Grazing – But the Right Way!
The horses and most owners can hardly wait – traditionally, the grazing season starts on May 1st at many stables.
However, grazing needs to be well-prepared. In addition to the often increased movement opportunities for the horses, staying on pasture represents a change in their diet compared to the winter period. Fresh grass contains more moisture than dry hay, but the high fructan content in spring also poses a challenge for the digestive tract and metabolism.
What is Fructan?
Fructans are long-chain, water-soluble sugar molecules that serve as a short-term energy store for the plants. Excess energy is primarily stored in the stem when the energy gained from photosynthesis cannot be directly used for growth (e.g., when it is too cold or too dry).
What Does This Mean in Simple Terms? - Fructan Content in Grazing Grass
Fructan content increases with:
- Cold temperatures / frost
- Hot temperatures / lots of sun
- Long periods of dryness
- Short grass
- Nutrient-poor soils
Fructan content decreases with:
- Cloudy weather
- Warmer temperatures
- Sufficient water / rain
- Tall grass
- Nutrient-rich soils
How Do I Start Grazing?
To help the digestive tract adjust to the change in diet from hay to fresh pasture grass, grazing should be gradually increased. We recommend starting with 15 minutes and then gradually increasing the time (e.g., every 2 days by 10 minutes). Once you reach around 2 hours of grazing, the time can be increased by another half hour each day. In our experience, horses can be on pasture all day once they reach 4-6 hours of grazing. Of course, individual needs and issues of each horse should always be considered and the grazing plan adapted accordingly.
Caution with Metabolic Candidates!
Particularly with horses that have pre-existing conditions like laminitis, EMS, or Cushing’s, extra care is needed. These horses often suffer from insulin resistance, which can prevent the sugar from being broken down properly in the cells. A laminitis flare-up can occur as a result. For horses with metabolic issues, we recommend increasing grazing time more cautiously. It may also be beneficial to delay the start of grazing until the weather is warmer and the grass is taller. Additionally, for such horses, it is often necessary to limit the grazing time. All-day grazing or even 24/7 turnout is generally not suitable for these horses. In the case of an acute laminitis flare-up, we recommend avoiding grazing altogether, as the risk is too high.
[1] Sladky, P. (2020) Fructan: Myths and Facts About the Boogeyman, Pferderevue online
[2] https://www.hipposport.de/magazin/pferdefuetterung/fruktan-die-gefahr-die-im-gras-lauert/
[3] https://www.horseanalytics.com/2020/10/26/fruktan-im-gras-was-hat-es-damit-auf-sich/
