Grazing: gently acclimating horses to pasture

When should grazing begin?

With the first warm days of the year, the grass in the meadows begins to grow again, and anticipation for the grazing season builds—among horses, owners, and stable managers alike. However, after the winter period of predominantly hay-based feeding, the switch to fresh green forage represents a significant change for the horse’s entire system.

Therefore, the transition requires special attention: The digestive tract must first gradually adapt to the new, more energy-dense feed. If the change is too abrupt, digestive problems such as watery manure and diarrhea can occur, which in the worst case can even lead to laminitis. A well-planned grazing schedule ensures that the metabolism can adjust slowly and health risks are minimized.

A practical guideline is the so-called “beer bottle rule”: As soon as the grass has reached a height of about 20 cm - roughly the height of an upright beer bottle - it is a suitable time to begin grazing. In most regions, this period falls between mid-April and early May. However, weather and site conditions can influence this timing, so the start of the grazing season may shift accordingly.

Introducing horses without metabolic issues to pasture

To allow the horse’s gut flora to adjust smoothly to the fresh grass, the transition to pasture should be done gradually. A change that is too rapid places unnecessary strain on the digestive tract, so a well-planned approach is crucial. It is important to distinguish between healthy horses and those with metabolic sensitivities.

For healthy horses:

Initially, grazing time should not exceed 15 minutes - even if the horses are reluctant to return to the stable afterward. It is also recommended to graze in the afternoon, as the fructan content in the grass is lower at this time of day than in the morning. Grazing time can be extended by about 15 minutes every 2 - 3 days, so that after about four weeks, a duration of two hours in the afternoon is reached.

Once the horse has become accustomed to the pasture grass after the first two weeks and temperatures permit (no night frosts), a short morning grazing session can also be incorporated. Here, too, the 15-minute rule applies, with a gradual increase every 2 - 3 days during the first week. In the final week, the morning grazing interval can be further increased, for example in 30-minute increments every 2 - 3 days. The goal is to reach a grazing time of about two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon after four weeks.

Grazing for horses with metabolic sensitivities or pre-existing conditions

Special caution is required when turning out horses with metabolic issues or those that are significantly overweight. This applies in particular to hardy horses that are easily overfed and animals with an increased susceptibility to laminitis. In these cases, more time should generally be allowed, as the transition to pasture feeding must be handled with particular care. Even minor missteps can cause serious health problems.

Start with just a few minutes of grazing time per day, aiming to reach about 15 minutes in the afternoon after the first week. In the second week, the afternoon grazing time can be increased to a maximum of 20 minutes. Starting in the third week, the morning is gradually included as well, so that by the end of this week, about 20 minutes of grazing time is achieved both in the morning and in the afternoon.

During the fourth and fifth weeks, grazing time can be cautiously increased further. Morning grazing should last no more than 30 minutes, and afternoon grazing no more than 60 minutes. In general, horses with pre-existing conditions require consistent pasture management with limited access to pasture.

Depending on the severity of the metabolic disorder or individual sensitivity, it may be necessary to significantly restrict grazing or, in some cases, to avoid it entirely. If in doubt, a veterinarian should always be consulted.

Many ponies also tend to graze almost continuously. In such cases, it is advisable to increase grazing time very gradually or to strictly limit it. If necessary, using a feed restrictor can also help control grass intake. The same applies to overweight horses: The energy-rich and protein-rich spring grass must be incorporated into the overall feed ration as well as into exercise management, as otherwise there is a risk of further weight gain.

Optimal feeding during pasturing

To prevent digestive problems such as diarrhea or colic during the transition to pasture feeding, the horse should have already eaten a sufficient amount of hay before being turned out to pasture. This satisfies the initial hunger and prevents the animals from eating the young grass too quickly and in large quantities.

It is also important not to feed concentrated feed immediately before or after grazing. Otherwise, when combined with the fresh grass, it may pass through the digestive tract too quickly and enter the large intestine undigested. There, it can disrupt the balance of the intestinal flora, which can trigger serious consequences such as laminitis.

Grazing horses in the spring – avoiding digestive problems

During the transition to the grazing season, many horses react sensitively with diarrhea or other digestive issues. This is caused by the need for the gut flora to adapt to the change in diet. During the winter months, the diet consists mainly of hay, haylage, and straw - feed with a high fiber content and comparatively low protein content. Accordingly, the gut is dominated by bacteria that are specialized for this type of food.

With the start of the grazing season, the composition of the feed changes significantly: fresh grass contains more water and protein. To ensure that digestion continues to function smoothly, the gut flora must first adapt to these new conditions. This process usually takes about two weeks.

If the horse is introduced to young grass too quickly, its existing gut flora may not be able to process the nutrients properly. This can lead to diarrhea, increased gas production, or even colic. Therefore, a slow and controlled transition to pasture is particularly important.

To specifically support the digestive tract during this sensitive phase, a course of feeding lasting about 30 days may be beneficial. Supplements containing probiotic components and selected nutrients help stabilize the balance of the gut flora and prevent digestive disorders.

In addition, the use of EQUIPUR - digest plus may also be beneficial during the grazing season. The combination of herbs, probiotic ingredients, and other functional components can relieve the gastrointestinal tract and support digestion. For sensitive horses, long-term use during the grazing season may be advisable.

Spring pasturing – be aware of the risk of laminitis due to fructans

Grasses store excess energy from photosynthesis in the form of so-called fructans. These are complex sugar compounds that, if consumed in excessive amounts, are not fully digested in the horse’s small intestine. As a result, they enter the large intestine, where they are broken down by microorganisms. This fermentation process can significantly disrupt the balance in the gut: the pH level drops significantly, causing beneficial gut bacteria to die off. As a result of these changes, harmful substances are produced that pass through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream, where they can damage the blood vessels. This primarily affects delicate vascular structures, such as those found in the hoof corium. If this sensitive tissue is damaged, laminitis can develop—a serious condition in which the connection between the hoof bone and the hoof capsule is compromised.

In the past, an excessively high protein content in the feed was primarily suspected as the trigger. Today, however, an elevated fructan content in the grass is considered a major risk factor. Especially in the spring, when young grass is particularly rich in fructans, the risk increases significantly—particularly during the grazing season.

For sensitive or pre-stressed horses, targeted support may be beneficial. Special feed supplements such as EQUIPUR - laminal and liver-supporting blends such as EQUIPUR - metabol have proven effective in alleviating the strain on the metabolism during this sensitive phase.

A quick overview – proper grazing for horses

Gradual acclimatization: Start with very short grazing periods of no more than 15 minutes, gradually increasing them over a period of about four weeks (for horses with pre-existing conditions, reduce the duration to 5 minutes).
Preparatory feeding: To prevent hasty eating, sufficient hay should be fed before turning the horse out to pasture. Avoid feeding concentrates directly before or immediately after grazing.
Supporting digestion: Supplementary feeds containing probiotic ingredients and herbs, such as EQUIPUR digest plus, can specifically help stabilize the digestive tract during the transition phase.
Monitoring fructan content: High fructan concentrations in grass increase the risk of laminitis. Especially after sunny days combined with cool nights, it is recommended to move grazing to the afternoon hours, as the grass stores fewer fructans at this time.
Special protection for at-risk horses: Horses prone to laminitis require a particularly cautious approach and should be turned out much more slowly at the beginning and, as a general rule, only in the afternoon.
Nutrient supply: Throughout the entire grazing season, ensure a balanced supply of vitamins and minerals.