarrow, and a few people, and spending a bit of time getting them out of the paddock. It's a lot of work, but at least it means the horses are safe from colic, as well as many other things.

Answer 4

Remove as much of the clippings as you can if you want the horses in there sooner rather than later, but Its safe to put the horses back out there when the clippings are completely dried up.

But the reason why grass clippings are so bad for them is because the gas and whatever else is in the mower mixes with the grass- so thats obviously not good. And on top of that the grass ferments, so just avoid grass clippings and horses all together. Its just not a good combo.

Answer 5

I've personally never had a problem with a horse colicking on grass clippings.  When we mow, we leave the clippings distributed where they lay and they just dry out and do not cause a problem.  

The problem happens when the clippings are left in clumps and piles that don't dry out, then they ferment and can cause serious colic.  This kind of thing is most likely to happen if you mow when the grass is very high and wet.

Answer 6

If given fresh ( there and then )   the clippings are fine if not  then they start to ferment and this is when the problems start.   anything not eaten after 30 min should be removed