Why do horses often show signs of magnesium deficiency in Spring? Put simply, it’s due to the mineral imbalances within young, growing grass. In this article, we explain what Spring grass contains and how it impacts on magnesium levels.

With Spring just one month away, it’s important you understand how Spring grass growth may affect your horse.

Young, growing grass that’s vibrantly green is given its colour by magnesium - the central molecule of chlorophyll. With so much green in your pasture, you’d hardly think magnesium levels would be low, but the problem lies below the surface.

Magnesium isn’t the only component of young, growing grass. Grasses and legumes also contain high levels of potassium, nitrogen and water. Before maturity, high potassium and low magnesium levels indirectly limit magnesium absorption.

In addition, as your horse’s body rids itself of excess potassium via the kidneys, magnesium is also lost. Any magnesium your horse has is rapidly used up by the 350 bodily functions that require magnesium. If magnesium isn’t provided in the diet, a magnesium supplement is needed.

Magnesium Supplementation in Spring

A magnesium supplement, such as Placide, will help to restore the balance of magnesium in your horse’s diet during Spring - regardless if they’re pasture-fed, on a dry lot with free choice forage or given a forage-first diet, supported by a balanced concentrate.

It’s important to remember, even if signs of magnesium deficiency disappear in late Summer, when grass is no longer reliant on potassium and nitrogen for growth, the arrival of Spring and Autumn will often cause magnesium-related problems to spike.

Why Choose Placide

At Placide, our equine calming supplements contain superior and bio-available organic chelated magnesium, with boron, to ensure your horse receives the full benefits of magnesium supplementation from first use.

Placide M & Ca is ideal for horses kept on fast growing Spring grass to ensure your horse’s calcium and magnesium levels remain balanced and sufficient. Without magnesium and calcium, your horse may become grass-affected - showing anxiety, stress and hyper-reactivity.

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Placide is the number one equine calming supplement in New Zealand. Containing organic, chelated magnesium, Placide works to relax muscles, reduce stress and support your horse’s health for improved performance in less than one week. Click here to find out more.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended as veterinary advice. At Placide, we encourage you to make health care decisions for your horse based on your own research and in partnership with a qualified veterinarian.