The Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Denton County and the Denton County AgriLife Extension Horse Committee will hold a horse hay quality and selection and poisonous plant class from 6-8 p.m. June 17 at the Covenant Church Cross Roads Campus, 8690 Liberty Road in Cross Roads.
The horse committee has arranged for two excellent speakers, according to Brandon Boughen, AgriLife Extension agent for Denton County.
Dr. Tam Garland, Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, College Station, will give a presentation on plants that are noxious and poisonous to horses.
Mike Sommers, former agricultural science educator and horse committee member, will explain how to select quality hay for horses, Boughen said.
A registration fee of $15 per person will be payable at the door.
“We have all seen the claims of ‘horse quality hay,’ but what does that really mean?” Boughen said. “How do you know you are buying quality hay? Since nutrition is the largest expense for horse owners, it is important to understand that you cannot choose hay based solely on color and smell. Hay can smell and look great and still have the nutritional quality of sawdust.”
Boughen said horse owners need to be diligent in locating a good source of nutritional hay and always ask for a nutritional analysis or be prepared to send a sample to a laboratory for analysis.
“Horse owners cannot afford to overlook the need for quality roughage due to the serious health implications it could have,” he said. “We must also be mindful of the other stuff in our hay and in our pastures. Some broadleaf weeds, shrubs, grasses and trees can be noxious and poisonous to horses. It is extremely important that horse owners know how to identify them in the field or the bale.”
Source:.agrilife.org