How Do I Transition My Horse to Pasture?

Our equine nutritionist shares tips for keeping your horse healthy and your pastures in good shape this spring.
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How Do I Transition My Horse to Pasture?
Transitioning your horse to pasture safely takes time. Start by grazing your horse about 15 minutes and each day increase the time on pasture by 15 minutes until your horse is on grass for about four to five hours per day. | Photo: iStock
Q: I’ve been feeding my horse hay all winter. What advice do you have for safely transitioning from hay to spring pasture?

A: If spring hasn’t arrived yet where you live, it’s likely right around the corner. And with the new season comes spring grass. Most of us love the idea of our horse grazing green pastures. But before you take advantage of this wonderful resource there are things you should do to ensure your horse remains healthy and your pastures stay in good shape.

Consider the Horse’s Digestive Tract

Your horse’s digestive tract has become adapted to the diet that you have been feeding all winter. This means that hindgut bacteria are honed on utilizing whatever type of hay you’ve been feeding, and enzymes in the small intestine are prepared for certain types and levels of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. These adaptations take time to change, so you need to slowly transition your horse to pasture grazing to safeguard his digestive health.

Sudden changes in forage sources, especially to pasture (which has a higher water content and potentially a very different carbohydrate profile than hay) can lead to hindgut disruption. If consumed in too great a quantity, starch and sugar that should be digested and absorbed in the small intestine might reach the cecum and colon, where they can cause rapid fermentation and gas production. Fructan sugars that exist in cold season grasses can have the same effect. This shift to readily fermentable carbohydrate results in lactic acid forming in the hindgut

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Written by:

Clair Thunes, PhD, is an equine nutritionist who owns Clarity Equine Nutrition, based in Gilbert, Arizona. She works as a consultant with owners/trainers and veterinarians across the United States and globally to take the guesswork out of feeding horses and provides services to select companies. As a nutritionist she works with all equids, from WEG competitors to Miniature donkeys and everything in between. Born in England, she earned her undergraduate degree at Edinburgh University, in Scotland, and her master’s and doctorate in nutrition at the University of California, Davis. Growing up, she competed in a wide array of disciplines and was an active member of the U.K. Pony Club. Today, she serves as the district commissioner for the Salt River Pony Club.

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