Late summer grazing is finally revived with rain!

Our tips below could help you manage the transition from our recent UK drought into the current situation of late summer rain revived grass. More access to grass is great for many, BUT be careful with good doers, and those with health concerns such as EMS, Laminitis (even if prone to), PPID and more.

It's wise to adjust your horses’ grazing intake carefully to protect both their health and your grazing.

But how?

Transition to new grass slowly - This reduces potential health issues and ensures a measured adjustment to your horses microbiome, supporting a healthy gut. 

• Rotational grazing - Divide your fields into equal sections and move your pony/horse between them every few days/week. This gives grass time to recover and prevents overgrazing. Poo pick as you go!
• Strip grazing - Create a moveable electric fence line across your field and encroach slowly into areas of newer growth.
• Use a grazing muzzle if the grass is long enough, ideally at least 2-3cm, potentially slightly shorter with thin muzzles.
• Always continue to feed a balancer throughout the grazing season - Providing a balance of correct nutrition and additional digestive supplementation helps to promote a healthy gut (potentially limiting behavioural issues and problems such as ulcers). Your horse is better able to cope with the fluctuations in grazing availability.

Manage your pasture to allow it to recover

• Continue to offer additional hay (or a hay/straw mix) - This provides consistent fibre intake while grazing access is still limited. It also deters horses from eating weeds when the field is bare.
• Save grass for autumn/winter and reduce weeds - Where possible try to fence off 1/2 of your field to enable it to recover ahead of autumn/winter. The helps grass grow back and reduces the prevalence of weeds.
• As grass improves consider co-grazing - Introducing sheep can help manage overly lush grass, helping to keep the grass shorter, control weeds, and can even help reduce parasite cycles.

@bluechipfeed Why does a false autumn increase the risk of laminitis?🌱🐴 🌱 What’s a “false autumn”? It’s when we get a spell of cooler nights and shorter days (so it feels autumnal), but daytime temperatures bounce back to being quite warm and sunny. ⭐Sugar spike in grass When nights are cool, the grass stops growing but still makes sugar during the day. Because it can’t use that sugar up overnight, it builds up, making the grass much sweeter than normal. ⭐Lush regrowth after dry summer As the summer’s been dry, the first rain encourages a flush of new, rich grass that’s very high in non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs). ⭐Unpredictable weather = grazing misjudgement During a false autumn, the grass can be just as risky as in April/May. ⭐High-risk horses are more vulnerable Ponies, good-doers, overweight horses, or those with EMS or PPID are particularly at risk. If you’re looking for help and advice, feel free to give us a call on 0114 266 6200 or email info@bluechipfeed.com #equestrian #horseriding #horse #laminitis #horsetok ♬ Way down We Go - KALEO