08/08/2026
āBut thereās no grassā¦ā š
This is one of the biggest myths I hear at the moment.
Many owners look at a brown, dry paddock and assume their horse canāt possibly be putting on weightā¦
š“ Yet Iām seeing plenty of horses that are getting noticeably rounder.
Why?
š¾ Dry doesnāt mean sugar-free.
When grass is stressed by drought, it can still contain high levels of sugars. Horses often graze much closer to the ground too, where the most nutritious parts of the plant remain.
And donāt forgetā¦
š§ļø When the rain finally arrives, grass growth can explode. That fresh flush is often even richer, meaning horses can gain weight very quickly if weāre not prepared.
Extra weight doesnāt just increase the risk of laminitisāit can also affect comfort, movement, saddle fit and performance.
Now is a great time to:
āļø Check your horseās body condition regularly.
āļø Feel for changes rather than relying on what you see.
āļø Adjust grazing and forage if needed.
āļø Keep an eye on how your saddle is fittingāsmall changes in shape can make a big difference.
Just because the fields are brown doesnāt mean the waistlines are shrinking!
