Lush green pasture looks like the perfect environment for a horse, but for some horses, too much rich pasture can contribute to a range of health, physical and behavioural concerns.
If your horse experiences problems such as laminitis, EMS, anxiety, spookiness, muscular tension, headshaking or digestive disturbances, it may be worth taking a closer look at their pasture and overall forage.
Problems That May Be Associated With Rich Pasture
Some horses can be particularly sensitive to lush or rapidly growing pasture. Signs and concerns may include:
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Hoof problems
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Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS)
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Laminitis
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Anxiety or spookiness
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Explosive or unsettled behaviour
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Separation anxiety
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Muscular tension
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Difficulty with canter transitions
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Headshaking or head flicking
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Locking stifles
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Stringhalt
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Allergies
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Digestive disturbances
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Fecal water
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Mud fever
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Respiratory issues
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Some forms of colic
The way an individual horse responds to pasture can vary considerably, so these signs should always be considered alongside the horse's diet, environment, workload and overall health.
Why Can Lush Pasture Be a Problem?
It is easy to assume that a horse should simply be turned out on rich green pasture because horses naturally graze for much of the day. However, today's improved pastures can be very different from the sparse vegetation available to wild and feral horses.
Many modern pastures are deliberately managed to produce dense, highly nutritious growth. They may contain improved grasses, clovers and other legumes, providing considerably more concentrated nutrition than the sparse forage horses evolved to consume.
Horses are designed to spend much of their day grazing and moving, taking relatively small amounts of forage at a time. When they have unlimited access to lush pasture, they can consume large amounts of highly nutritious forage with very little effort or movement.
The Difference Between Natural and Improved Pasture
Wild and feral horses generally live in environments where forage is more widely dispersed and varies according to season and climate. They spend considerable time moving between food and water while grazing a mixture of grasses, shrubs and other vegetation.
Domestic horses, on the other hand, may spend many hours on fertile, irrigated or fertilised paddocks containing dense pasture.
This difference can be particularly important for horses that are prone to metabolic or pasture-related problems.
What About Clover and Legumes?
Clovers and other legumes are sometimes included in pasture mixes because they can benefit soil fertility and provide nutritious forage.
However, they can also contribute considerably to the overall nutritional density of a pasture. Depending on the plant, growing conditions and individual horse, levels of protein, nitrogen, potassium and other nutrients can vary substantially.
For horses already showing signs of pasture sensitivity, a paddock containing large amounts of lush grass or legumes may not be the most suitable environment.
Could Your Horse Be Grass Sensitive?
Some horses appear to change noticeably when exposed to lush or rapidly growing pasture. Owners may notice changes in behaviour as well as physical signs.
A horse that becomes unusually anxious, reactive, tense or difficult to handle may not simply be being "naughty". Diet and pasture are worth considering alongside other possible causes.
Seasonal changes can also be important. Rapid pasture growth during periods such as spring and autumn may create a very different nutritional environment from mature, established grass.
Creating a More Natural Forage Environment
For horses that struggle on lush pasture, reducing access to rich grazing may be an important part of management.
A dry lot or track system can provide a more controlled environment, allowing horses to continue moving and grazing without unlimited access to lush pasture.
Forage can then be provided as hay, with pasture access managed according to the individual horse and the condition of the grass.
The aim isn't necessarily to remove grass altogether. Rather, it is to create a forage environment that better suits the individual horse.
Look at the Whole Picture
Pasture is only one part of a horse's environment. Diet, movement, stress, living conditions, hoof care and individual metabolic needs can all influence how a horse feels and behaves.
If your horse consistently struggles when pasture becomes lush, keeping a diary of pasture conditions and changes in behaviour or physical signs can help identify patterns.
If you're unsure whether your horse's current forage and pasture are appropriate, contact Greenpet for guidance tailored to your horse.
Complete our free online horse health questionnaire for recommendations for your horse.
References
Janis, C. 1976. "The Evolutionary Strategy of the Equidae and the Origins of Rumen and Caecal Digestion." Evolution.
Ransom, Jason I., and Petra Kaczensky. "Wild Equids – Ecology, Management and Conservation."