Colic and laminitis on frosted grass

Frost can nudge the sugar content of the grass up a little, but this also depends on the time of day, the type of grass growing, and other factors. A touch of frost can amount to a small change of feed, but most horses handle it without any trouble.

To avoid laminitis, keep your horses in good condition all year round and avoid overfeeding grass that is high in sugar, especially if they are prone to laminitis. Choose a forage well suited to your horses.

To avoid colic, make sure the horses always have access to fresh, unfrozen water. Water troughs or heated drinkers are usually appreciated, particularly through cold spells when frost can affect the water supply.

Keeping your horses well hydrated and watching their condition lets you minimise the risk of both colic and laminitis when there is frost on the grass.