Spring Stress

This article was written by Cindy "Hawk" Sullivan Co-Founder of the Equine Sciences Academy

Most of us are aware that many domestic horses face problems when Spring Has Sprung!

"Grass Founder" is the most commonly heard lament for sore footed horses in the spring. While spring grass is the most universally accepted stressor for the high incidences of laminitis in the spring, it’s not the “green grass” by itself. Excess and overly rich spring forage can stress the GI system, but there are also a number of other stress causing factors that increase laminitis risk particularly in the spring.

Commonly, the horse is hit with the following, all at once, in the spring:
1. Lush new grass and other emerging vegetation
2. Vaccinations
3. Worming
4. Hormones (particularly with mares)
5. Increased activity...riding/showing, hauling, etc.

All these things are huge stressors for the horse and because many folks are unaware of the cumulative effects that “we” pile on because it fits our schedules or the schedule we were told is "the right way to do it."

1. Spring pastures suddenly full of fast growing dense foodstuff. The problem with that is not the green food…rather, in nature, horses must hunt for food in often less than hospitable environments. They come out of winter much thinner than when then went in. Our horses are kept fat and happy all year around, never lacking for or having to seek enough food. A thin horse coming out of winter can “take the hit” of the green forage emerging over time in the spring. Our fatty-fat-fat horses end up standing in what amounts to McDonalds fast food and having to move no more than ten steps to fill their ample bellies. STRESS

2. People who continue to believe they must vaccinate each year, tend to do it in the spring. Not only are vaccinations a big hit to the horse's immune system, they tend to be given in combination all at the same time. STRESS

3. People who still use chemical wormers, tend to do a dose in the spring as part of their rotation and because they are thinking about it, they will often do it at the same time as vaccinations. Chemical wormers are a poison (that's why they kill the worms). Even though you may not notice (or recognize) any adverse effect, that poison is a stressor. But beyond that, the die off of internal parasites can flood the gut (and sometimes the bloodstream) with toxins given off by their dead bodies. Even with "natural" non-chemical wormers, the impact of dying parasites is there. STRESS

4. Nature’s design is such that hormones rise as spring approaches, probably triggered by warmer temperatures, longer days and the stimulation from eating the emerging new forage. When food is in abundance, it is a signal that it’s time to produce the next generation for they will have enough food to survive. The body gears up to breed and for all the associated stimulation, release and activity associated with it. But most of us have separated the genders, castrated or isolated the males. And the normal rise and release cycle of hormones is stifled. STRESS

5. Spring time sees the resurgence of riding for us. Many horses do nothing all winter, then are pulled out to hit the trails when the weather is suitable for us. For many the increase is rather sudden compared to a horse in the wild that has had to work hard all winter just to find food and water. Even if our horses are turned out all winter, they still only have to wander over to the bale of hay we put out for them. That in no means has kept them riding fit. STRESS

“All these things and more, create a lot of stress on the horse that, because of us, tends to hit all at once”.

Change your strategy:

If you insist on vaccinating, most are annual shots. Who said they had to be given in the spring? Give them in the summer or in the winter. Spread them out instead of six or seven in combination at once. Better yet, titer instead.

Same with worming. Change your timing and at least change to a non-chemical method which will eliminate that stressor (chemical poison) completely. Use a grazing muzzle for at risk horses when spring grass comes up, even if your horse is not a fatty fat fat. They will have to work much harder and will move more in that McDonalds restaurant we call a “well managed” pasture. Better yet, put in a track system and avoid the muzzle as it has its own side effects.

While we most often neuter (geld) male horses, we almost never spay mares. So you still have the hormones rising to deal with. Try to put at least one gelding, preferably one that is a little bit “studdy” in with the girls to stimulate their normal cycles. Try to avoid single sex arrangements.

Be mindful when riding begins that while your horse may look fit, he probably isn’t if you haven’t worked him all winter. Ease into it.

There are other things you can incorporate into your management to minimize spring stress, but this will give you some “food for thought” to get you started.

Cindy “Hawk” Sullivan© Copyright 2012, Equine Sciences Academy, All Rights Reserved and is reprinted here with permission