Sugar Content In Grass

It’s that time again when owners of horses, ponies, and donkeys worry about how much sugar their animals consume from grass. Although spring is usually associated with high sugar levels, autumn is equally bad, especially if there have been cool nights, warm sunny days, or frosts.

Grass can contain as much as 15% of simple sugars, meaning that a pony weighing 250kg could consume as much as 2kg of simple sugar per day just from grazing in the paddock. Add to this any treats they may receive in the form of apples and carrots, and it is not difficult to see how some equines succumb to obesity or, in some cases, laminitis. Sugar is, to the equines, what it is to us humans: highly addictive and, just like us humans, if consumed in high amounts, it can cause problems.

Photosynthesis increases when there is more sunlight, which produces the sugar. Therefore, the grass will contain more sugar on sunny days in spring and autumn than on cloudy, dull days. Unfortunately, weighing up how much sunshine there is, is not the only task; temperature, moisture levels, the type of grass, and even the time of day all play a role.

Horses, ponies, and donkeys need a certain amount of sugar to fuel their bodies, just like we do. However, as they have evolved, they have consumed low-sugar plants. Therefore, rich pastures, particularly those found in the UK, provide a sugar content exceeding the amount the equine can cope with, resulting in obesity and laminitis. Subsequently, the amount of work the animal does will also affect how much sugar they need. Nowadays, ponies and donkeys are used much less in this country as ‘work animals.’

There are several ways that owners can reduce the equine’s intake of sugar from grass, and some of these include:

1. Limiting the amount of time you turn out your horse will ensure that they do not over-graze.
2. Turn out your horse overnight when the sugar in the grass is at its lowest level. It is important to remember that this is only the case if temperatures remain above 5°C. Anything below this temperature will mean that the grass will not have used up its stored sugar needed for growth.
3. Avoid turning out your equine on frosty mornings. When it is cold and sunny, the sugar levels in the grass are at their highest.
4. Avoid paddocks that have been stressed by drought, as this is when weeds and hardier grasses, which have a higher sugar content, take hold.
5. Fence off small areas for horses and donkeys to graze, as this will limit their access to grass.
6. If possible, create an area where your horses and donkeys can be turned out without access to grass. This will enable them to exercise and get fresh air while reducing their time to graze.
7. Consider soaking the hay you feed to your equines, as this will reduce the sugar content by as much as 50%.
8. Carefully consider the type of hard feed you give to your equines. A low-calorie protein, vitamin and mineral balancer will ensure your horse or donkey is fed a balanced diet alongside a forage-restricted diet.
9. Consider using a grazing muzzle to restrict the amount of grass your horse or donkey consumes whilst turned out.
10. Limit treats! Although horses, ponies and donkeys love apples and carrots, feeding them in moderation rather than daily is important.


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