Introducing Spring Grass – supporting digestive health through change
As spring arrives and grass growth begins to increase, turnout becomes a welcome change for both horses and owners. However, while fresh grass is a natural part of the equine diet, the transition from winter forage to spring pasture is one of the most significant dietary changes your horse will experience across the year.
Managing this transition carefully is key to supporting digestive health and reducing the risk of issues such as colic, loose droppings, or unwanted weight gain.
Why Spring Grass Needs Careful Introduction
The equine digestive system is designed for a consistent, fibre-based diet. During winter, this is typically provided by hay or haylage.
Spring grass, however, is very different:
● Higher in water content
● Often higher in sugars
● Lower in structural fibre compared to conserved forage
This means that a sudden increase in grass intake can disrupt the balance of microbes within the hindgut. These microbes are responsible for fibre fermentation, and they require time to adapt to changes in diet.
The Risks of Sudden Change
Abrupt introduction to spring grass can lead to:
● Hindgut disruption due to rapid fermentation of sugars
● Loose droppings or changes in manure consistency
● Increased risk of colic
● For some horses, particularly good doers, an increased risk of laminitis
Even short periods of turnout on rich spring pasture can have an impact if the horse is not accustomed to it.
A Gradual Approach
As a general guide, introducing grass gradually over a minimum of 10-14 days allows the digestive system time to adapt.
Practical steps include:
● Start with short turnout periods (e.g 30 minutes to 1 hour)
● Increase duration gradually every few days
● Maintain access to forage (hay or haylage) before and after turnout
● Avoid turning out on an empty stomach
Providing forage beforehand can help reduce rapid intake of grass and support more stable digestion.
Keep Fibre at the Centre
Even as grass intake increases, fibre should remain the foundation of the diet.
● Continue to provide ad lib or appropriate forage
● Avoid replacing forage entirely with grass too quickly
● Consider using chopped fibre or soaked fibre feeds if additional support is needed
Fibre plays a key role not just in digestion, but also in maintaining a stable environment in the hindgut.
Monitor and Adjust
Every horse responds differently to spring grass. Careful observation is essential:
● Monitor manure consistency
● Track weight and body condition
● Watch for changes in behaviour or appetite
If signs of digestive upset occur, reduce turnout time and reintroduce grass more gradually.
Supporting the Transition
For horses prone to digestive sensitivity, additional support may be beneficial:
● Maintaining consistent feeding routines
● Avoiding multiple changes at once (e.g. feed, turnout, workload)
● Considering digestive support where appropriate
The key is to minimise sudden shifts and allow the digestive system time to adapt.
For horses prone to digestive sensitivity, proactive provision of a digestive supplement ahead of turnout changes, and fed to span the transition, may be beneficial. The horse relies on a stable population of hindgut microbes to digest fibre, and these microbes adapt to specific feedstuffs over time. When the diet changes, such as the introduction of spring grass this population must adjust, which can take several weeks . If changes occur too quickly, microbes can struggle to cope, increasing the risk of digestive upset.
Pre and probiotics can help support this process. Probiotics, such as Transvite Excel, provide live yeast to help repopulate beneficial microbes and are often useful in the short term during periods of change. Products combining pre and probiotics, such as Transvite Digest, can support the existing microbial population and may be suitable for longer-term use during dietary or management transitions.
Take-Home Points
● Spring grass represents a significant dietary change, not just a management change
● Introduce turnout gradually over a minimum of 10–14 days
● Maintain fibre intake to support hindgut health
● Avoid turning out on an empty stomach
● Monitor closely and adjust based on your individual horse