19/05/2026
🌿 Seasonal Changes = Feeding Changes
(But No Need to Panic!) 🌿
As the grass becomes richer in calories, sugars, fructans, and nutrients, we can reduce—or even stop—supplementary feeding 🌱
Wild horses evolved to walk 25–30 km daily, consuming large amounts of fibrous, low-energy forage 🚶♂️🌾
Our domesticated horses, however, are far more sedentary due to limited space, and our modern pasture is high in energy, sugar, and easily digestible nutrients.
Much like in human diets, food has become richer and easier to consume—and, just like us, horses can become “hooked” on sugar 🍭
It may taste good but laminitis certainly doesn’t ⚠️
This time of year is one of the most challenging when trying to prevent it—and prevention is always better than cure.
So when you’re:
⚖️ Weighing and soaking hay
🐴 Watching your horse turn away from the grazing muzzle
🌱 Extending your strip grazing inch by inch
🔧 Untangling fencing for a track system
👉 Remember: it all matters.
Winter may be over, but for owners of good doers, laminitis-prone, and EMS horses, the real work is just beginning 💪
Consistency and discipline are key to preventing weight gain and, ultimately, laminitis.
Horses on restricted grazing still need to eat, groom, and express natural behaviours—so keep these essentials in mind:
🥣 Feed a balancer – Restricted horses won’t get all necessary nutrients.
🌾 Use straw wisely – Think of it as the horse equivalent of celery:
longer chewing, slower digestion, helps them feel fuller
(can make up to 50% of their daily ration)
💧 Soak hay effectively – Using slightly warmer water (~16°C) can remove up to 4× more sugars, fructans, and starch
⚖️ Weigh forage –
• 2% body weight for maintenance
• 1.8% for weight loss
😌 Manage muzzle use – Remove regularly to allow grooming and natural behaviours (never 24/7!)
🏃♂️ Encourage movement – More movement = more calories burned
Riding, in-hand walks, lunging, long-lining… it all helps (and boosts your step count too!)
It’s hard work—but it’s worth it 💚
