Find out why autumn's changing routine and grazing can affect your horse's digestive health, the signs of gastric ulcers to watch for, and how to support your horse through the seasonal transition.

As summer turns to autumn, it is not just the weather and daylight that change. Grazing, routine and management shift too, and for some horses this can affect digestive health. Here is what to look out for and how to help.

For some horses, this seasonal transition can have an impact on digestive health, particularly those already prone to digestive upset or gastric ulcers. Here is why, and what you can do to help him through it comfortably.

Horses naturally evolved to spend much of their day eating forage. They continuously produce stomach acid, while chewing forage produces saliva, which helps buffer that acid.

As autumn arrives, grazing often becomes less consistent and horses may spend more time eating hay or haylage, and more hours stabled. Changes in turnout, exercise and daily routine can also mean longer periods between meals, or changes to how forage is provided.

Autumn as a period of readjustment for the digestive system.

These changes don't automatically cause ulcers, but prolonged periods without forage, high starch feeding, stress and changes in management are recognised risk factors for gastric ulcers.

• Changes in appetite or becoming a fussy eater
• Weight loss or difficulty maintaining condition
• Changes in behaviour
• Girthiness or signs of discomfort
• Reduced performance
• Teeth grinding or crib biting
• Changes in droppings or digestive comfort

However, these signs are not always specific to ulcers alone. A horse showing a sudden or persistent change in behaviour, appetite, condition or comfort should be assessed by a vet.

The only way to definitively diagnose gastric ulcers is through gastroscopy, so suspected ulcers should always be discussed with your vet.

Keep forage at the heart of the diet - forage is fundamental to digestive health. Avoid prolonged periods without access to forage, adapting how it is provided according to your horse's individual calorie requirements. For horses who need their calorie intake controlled, slow feeding methods can help extend eating time without simply increasing the amount of forage offered.

Make changes gradually - whether you are introducing more hay, changing haylage, reducing grazing or altering bucket feeds, avoid making sudden dietary changes. Changes should be made gradually over at least 10 to 14 days, including when moving between grazing and preserved forage, to help support the continuation of a healthy gut microbiome.

Think about what happens when grazing decreases - as grass growth slows, the nutritional contribution from grazing can change. Hay and autumn or winter grazing may provide less of certain vitamins and minerals, so it is important that the overall diet remains balanced. A suitable feed balancer can help provide the vitamins, minerals and other key nutrients that will be lacking from forage alone, without necessarily adding large amounts of calories or starch.

Don't overlook stress and routine - autumn can mean less turnout, more time in the stable and changes to exercise routines. For some horses, these changes can increase stress, another factor worth considering when managing digestive health. Where possible, maintain a consistent routine, provide appropriate forage and maximise turnout and social contact according to your horse's individual needs.

If your horse has diagnosed or suspected gastric ulcers, speak to your vet about an appropriate management and treatment plan.

Nutrition and management can play an important supporting role, but changes to the diet should not be considered a replacement for veterinary diagnosis or treatment.

If you are concerned about your horse's digestive health, always speak to your vet or a qualified equine feed adviser for individual advice. Our team is always happy to chat. Call us on 0114 266 6200, email info@bluechipfeed.com, or drop us a message on social media.