As the fields green up and spring takes hold, the fresh flush of grass may look idyllic—but it’s also the prime season for laminitis. For horses and ponies prone to metabolic issues or weight gain, lush grass high in sugars can pose a serious health risk. Careful management of turnout and grazing is key, and that starts with understanding both when and how your horse grazes.

In this guide, we explore three effective grazing systems—Track System Grazing, Strip Grazing, and Rotational Grazing—and how they can help protect your horse’s health while supporting long-term pasture management.

⚠️ Why Spring Grass Can Be Risky

Spring grass is naturally high in fructans and sugars, especially during periods of rapid growth and after cold nights followed by sunny days. These sugars can spike inflammation in the digestive tract and trigger laminitis, a painful condition affecting the sensitive laminae inside the hoof.

Horses most at risk include:

• Easy keepers and native breeds

• Horses with Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) or insulin resistance

• Any horse with a previous history of laminitis

To reduce risk, it's important to limit access to rich grass and carefully manage turnout times.

🕗 Best turnout times for laminitis-prone horses:
Early morning (between 3 a.m. and 10 a.m.) is when grass sugar levels are at their lowest.
Avoid turnout in late afternoon or evening, when sugar content peaks—especially after bright sunny days or cold nights.

🌿 Track System Grazing

This system involves fencing off the central portion of a pasture and creating a loop or “track” around the perimeter for horses to move through.

Why it helps:
Track systems reduce access to high-sugar areas of pasture and promote more movement, mimicking natural foraging behavior. You can supplement with hay if needed, which makes it easier to control overall sugar intake.

It’s especially helpful for native breeds, overweight horses, or those with a history of laminitis who still need turnout time and social interaction.

🚧 Strip Grazing

In strip grazing, electric fencing is used to section off small “strips” of pasture, which are opened gradually to allow controlled access to fresh grass.

Why it helps:
It gives you precise control over how much grass your horse consumes. This is ideal for managing weight and laminitis risk, especially in spring when grass growth can be explosive. Pair it with early-morning turnout to reduce sugar intake further.

🔄 Rotational Grazing

Rotational grazing divides a pasture into several sections. Horses graze one paddock at a time, while others are allowed to rest and recover.

Why it helps:
This system improves pasture quality over time and helps prevent overgrazing, which in turn allows for better control of forage quality and sugar content. While not as restrictive as track or strip systems, it can be adapted with careful timing and reduced turnout during high-risk periods.

🌸 Spring Grazing Strategy Recap

• Turn out early in the morning, when sugar levels are lowest.

• Avoid grazing after sunny days or frosty nights.

• Use controlled systems like tracks or strip grazing to limit intake.

• Monitor for early signs of laminitis: shifting weight, reluctance to move, strong digital pulse, or heat in the hooves.

Final Thoughts

Laminitis prevention starts with informed grazing. Whether you’re managing a small pony paddock or large acreage, implementing systems like track, strip, or rotational grazing—combined with smart turnout times—can help protect your horse this spring and beyond.

Healthy pasture. Healthy horse. Happy spring.