1-855-957-8378
🚚 FREE SHIPPING on All U.S. Orders Over $200
Benefab®
Cart 0
  • Home
  • Shop

    Horse Products 17

    People Products 8

    Dog Products 4

    Bundles 4

  • Press
  • Blog
  • Pre-Loved
  • Dealers
  • Wishlist
Australia (AUD $)
Belgium (EUR €)
Canada (CAD $)
Costa Rica (CRC ₡)
Czechia (CZK Kč)
France (EUR €)
Germany (EUR €)
Italy (EUR €)
Japan (JPY ¥)
New Zealand (NZD $)
United Kingdom (GBP £)
United States (USD $)
English
Benefab®
  • Shop

    Horse Products 17

    People Products 8

    Dog Products 4

    Bundles 4

  • Press
  • Blog
  • Pre-Loved
  • Dealers
Wishlist Cart 0

Search our store

Benefab®
Wishlist Cart 0
Home / Blog
Blog

Reasons to Slowly Transition Horses to Spring Grass

Apr 26, 2016
Horse Blog
Horse Blog | Benefab Blog The weather break is always exciting. It means that we made it through the cold winter and spring is here! Chances are, your horses are pretty excited as well. They will be even happier when they realize they will get to eat some fresh grass. It is tempting to throw horses out to the green pastures as soon as you can but this can be very dangerous for your horse’s health.
  1. Although grass and hay are both forms of forages, there are significant differences between the two. Dried hay is about 15% moisture, whereas grass is about 85% moisture. You horse needs ample time for their microbes present in the gastrointestinal tract to adjust to this change in forage. If the change is sudden, it can cause microbes in the stomach to die, while others flourish, causing possible toxins to be absorbed. These toxins can cause dysfunction in the digestive tract and possible colic.
  1. Laminitis is another disease that is tied to overeating of fresh pasture. Laminitis is a painful, disabling, and common disease. Nearly half of all laminitis cases occur in animals at pasture. As grasses grow, the simple sugars, fructan and starch produced make up nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC). There is evidence of association and causation between laminitis and rapid intake of NSC.
  1. While your horse’s health is always the most important, you must also take into consideration your pasture’s health. Pastures need sufficient growth before grazing should be allowed. Horses should not be introduced to pasture until the grasses reach 6 to 8 inches in height. Horses can then be allowed to graze for 15 minutes. Grazing time can be increased every day by 15 minutes until 4 to 5 hours of consecutive grazing is reached. Grazing should stop when it has been grazed down to 3 to 4 inches. At this time, horses should be moved to another pasture or dry lot until the grass is back to 6 to 8 inches tall.
As you can see, transitioning your horse to spring grass can take a bit of time but is completely necessary for your horse’s health and your pasture’s health. Take your time and follow these few steps to keep your farm happy and healthy. For more information on springtime pasture grazing, CLICK HERE.
Previous
Five Ways to Help Prevent Thrush
Next
Enter To Win With Benefab Products

Related Articles

What You Should Know About Hock Injections
July 04, 2025

What You Should Know About Hock Injections

If your horse feels off, like dragging behind or having rough transitions, it could be...
Read more
Essential Oils for Dogs
June 27, 2025

Essential Oils for Dogs

It’s no secret that essential oils have become a household favorite for everything from stress...
Read more
Clipping Cattle for Show: A Complete Guide
June 20, 2025

Clipping Cattle for Show: A Complete Guide

Whether you're preparing for a local fair or a major livestock competition, grooming your animal...
Read more
Chia Seeds for Horses
May 22, 2025

Chia Seeds for Horses

Chia seeds are a great supplement to any diet. They are small seeds harvested from...
Read more

Recent Posts

What You Should Know About Hock Injections
What You Should Know About Hock Injections
Essential Oils for Dogs
Essential Oils for Dogs
Clipping Cattle for Show: A Complete Guide
Clipping Cattle for Show: A Complete Guide
Chia Seeds for Horses
Chia Seeds for Horses
Common Diseases of Cattle
Common Diseases of Cattle
White Line Disease in Horses
White Line Disease in Horses
What Causes Diabetes in Dogs?
What Causes Diabetes in Dogs?
Can Horses Have Allergies?
Can Horses Have Allergies?
What You Need to Know About White Muscle Disease in Cattle
What You Need to Know About White Muscle Disease in Cattle
Dog Hip Dysplasia Home Treatment
Dog Hip Dysplasia Home Treatment

Focused &
Durable Designs

Products made specifically for you and your pets.

Free U.S. Shippingon All Orders over $200

We have you covered.

We Back Our
Products 100%

It's our customer promise.

BRAND PARTNERS

  • Become a Dealer
  • Become an Affiliate
  • Become a Registered Nonprofit
  • Logins for Dealer
  • Logins for Affiliate
  • Affiliate Resources
  • Meet our Ambassadors

CUSTOMER SERVICE

  • Contact
  • Shipping
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Money Back Guarantee
  • Warranty & Return Policy
  • Medical / Brand Disclaimer
  • FAQs

ABOUT BENEFAB

  • Why Choose Benefab?
  • The Benefab Story
  • Parables Podcast
  • Our Sister Brands
  • Media Inquiries
  • Blog
© 2013 -2025 Benefab®. Property of the Naar Boven Corporation. All rights reserved. Powered by TCW Digital
Payment options:
  • American Express
  • Apple Pay
  • Diners Club
  • Discover
  • Google Pay
  • Mastercard
  • PayPal
  • Shop Pay
  • Visa

Confirm your age

Are you 18 years old or older?

Come back when you're older

Sorry, the content of this store can't be seen by a younger audience. Come back when you're older.