22/05/2026
๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ง ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฌ โ ๐๐๐ซ๐ญ ๐: ๐๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐ โ ๐๐๐ญ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ฉ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ด
As we move through Autumn, many horses begin transitioning into a very different routine. Pasture changes, workloads often reduce, horses spend more time stabled, and feeding programs gradually shift toward winter management.
One of the biggest concerns during Autumn is the effect seasonal pasture changes can have on ๐ข๐ง๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง ๐ซ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง and ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก. Many owners assume pasture becomes โsafeโ once temperatures cool, however Autumn pasture can still contain surprisingly high sugar levels โ particularly during periods of cool nights followed by sunny days.
Horses most at risk include those with ๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐, previous laminitis history, overweight horses, older horses, and โgood doers.โ
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฐ๐๐ญ๐๐ก ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ญ ๐ก๐จ๐ฆ๐:
โ Mild weight gain
โ Cresty neck development
โ Foot soreness or sensitivity
โ Reduced willingness to move
โ Shortened stride length
โ A horse that feels โnot quite rightโ
Preparing horses well for winter rarely involves dramatic changes โ itโs usually the small, consistent management decisions made during Autumn that have the biggest long-term impact.
๐๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐ข๐ฆ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฉ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ง ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐ก๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ฌ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐, ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ โ ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐
Read our 'Laminitis' Handout ๐https://www.eliteequinevets.com.au/_files/ugd/0db3c6_51748d04346243a08caa6c51fda7ba31.pdf
Read our 'Equine Metabolic Syndrome' Handout ๐https://www.eliteequinevets.com.au/_files/ugd/0db3c6_9bbd7c72f5d24942a54c323a993c488a.pdf
Read our โPPID (Equine Cushingโs Disease)' Handout ๐https://www.eliteequinevets.com.au/_files/ugd/0db3c6_66d63f3ca2064893bf8fcabb3f3e86ab.pdf