Pasture Management for the Good Doer: Finding the Balance

Pasture Management for the Good Doer: Finding the Balance

As spring arrives and the days lengthen, many owners of good doers start to think about restricting grazing. While lush green paddocks may be a picture of horsey paradise, they can be a fast track to unwanted weight gain and the associated health risks, such as laminitis. Managing pasture effectively is essential to keeping your horse healthy without compromising on welfare or natural behaviours.

When to Act
Spring grass growth can catch us out. Even when fields look sparse, grass can still be providing more calories than we think. This is particularly true during the “spring flush,” when sugar levels are high. Early action is key—monitor body condition weekly, watch for your horse preferring grass to hay, or set up a “test patch” in the field to see just how quickly grass is growing.

Why Restrict Grazing?
Pasture restriction isn’t just for overweight horses. Horses with conditions such as Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS), PPID, muscle disorders like PSSM, or those prone to recurrent colic often benefit from controlled grazing. In these cases, it’s not just about calories—managing sugar intake is equally important.

The Short vs. Long Grass Debate
One of the first decisions is whether to graze short or long grass. Both have pros and cons:

• Short grass: Restricts bite size, reducing quantity eaten, but stressed short grass can be high in sugars and low in fibre. Overgrazing can damage the sward and increase the risk of sand ingestion on sandy soils.
• Long grass: Often lower in sugars (if still growing and not gone to seed) but allows bigger mouthfuls, which can lead to higher overall intake. This approach often needs a grazing muzzle to truly limit calories.

In both cases, the goal is to manage both quantity and sugar content. Remember that simply reducing turnout time can backfire, as horses often “compensate” by eating faster.

Management Options

1. Close Grazing with Forage Supplementation
   Shorter grass can help reduce intake, but it should be balanced with additional late-cut hay or haylage (possibly with up to 30% straw) to meet fibre needs and satisfy appetite.
2. Grazing Muzzles
   When well-fitted and introduced gradually, muzzles can allow horses to exercise and trickle-feed while significantly slowing intake. Choose a design that suits your horse’s head shape, and ensure grass is at least 2 inches long.
3. Dry Lots or Track Systems
   Removing grass completely is the most accurate way to control intake. Bare paddocks, surfaced areas, or track systems combined with low-calorie forage allow precise rationing. This is often the best choice for horses at high risk of laminitis or needing rapid weight loss.
4. Mixed Approaches
   Combining short periods of restricted grazing with time in a dry lot, use of a muzzle, or feeding low-calorie forage can keep horses mentally stimulated while managing intake.

Monitor and Adapt
Whatever system you choose, regular monitoring is essential. Check weight and condition weekly, adjust as needed, and be alert for signs of hunger (wood chewing, soil ingestion) or digestive upset. Dental checks are especially important when grazing behaviour changes.

Take Home Points

·         Act early in the season—don’t wait until weight gain is obvious.

·         Manage both quantity and sugar levels in grass.

·         Avoid “all or nothing” approaches—balance restriction with fibre provision.

·         Consider health conditions such as EMS or PPID when planning grazing.

·         Review progress regularly and adapt your approach as the season changes.

By taking a proactive and flexible approach, you can keep your good doer healthy, happy, and enjoying the benefits of turnout without compromising their waistline or wellbeing.