askHELTIE HELTIEhorse® How do you get your horse used to grass?

How do you get your horse used to grass?

Spring is on its way! As the ground warms up again, the grass starts growing. And when the grass has grown strong enough, your horse can go back to the pasture. Naturally wonderful. But how do you ensure the transition to pasture grazing goes as smoothly as possible so that your horse can get used to the grass?

Feeding

Pasture

27 March '23 • 3 min reading time

Grass starts to grow when the soil temperature is between 5°C and 8°C. Grass growth is optimal between a soil temperature of 12°C and 20°C. When the soil temperature exceeds 25°C, the grass temporarily stops growing. So, a soft and moist spring is optimal for grass growth.

Transitioning Diet

If your horse has not been on grass during the winter, the switch to pasture grazing can be quite drastic for the digestive system. Going from a diet of dry hay to juicy and sugary grass is a big change for the bacteria and yeasts that digest all the fibers in the large intestine. These microorganisms need to adapt to the new diet composition. Therefore, always ensure a gradual transition from hay to grass. Otherwise, your horse may get diarrhea or even colic.

Preventing Overweight and Laminitis

When rich, high-sugar grass is available to a horse, overweight and laminitis are risks. Especially for draft breeds such as Gypsy Vanners, Haflingers, and Shetland ponies. But even for warmbloods, ponies, and Friesians, it is important to pay attention to the composition of the pasture. To make the transition to pasture grazing as smooth as possible, you can start with an hour on the grass. For sensitive horses, start with just half an hour on the pasture. Gradually increase grazing time and monitor your horse closely. Loose manure or warm hooves are signs that you are progressing too quickly. Immediately reduce the duration of pasture grazing. To prevent your horse from eating a lot of grass quickly when out in the pasture, offer some dry hay beforehand so he doesn't go onto the pasture on an empty stomach. On days when the grass has high sugar content, you can also leave your horse in the paddock a little longer, with hay. This is especially important on sunny mornings after cold nights. On the internet and in special apps, you can find 'fructan alerts' that can help guide you. In some cases, a grazing muzzle may be useful.

Horse Pasture vs. Cow Pasture

Many pastures are filled with 'cow grass', also known as ryegrass. This type of grass contains high levels of sugars and proteins because cows need to produce a lot of milk. A cow is a ruminant with four stomachs and has a completely different digestive system than a horse. Horses have only one stomach, and a large part of digestion takes place in the large intestine with the help of microorganisms. Horses are adapted to eating long-stem, rough grasses, herbs, shrubs, and trees. In nature, they need to exert a bit of effort and walk a lot to find their food. A lush pasture with lots of ryegrass is too much for almost all horses. Therefore, when creating a pasture for horses, always choose a variety of grasses and herbs that are suitable for horses. These contain more minerals and less sugars, which align better with the digestive system and needs of horses. In addition, you should fertilize a horse pasture less intensively, and definitely not with artificial fertilizers. This results in overly rich grass, which can cause overweight and laminitis. Summer itch and eczema can also worsen with artificial fertilizers in your pasture. A pasture rich in herbs is best fertilized with pasture minerals from the Bering Sea. These minerals contain all the trace elements that your horse needs in its diet.

Tips for Smooth Transition to Pasture

A smooth transition to fresh grass in the pasture is crucial for keeping your horse healthy. Here are our tips:

  • Ensure your pasture contains suitable grass species and herbs
  • Do not over-fertilize your pasture, especially not with artificial fertilizers
  • Use pasture minerals to keep the pasture healthy
  • Always give your horse some hay before letting it graze on grass
  • Gradually increase grazing time
  • Use a grazing muzzle if needed

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Most horses are back on the grass by now. It is often thought that short grass is better for horses. A common remark is for example "my horses are in a poor pasture, so they only get a little grass". But is that really the case? Just imagine how tall the grass would be if you had fenced off a piece? That's right, that piece would be quite high. This means that the horses in the poor pasture with short grass have all ingested that grass. In addition, longer grass contains less sugars than short grass. We will explain exactly how that works in this blog.

# Why long grass is better than short grass

Most horses are back on the grass by now. It is often thought that short grass is better for horses. A common remark is for example "my horses are in a poor pasture, so they only get a little grass". But is that really the case? Just imagine how tall the grass would be if you had fenced off a piece? That's right, that piece would be quite high. This means that the horses in the poor pasture with short grass have all ingested that grass. In addition, longer grass contains less sugars than short grass. We will explain exactly how that works in this blog.. Side note: it is still important to slowly build up the grazing season for horses that are not on grass 24/7. Long grass does not mean that you can immediately put your horses on it 24/7. Build it up slowly and keep an eye on the fructan index. Very useful to have as an app on your phone. Short grass vs. long grass for horses We have listed the characteristics of grass for you. Because long grass and strip grazing is definitely recommended for all horses. See below in this table the differences...

Feeding

Pasture

It's spring, and soon most horses will be allowed back into the pasture. Hooray! But not for all horses is grazing a delight. Especially for hardy breeds and sensitive horses, the pasture can be a dangerous place. Grass can (sometimes) be packed with sugars, especially in the spring and fall after cold nights. However, with proper management, these horses can also enjoy grazing.

Grass: the biggest sugar bomb for your horse

It's spring, and soon most horses will be allowed back into the pasture. Hooray! But not for all horses is grazing a delight. Especially for hardy breeds and sensitive horses, the pasture can be a dangerous place. Grass can (sometimes) be packed with sugars, especially in the spring and fall after cold nights. However, with proper management, these horses can also enjoy grazing.. Grass and hay contain varying amounts of carbohydrates such as sugars, starch, and fructan. The amount of sugars in the grass depends on the time of day and the season. The type of grass in the pasture also has an influence. Excessive intake of sugars, starch, and fructan is associated with digestive issues and metabolic diseases such as laminitis, insulin resistance, and EMS in horses. Horses with summer eczema or those sensitive to mites also benefit from a low-sugar diet. Tip: Pay attention t...

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Feeding

Sweet itch

Many horses quickly become overweight when put in the pasture. It seems like they gain weight from just a single blade of grass. These horses are often referred to as 'easy keepers' because they don't require much feed. However, managing these types of horses is often not easy for owners. How is it possible that your horse gains weight so quickly? And what can you do about it?

My horse is already getting fat from a single blade of grass! How is that possible?

Many horses quickly become overweight when put in the pasture. It seems like they gain weight from just a single blade of grass. These horses are often referred to as 'easy keepers' because they don't require much feed. However, managing these types of horses is often not easy for owners. How is it possible that your horse gains weight so quickly? And what can you do about it?. The answer is not so much in the grass itself, but in your horse. Many horses consume too many sugars, for example in the form of concentrate or rich hay. Due to the dry summers of the past year, the hay is much higher in sugars than usual. Concentrate feed often contains a lot of sugar and starch, which are easily absorbed and lead to a higher blood sugar level. Not designed for fast sugars In the wild, horses eat a lot more cellulose from coarse plant stems. This cellulose is converted by the...

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