Kas Edney Hoof-Care Practitioner

13/06/2026

CAN’T BE THE GRASS AT THIS TIME OF YEAR… CAN IT?

If I had a cent for every time somebody told me a horse can’t be grass affected over winter, I’d be a very rich lady.

SO WHAT CAUSES A HORSE TO BECOME GRASS AFFECTED HERE IN NEW ZEALAND?

1. Mycotoxins
2. Pasture sugars
3. Mineral imbalances

Sometimes it’s for one of these reasons and at other times it can be all three.

IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANY HORSE. IN ANY PADDOCK. AT ANY TIME OF YEAR!

Spooking, elevated, over reactive, fence running, not listening, touchy, girthy, tripping, stumbling, grumpy, sour… stiff hind quarters, uncoordinated, bucking, nipping, running away- all can be affects of being “grass affected”

The weather we’ve had over the last month has created a fungal dream. Warm sunny days, moisture, humidity, frosts and stressed grass.

All secretly happening inside your pasture to accumulate to cause problems.

We know that grass can affect the horse’s nervous system and caused problems for the senses, including smell, feel,touch, hearing and vision.

Now imagine if this is how you saw the world how worried, overwhelmed and scared you’d feel. So it’s important to try to understanding that your horse isn’t being naughty or silly, and that they have a genuine reason to feel anxious, panicky and scared.

This is what grass affectedness can do to a horse.

Thankfully, managing this situation is an easy fix…..

SO WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Have a good grass management plan – feed some hay to reduce sugars from pasture.

Detox the horse with our fast acting Equi-Protect  which normally gets your horse back to themselves within a couple of days.

Then use our All in 1 supplement to address and prevent all three reasons for grass affectedness.

I sincerely hope this info helps you to help your horse to recover.

See our website for more details.

13/06/2026

Gentle, non-ridden ideas for calm, connected moments with your horse.

21/05/2026

We have many miles to go, but I’m loving the progress we’re making in just two trims❤️

19/05/2026

14/05/2026

‼️ LAMINITIS WARNING ‼️ The weather is cooler, the Laminitis Risk app says the risk is low, and yet horses are dropping like flies. I’ve had half a dozen calls in the last few days letting me know of a laminitis diagnosis, and most of them are big warmbloody, finer types. Samson (pictured) is fine with careful management by the way.

I’m no grass geek, but I know that sunshine and rain along with mild temperatures make the grass grow extra fast. I also hear that last year’s drought forced the grass to send its roots down deeper looking for moisture. And the deeper you go, the more nutrients you find. Then when the conditions are right for growth…. Disaster.

Laminitis does not just affect horses with metabolic disorders or insulin resistance. The change from dry hay cut last summer to what’s growing out there now is drastic. The gut biome is set up for fibre and is suddenly being fed sugar which causes uproar on the inside. It’s a very easy trap to fall into, so please check pulses, supraorbital fossa (the concave place above the eyes) and crests daily. Be watching for discomfort when turning, footiness, fat pads, swollen sheath/underside, and puffy fetlocks. Please please don’t be caught out

31/01/2026

🐴✨ Why we use a gentle grinder + sanding disc ✨🐴

For laminitic and older ponies/horses, trimming needs to be as comfortable as possible 💛

Traditional nippers and rasp can be really painful for laminitic hooves 😬
They apply pressure, leverage, and sudden force — which sensitive, inflamed hooves just don’t tolerate well 💔

A gentle grinder with a sanding disc means:
⚡ Faster trims
🦵 Less time standing on 3 legs
💆‍♀️ Less pressure on sore, fragile hooves
🎯 More control for slow, smooth adjustments
😌 Calmer, happier horses

Laminitic hooves are often weak, sore, and easily stressed — so removing hoof wall gradually and evenly makes a huge difference 🖤

✨ Faster doesn’t mean rushed — it means kinder ✨
Especially for horses who struggle to hold their feet up for long periods of time 🐎

HorseWelfare KindTrimming EquineCare ComfortFirst 🐾💕

26/01/2026

Possum is a Clydesdale cross who has had a couple of negative experiences with a farrier, so hoof care is something she has some feelings about. Horses have strong associative memories, and she definitely remembers the not-so-great bits.

After a brief introduction and some positive interaction, I was able to work with her calmly and tend to her front feet. We spent some time using pressure and release, which helped her settle and understand what was going on. By the second hoof, I noticed her energy shift slightly toward defensiveness, so we wrapped things up there and finished on a good note.

Next visit, we’ll aim for all four hooves.

It definitely helps when your husband is a bit of a horse whisperer.