04/06/2022
Question: I’ve heard conflicting recommendations on when to start grazing my horses in the spring. Is April 1st too early to start grazing my horses?
Response: Spring grazing should be introduced slowly and delayed until grasses reach 6 to 8”. Calendar date is not important as weather conditions and grass growth can vary greatly from year to year. When pastures reach 6 to 8”, begin grazing for 15 minutes, increasing the grazing time each day by 15 minutes until 5 hours of consecutive grazing is reached. After that, unrestricted grazing can occur. A gradual change from one feedstuff to another provides enough time for the microbial populations to adjust. Without an adjustment period, these specialized gut microbes can die off after a rapid diet switch, which can result in the release of toxins and possible bouts of laminitis and colic. We also recommend feeding horses their normal hay diet before turning them out to pasture during the first several grazing events of the spring. This strategy should help avoid rapid intake of pasture grasses. Even though hay and pasture are both forms of forages, there are significant differences (e.g. moisture content). Additionally, new pasture growth (≤2”) is extremely high in nonstructural carbohydrates. This might not be an issue for fit, healthy horses, but may be an issue for overweight horses or ones with a history of laminitis.
