Companion Animals

Horse Pasture Management: Welfare and Health

Pasture quality and management significantly affect horse welfare through nutritional provision, exercise opportunity, and social interaction.

Key Facts

Horses evolved to graze for up to 16 hours daily over large areas of varied terrain
Restricted grazing on improved pasture creates risks of obesity, laminitis, and stereotypy
Bare paddocks with inadequate forage cause welfare problems including boredom and stereotypic behaviour
Rotational grazing management maintains sward quality while providing adequate forage intake

Welfare Considerations

Pasture is the natural environment for horses and provides physical, nutritional, and behavioural benefits that cannot be replicated by stabling alone. Good pasture management balances the competing challenges of nutritional management, parasite control, and behavioural needs.

What You Can Do

Provide maximum turnout time appropriate to your horse's nutritional needs
Implement strategic grazing management to maintain good sward quality
Consult an equine nutritionist if managing horses with laminitis risk on restricted pasture