10 tips for turning out on spring grass – when fresh grass beckons

Horses that live out on pasture all year round generally have few or no problems when spring arrives with its freshly grown grass. The protein and fructan content of the grass is not really dangerous for these horses, because their digestive tract is already used to a constant intake of grass.

It is different for horses that are kept on paddocks over the autumn and winter and fed mainly on hay or haylage. Here the change of diet plays a major role, because cellulose-digesting bacteria multiply in the gut so that the usable components of hay and straw can be broken down. In spring, the digestive tract therefore has to adapt completely to the new food supply. For these reasons it is especially important to introduce horses to grass gradually, so as not to overload their system and metabolism, as this can result in serious illness.

With these 10 tips, introducing your horse to spring grass will be especially safe

Pasture care

Before horses are turned out, the pasture should be adequately reseeded and fertilised so that new grass can grow back well. It is important that the horses only go onto the pasture about three to four weeks after fertilising, so that the rain has fully broken the fertiliser down. In addition, the ‘old’ grass can be mulched, and weeds, branches and other hazards removed from the pasture.

Fencing

All fences around the field should be checked for stability and risk of injury. When using electric tape or rope, also make sure it is properly secured and that the energiser is working.

When to start turning out

When the grass is about one to two hands’ breadth high, the horses can finally go back out into the field. At around this point the grass can cope well with grazing, and the older grass is lower in nutrients but richer in fibre.

Hay, hay, hay

Hay should be fed before turnout so that the digestive tract is prepared and the first hunger is satisfied. This way the horses don’t fall on the grass out of hunger, and symptoms such as free faecal water can be prevented.

From short to long

At the start, just 15 minutes of grazing per day is enough. This time can then be increased by 10–15 minutes from day to day until the horses reach their full number of hours. From then on, the horses can spend as long as you like in the field.

Beware of cold and frost

After cold nights around freezing point, the fructan content in the grass is particularly high. Fructan is mainly responsible for the development of laminitis. Horses with laminitis or a sensitive metabolism should then only go out in the afternoon.

Adjust the energy

At the beginning of spring, grass is often very rich in energy and water but low in fibre. So for horses that tend to be underweight, feed hay as an additional source of fibre and adjust the hard feed to the daily grazing time and the horse’s level of work. During the grazing season, horses are often oversupplied, which can put a heavy strain on the metabolism.

Take care with metabolic problems

Horses with metabolic problems such as laminitis, EMS or Cushing’s should be introduced to grazing especially carefully and slowly. Even on ‘grazed-down’ fields, the remaining grass stores too much fructan in spring for horses in these risk groups.

Avoid accidents in the field

High spirits rarely end well – and unfortunately that also applies to our four-legged friends when they charge around the field full of joy and energy. For the first turnouts, use boots and overreach boots to avoid treads on the heel bulbs, scrapes and lost shoes. Sometimes it also makes sense to let the horses graze in a headcollar and on a lead rope at first – young horses, for example, or when the pasture is covered in dew and the horses can easily slip.

Insect protection

Fly rugs, sweet itch rugs and fly masks can help keep annoying insects away from the horses so that they can graze undisturbed and stay calm. At the same time, the body and face are protected from horsefly and blackfly bites.

It’s not just eating that needs watching

Alongside a careful change of diet, one of the most important things for horses is sufficient exercise. Just like us humans, a horse burns calories when ridden or lunged, which boosts the metabolism and helps remove toxins. So use the spring to get back into full training, to plan longer hacks again and to satisfy your horse’s urge to move. This keeps them fit and gives their system extra support while they are being introduced to grass.

We wish you and your horses lots of enjoyment during the grazing season and very much hope our 10 tips help you as you turn your horses out on spring grass.
Your EQM Team