10/21/2026
FALL GRASS AND HORSES: JUST BECAUSE THEY WANT IT DOESN’T MEAN THEY SHOULD HAVE IT
We all love things that aren’t necessarily good for us. That Starbucks Frappuccino loaded with sugar, a big piece of chocolate cake, or an ice-cold soda. We know better, but that doesn’t mean we don’t want them!
Our horses are no different.
Just because grass tastes good doesn’t mean unlimited access is good for their health.
In humans, we monitor blood glucose and A1C because we understand the long-term consequences of poor glucose regulation. Horses can have similar metabolic challenges, particularly those with insulin dysregulation, equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), or PPID (Cushing’s disease).
We wouldn’t tell a diabetic person to eat all the cake they want simply because it makes them happy. So why would we apply that reasoning to a horse with insulin dysregulation?
Fall grass deserves extra caution.
Cool nights, sunny days, and slowed grass growth can cause sugars and other nonstructural carbohydrates to accumulate. Even short, stressed grass can pose a risk.
For susceptible horses, excessive pasture sugar intake can trigger elevated insulin levels and increase the risk of laminitis, a painful, potentially devastating condition with lifelong consequences.
And here’s something I really want horse owners to understand:
A horse does NOT have to be overweight to have insulin dysregulation. Some horses appear perfectly healthy while having underlying metabolic concerns.
We also don’t have to wait for dramatically elevated laboratory values before recognizing potential warning signs.
Regional adiposity, including fat pads around the tailhead, shoulders, and behind the withers, along with a cresty neck, can be early red flags of metabolic dysfunction.
And let’s talk about those horses we affectionately call “easy keepers” or “air ferns.” You know the ones! The horses that seem to gain weight just by looking at grass.
While being an easy keeper doesn’t automatically mean a horse has a metabolic disorder, it should make us pay closer attention. What we sometimes laugh about as a horse that can “live on air” may actually be a reason to evaluate their metabolic health and take a closer look at their diet and pasture management.
These physical changes may be present even when resting insulin concentrations are within reference ranges. A normal resting insulin result does not necessarily rule out insulin dysregulation, and additional testing may be warranted.
The goal is to recognize the warning signs BEFORE a horse develops laminitis, not wait until the consequences become obvious.
SO WHAT CAN WE DO?
* Dry lots: Provide turnout, movement, and social interaction without unrestricted grass access. Appropriate forage is still essential.
* Consistent exercise: Regular, appropriate exercise improves insulin sensitivity and metabolic health. Horses with active or suspected laminitis should not be exercised without veterinary clearance.
* Grazing muzzles: A properly fitted muzzle can reduce grass consumption while allowing some grazing, although it may not be appropriate for every horse.
* Don’t like grazing muzzles? That’s okay, but have another plan! Dry lots, controlled forage intake, and appropriate exercise are alternatives. Simply allowing unlimited grazing because you don’t want to use a muzzle isn’t always in your horse’s best interest.
Metabolic testing, appropriate forage selection, and individualized management are also important, especially for horses with a history of laminitis.
Not every horse needs to be kept off grass, but not every horse can safely have unlimited access either.
Horses don’t understand the long-term consequences of their dietary choices. They just know the grass tastes good.
As owners and caretakers, it’s our responsibility to make decisions that protect their health, even when those decisions aren’t what our horses would choose.
It’s much easier to work toward preventing laminitis than to manage the potentially lifelong consequences after it occurs.
Sometimes saying NO to something they love is the kindest thing we can do.
Prevention isn’t punishment. It’s responsible horsemanship.
Kate Hodson, DVM
Hodson Veterinary Services LLC
