GRASS PRESENTS TWO hidden dangers for good doers — calories and sugar. Although excess calories lead to weight gain, a high intake of water-soluble carbohydrate or ‘sugar’ from grazing increases the risk of insulin dysregulation and laminitis, especially for good doers and natives.
How much grass do horses eat?
The amount of grass horses eat varies considerably. Studies report total dry matter (DM) intakes of 1.5-5.2% of bodyweight per day. Although individual requirements vary, a total daily forage intake of 1.5% bodyweight DM for weight loss and 2% bodyweight DM for maintenance is often used as a guide.
Counting those calories
Calorie intake from pasture will depend on the calorie of the grass and how much of it is eaten. While it is no surprise that spring grass can contain the same amount of energy (calories) as a racing or conditioning feed, don't assumemanaged winter pasture may still provide the same amount of calories as competition feed if the weather is mild. On the other hand, mature, brown grass may contain a similar level of calories to hay (or less), but it can easily exceed a horse's requirements if there is enough of it available.
