A University of Kentucky survey asks equid owners and managers about the restrictive grazing methods they employ in their management practices.
“It’s that time of year. The grass is starting to grow, and many owners will start to think about using restrictive grazing practices, including grazing muzzles, dry lots, strip grazing and other methods of management,” said Amanda Adams, associate professor at the Gluck Equine Research Center and MARS Equestrian Fellow.
“This topic is important for equids prone to obesity or laminitis,” Adams said. “Understanding the uses of restrictive grazing practices helps us put science-supported answers behind practical questions and challenges. Our goal is to help people help horses. We look forward to sharing the results.”
Morgan Askins, a graduate student working in Adams’ lab, is conducting the survey. As part of Askins’ doctoral program, she is researching the impact of various forages and management practices of equids, specifically in aged and insulin-dysregulated horses. Better understanding of how to manage body and condition in horses with metabolic diseases, along with dietary management, is critical to helping lower the risk of these equids to develop laminitis.
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