Horse Summer Pasture and Mud Management

Pasture management in summer creates welfare challenges from poaching, parasite burden, and plant toxins that require proactive management.

Key Facts

Poached (churned) pasture from overgrazing or heavy rain creates mud that harbours bacteria and fly larvae
Summer pasture management includes rotational grazing, harrowing, and topping to maintain sward quality
Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) is toxic to horses and must be controlled in grazed pastures
Botulism risk is higher in summer from soil organisms and contaminated hay and haylage
Access to shade is essential welfare provision for horses on summer pasture
Horses on spring and summer pasture are at highest risk of pasture-associated laminitis from sugary grass

Welfare Considerations

Summer pasture welfare management requires attention to multiple simultaneous risks. Poached, muddy pasture increases mud fever risk and harbours pathogenic organisms. Ragwort, toxic when dried in hay or inadvertently eaten from pasture, causes fatal liver disease. Laminitis risk from high sugar content grass peaks in spring and early summer for susceptible horses. Fly irritation on summer pasture causes significant welfare harm through constant harassment, skin irritation, and the difficulty of normal grazing behavior when flies are persistent. Active summer pasture management - rotational grazing, ragwort control, shade provision, fly protection, and laminitis-risk management - addresses this range of welfare risks comprehensively.

What You Can Do

Implement rotational grazing to maintain sward quality and reduce poaching and parasite burden
Inspect pastures regularly for ragwort and remove it by hand (gloves required) before it seeds
Provide adequate shade through trees, shelters, or field shelters on summer pasture
Apply fly repellent and use fly rugs and masks for horses particularly troubled by flies
Monitor laminitis-risk horses carefully during spring and summer and restrict grass access as needed
Test hay and haylage for botulism risk indicators where sourced from potentially contaminated areas