Though it can be tempting to turn out horses onto fields as soon as the first hint of green graces the ground, it’s best to wait until grasses are well established and between 6 and 8 inches tall. Delaying turnout in this way will keep both horses and pastures healthy, says Dr. Krishona Martinson of the University of Minnesota.
Horses should be acclimated to spring fields by being allowed just 15 minutes of grazing green grass a day and increasing the time allowed until the horse receives 5 hours of continuous grazing. Once the 5-hour mark is reached, the horse can safely be turned out for unrestricted grazing.
This gradually increasing time frame is imperative to protect horse health; the rapid change from hay (which has a 15 percent moisture content) to grass (which is nearly 85 percent moisture) can cause gastric upset by shocking the microbial population in the gastrointestinal tract. This can cause some of the population to die, allowing toxins to be absorbed by the horse and potentially causing colic.
Also, pasture grasses need to be taller to survive being grazed. If the leaves of the grasses are eaten before the plant is about 6 inches tall, plants may lose their root structure, vigor and competitiveness, eventually dying off and leaving bare spots in fields. These areas are then likely to host weeds or undesirable plants.
Once the field has been grazed down to about 3 or 4 inches, horses should be removed to let the grass recover. Two acres of well-managed pasture can provide enough forage for one horse during the grazing season.
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