Equine Pasture Management and Welfare

Key Welfare Considerations

• Horses evolved as continuous grazers consuming forage for 16-18 hours daily — pasture access is a fundamental welfare need.
• Restriction of grazing time and forage access creates gastric ulcer welfare risk through continuous acid secretion.
• Spring and autumn pasture management is critical — lush grass causes laminitis welfare emergencies in predisposed horses.
• Track systems and sacrifice paddocks allow exercise and social contact while managing calorie intake for laminitics.
• Turnout on appropriate pasture for minimum 6 hours daily is recommended for basic equine welfare.
• Social contact during turnout provides mental welfare benefits beyond nutritional value.
• Harrowing and chain dragging distribute droppings, reducing intestinal parasite welfare burdens.
• Rotational grazing allows pasture recovery and reduces parasite accumulation on grazed areas.
• Toxic plants including ragwort, yew, and privet pose welfare risks requiring pasture management.
• Ragwort ingestion causes pyrrolizidine alkaloid liver toxicity — chronic welfare deterioration before clinical signs.
• Mud management is a welfare concern — pasture poaching causes digital dermatitis and welfare risks.
• Shelter provision in paddocks protects against thermal stress welfare impacts from sun and wind.
• Electric fencing safety management prevents injury welfare risks from entanglement and electric shock.
• Pasture weed control reduces ingestion of harmful species and improves nutritional quality for welfare.
• Integrating pasture welfare management into horse health plans requires veterinary and nutritionist input.