| Every horse needs pasture or access to some type | | | | case of fescue poisoning. Mares who are pregnant |
| of forage. Ideally, the more time your horse can spend | | | | should be taken off of fescue three months prior to |
| in the pasture the better. This is not only healthy for | | | | foaling. This poisoning has caused many mares to |
| them nutritionally, but mentally and physically as well. | | | | abort and was a sort of epidemic in Kentucky during |
| There bodies are just better off when they are able to | | | | which numerous mares aborted their foals due to |
| graze on a regular basis. Eating all day is what horses | | | | fescue poisoning. Pregnant broodmares are the only |
| are good at and they enjoy it. | | | | horses affected by the fescue. |
| Horses have a remarkably small stomach for their size | | | | The pasture should be well maintained. Fences should |
| and multiple small meals per day is ideal for the horse. | | | | be safe and grass should be well cared for and |
| They are meeting their requirements for these multiple | | | | nourishing. There should also be plenty of grass |
| small meals when they are allowed to graze on a | | | | available for grazing horses. A pasture should have |
| regular basis. In fact, horses that are not ridden or | | | | ample drainage as a flooded pasture can pose as a |
| worked on a regular basis may be able to survive | | | | health risk to horses. Typically, four horses will be able |
| quite well on pasture and a little grain supplementation | | | | to graze well on ten acres. This, however, depends on |
| to ensure they are getting essential vitamins and | | | | the climate and condition of your land. Horses in New |
| minerals. Some horses may need to be supplemented | | | | Mexico, for example, may need a whole square mile |
| with round bales of hay and salt licks, especially in the | | | | to each horse. Paddocks should also be properly |
| winter months. | | | | managed. If you are able to split a pasture in half for |
| In very rare cases will a horse colic or founder on | | | | grazing, one side will benefit from not having any |
| grass. This has nothing to do with whether or not the | | | | grazers and will give the grass time to rejuvenate and |
| grass was recently cut, that is just a coincidence in | | | | grow. Horses are particularly hard on pasture as they |
| most cases. The horse will founder on grass if the | | | | pull the grass out by the roots. In bad pastures, you |
| moisture level is at a certain point and the nights get | | | | may have to burn them to encourage new growth. |
| very cold and the days get very hot. The grass will | | | | They many even need reseeding. |
| begin to produce a toxin that will cause a horse to | | | | Allowing your horse regular pasture time is very |
| founder. This is extremely rare and most horse | | | | important to his health and well being. Even if it is just a |
| owners will not have to worry about it. | | | | half hour per day, you will see a big difference in your |
| One instance in which grass can harm a horse is in the | | | | horse's state of mind. |