Cerridwen Horseshoeing

This is very true 🐴👍

Our sweet yearling, FLF King of Burning Love (McSteamy) resting at the show. This is the temperament we love! 😍❤️‍🔥 thank you @kdperformancehorses_ for loving our babies and for the video! #horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #gypsy #footloosefarm

Captivating glimpse into the ancient past! This incredible artwork by Roman Yevseyev and Sameerprehistorica brings the fascinating prehistoric horse, Equus ferus leninensis—also known as the Leninsky horse—back to life. The top image shows a dramatic scene of two stallions rearing up, their striped coats reminiscent of modern zebras, while a herd grazes behind them on the vast, grassy steppes.

The bottom image provides a striking scale comparison, highlighting just how massive these creatures were compared to humans. Imagine encountering a herd of these powerful animals roaming the land alongside mammoths and other megafauna! This artistic interpretation offers a fantastic window into the diversity of prehistoric life and the incredible evolutionary journey of modern horses. It reminds us of a time when the world was wilder and full of awe-inspiring beasts we can only now imagine.

Most horse owners know that rich grass can be dangerous, especially in the springtime. But do you know why? I meet a lot of people who are confused about how grass affects a horse’s health, particularly when it comes to sugar content. So let’s demystify one key part of the puzzle: NSC. What is NSC? NSC stands for Non-Structural Carbohydrates — the sugars and starches produced by the plant and stored in the leaf. These are digestible carbohydrates that provide fast energy, and in sensitive horses, they can spike insulin and contribute to conditions like laminitis, Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS), or PPID (Cushing’s). Photosynthesis = Sugar Production Just like you learned in school, plants use sunlight + carbon dioxide to create energy — and that energy takes the form of sugar. During daylight hours, grass is actively producing sugars through photosynthesis. If the plant is healthy and growing, it uses those sugars to fuel new growth. But if the grass is stressed — from cold, drought, overgrazing, or frost — it can’t grow, so it stores that sugar instead. And that means your horse may be grazing on high-NSC, sugar-loaded grass, even if the pasture looks sparse. Why Nighttime/Early Morning Grazing Is Safer At night, with no sunlight, photosynthesis stops. The plant stops making sugar — and instead starts burning through the sugars it made during the day to support things like root growth and repair. This means sugar levels in the grass gradually decrease overnight. That’s why many veterinarians and nutritionists recommend that sensitive horses graze in the early morning, after several hours of darkness — when NSC levels are at their lowest. A Little Knowledge Goes a Long Way Understanding how and when grass makes sugar can help you make smarter decisions about turnout, grazing times, and pasture safety. Grass-induced laminitis is often preventable — but only if we understand the science behind what’s happening in the pasture. #primarilyhooves #hoofcare #barefoottrim #equinehealth #horseeducation #hoofrehab #laminitis #ems #ppid #naturalhoofcare #equinewellness #pasturemanagement #nsc #grasssugar #metabolichorses #horseowners #hooftrimming