Ryegrass Staggers

What is Staggers?

Staggers is a condition native to ryegrass pastures. The ryegrass is a habitat for a fungi called "endophytes" that produces "mycotoxins". The fungi and its product affects livestock, including horses, and causes them to tremble and lose co-ordination by affecting the brains cerebellum.

Symptoms

Trembling, unsteadiness and poor muscle co-ordination occurs, as well as staggering and falls in severe cases and loss of control of the rear end. Less severe symptoms are erratic and anxious behavior not normally exhibited by the horse. Early symptoms might include trembling in the head and neck and shoulder areas. Recently, evidence has been supported that the effects can be very subtle and are widespread. Unexplained "dangerous" behavior in horses might be explained as "mycotoxin madness". Death only occurs in very severe cases and is not very common. Some horses may not show symptoms as in such, but will start losing weight due to a decrease in appetite, they may also refuse to drink. Be wary around affected horses as they may not be able to control themselves and can harm you and others around them. 

Cures

The safest way is to remove the horse from a ryegrass rich pasture, re-sow that pasture and keep the horse on clean meadow hay. If that is not an option, the horse should be rotated through the pasture so they don't have to eat close to the base. Move the horses through before seedheads form. Some horses may display more tolerance to mycotoxin, especially "native" breeds, where imported horses could exhibit a severe case of madness. Use mycotoxin binders or yeast supplements in your horses feed, this will help your horse. Staggers is seasonal, so take care of your paddocks and supplements before it gets warm and dry. High toxin levels in the plant are results from the plant being stressed. Overgrazing or drought conditions cause ryegrass to "overreact". Horses are more prone to staggers then cattle.

Safe Food

Hay and baleage are usually safe as they are dried out. Mould on the hay will determine the presents of fungi and thus should not be fed to the horse. Safe grasses include coxfoot and phalaris, but its best to contact your local feed agent and ask for a "horse safe" pasture mix. Providing adequate fibre forage in winter or all year around is very important. Horses main diet should be fibre and cannot be replaced by occasional hard feeds.

You can check www.safegrass.org for more information on pasture management and safe horse forage.

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