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