🌱🐴 WHEN THE GRASS MAKES YOUR HORSE THINK THAT EVERYTHING IS OUT TO GET THEM! 👀😱
It’s a really funny photograph, isn’t it? It looks like a giant Shaggy trying to jump onto Scooby-Doo’s knee! 😂🐴🤣
But when a normally calm horse suddenly becomes frightened of everything, it’s no laughing matter.
It can be upsetting and confusing to watch your horse change, especially when you have no idea why it’s happening.
Sometimes, the grass they are eating can often be part of the problem, especially at this time of year. 🌱🌦️
I’ve dealt with hundreds of grass-affected horses over the years, and fear and anxiety are often behind their unusual behaviour. So, what on earth has grass got to do with it? 🤔🌿
🔍 HOW CAN GRASS CAUSE THIS?🔍 🌱
When we say a horse is “grass affected”, we mean something in their diet is changing how they feel or behave.
It could be excess plant sugars, mineral imbalances or natural toxins produced by tiny fungi found in grass, hay, chaff, haylage, baleage and some pelleted feeds. Often, it’s a mixture of these reasons. 🌾🍄
Some of these toxins can affect the way a horse’s brain and body work together. They may feel wobbly or unbalanced, or not be as sure of where their feet are. Things they would normally do without thinking can suddenly feel difficult or dangerous. 🧠🐴
👓 🚗 TRY WEARING SOMEBODY ELSE’S GLASSES! 🚗 👓
I often compare it to putting on someone else’s glasses when their prescription is far too strong. Imagine trying to drive like that. You’d be all over the shop, but at least you’d know why. 👓😵💫
Your horse’s brain doesn’t work like that, unfortunately.
They are not standing there thinking, “I wonder if something I’ve eaten is making me feel unwell?” 🤔
They are thinking, “OMG, something’s wrong. I don’t feel steady. I might not be able to run away. I feel vulnerable and something could eat me. I need to get out of here… NOW!” 😱🐎
And off they go, pushing through everything, while you’re hanging onto the rope, wondering what on earth has happened to the horse you previously knew so well. 😳🪢
🐴 💥 FEAR CAN LOOK DIFFERENT 💥 🐴
Some horses become jumpy and try to escape. Others make themselves look big and threatening, a bit like the “fake it till you make it” approach. It may look like aggression or sourness, but underneath it can be a frightened horse trying to protect themselves. 🐴🛡️
It’s frightening and frustrating for owners too. You might start questioning your handling, wondering what you’ve done wrong or worrying about what your horse will do next. When a normally sensible horse suddenly decides a leaf, a gateway, or a suspicious-looking rock is out to get him, it can knock your confidence, and theirs, too. 🍃🚪🪨👀
If you’re dealing with this now, please don’t blame yourself. This sort of behaviour can be exhausting and, at times, genuinely dangerous. 💛
💛 🪢 UNDERSTANDING THEM WHILE STAYING SAFE 🪢 💛
It’s easy to say, “Oh, don’t be silly. There’s nothing there.”
But to a toxic horse, there is.
They aren’t being naughty or taking the mickey. They are likely to feel frightened, unwell, confused or disoriented, and not understand what’s happening to them.
Patience and understanding matter, but so does your safety. So, feeding from the other side of the fence until you have sorted this out is a safer way to go than getting hurt or frightening your horse further. And we would definitely advise not to ride them for everyone’s safety, as a toxic horse is a ticking time bomb that' can be highly unpredictable 🐴💛🚧
🐴 💚 HOW OUR SUPPLEMENTS BEGAN 💚 🐴
Helping horses with these problems is how our Natural Horse supplements began. Hundreds of unwanted horses came through our rescue centre, and many of them were grass-affected and badly misunderstood.
Their owners had often struggled for a long time, doing their best to cope with behaviour that had become confusing, overwhelming or unsafe. Some had reached the heartbreaking point where they didn’t know what else to do. 💔
I developed the supplements because those horses needed help. I certainly wasn’t standing there planning a supplement business twenty years down the line. I had horses in front of me who were struggling, along with owners who needed answers and practical support. 🐴🤝
That experience is still at the heart of Natural Horse NZ. We’re now a business with an on-site sanctuary, and our products grew out of years of hands-on work with horses. We also understand how much worry, stress and heartache a struggling horse can cause the person trying to help him. 💚🏡🐴
🌿 🦸 OUR ALL IN 1 EVERYDAY HERO 🦸 🌿
Our Equi-Protect formula was developed to provide toxin-binding support. Toxins, however, are only one part of grass affectedness. Nutritional gaps and mineral imbalances also need to be considered. That’s why we combined the ingredients in EquiProtect with vitamins, minerals and other nutritional support to create our All in 1 Equine Support. 🌿🥣
All in 1 provides support in these areas in one daily supplement, making feeding easier when you already have plenty to think about. 🙌🐴💚
Equi-Protect is also available separately in a more concentrated formula for horses needing additional toxin support, including more severely affected horses. It can be fed alongside All in 1 when extra support is needed. 🥣🌿
🌱 🚧 DON’T FORGET THE GRASS! 🚧 🌱
The other important part is managing grass and sugar intake. As I often say, there isn’t a product in the land that can keep up with a horse continually eating more unsuitable grass than he can cope with. 🌱🐴🌱
If your horse is severely grass-affected, it may be worth re-evaluating their grazing management and overall diet, including whether they need adjusted access to grass by systems like break feeding or tracked grazing.
They still need plenty of forage, of course, but grazing the whole paddock may be more than they can comfortably cope with. Finding the right balance can take time, so small, manageable changes can be a good place to start. 🌾⏳
A frightened, grass-affected horse isn’t trying to give you a hard time. They are having a hard time. With patience, thoughtful changes to their grazing and diet, and the right support, many horses can become calmer, safer and more like themselves again. Take it one step at a time, and be kind to both your horse and yourself. 🐴💚
Stay Safe and Happy Horsin 🐴💚😊
📖 🌱 MORE HELP WITH GRASS, FEEDING AND YOUR HORSE 🌱 📖
If this sounds familiar, these articles will help you understand a bit more about what’s happening and where to start. 🐴💚
🌿 🥣 PRODUCTS TO HELP YOU PUT IT INTO PRACTICE 🥣 🌿
🦸 All in 1 Equine Support brings grass support, vitamins, minerals and digestive support together in one daily supplement.
🌿 Equi-Protect provides concentrated toxin-binding support and can be fed alongside All in 1 when extra support is needed.
🌾 Slow Feed Haynets help make hay last longer and keep your horse occupied with steady nibbling while you manage his grass intake. 🐴💚
