As summer bears on with bright sun and green grass, it poses unique challenges for horses and their owners. From relentless insects to soaring temperatures and concerns over calorie intake, managing turnout becomes crucial for equine health and comfort. Enter night grazing – a simple yet effective solution that addresses these issues and more.
What is Night Grazing?
As the term suggests, night grazing involves turning out horses during the cooler, quieter hours of the night rather than in the heat of the day. This adjustment can provide a more enjoyable turnout time for your horse, along with a multitude of benefits.
What are the Benefits?
Natural Behavior and Circadian Rhythms
Horses are crepuscular animals, meaning naturally, they are most active during dawn and dusk. This natural inclination towards being active during low-light periods aligns well with night turnout. Allowing horses to graze and move during cooler, quieter nighttime hours can reduce stress and encourage more natural behavior patterns.
Climate and Temperature Regulation
During hot summer, night turnout allows relief from the scorching daytime heat. Horses are more comfortable grazing in cooler temperatures, which can help prevent heat-related stress and dehydration. This doesn’t replace the need for supplements such as Vitalize Blazin’ or other electrolytes to combat the heat, but utilizing the cooler hours for turnout can help further reduce these risks.
Additionally, nighttime turnout minimizes exposure to intense sunlight, reducing the risk of sunburn and related skin conditions. This is especially important in regions with strong sunlight or for light-colored horses.
Grazing Behavior and Digestive Health
Horses are natural grazers and thrive when given frequent access to forage. Night grazing allows horses to spread their feeding patterns over longer periods, mimicking natural grazing behavior. This can promote better digestion, prevent boredom-related behaviors like cribbing, and reduce the incidence of digestive disorders such as colic.
Management of Special Needs Horses
Some horses, such as those prone to obesity or metabolic disorders like laminitis, may benefit from restricted access to lush pasture during daylight hours. Plants cease photosynthesis at night, resulting in lower sugar content in the grass. Night turnout can provide these horses with safer grazing opportunities when the sugar content in grass is lower, helping you manage their conditions more effectively. Additionally, slower nighttime grazing can prevent overconsumption by “easy-keeper” horses, aiding in weight management efforts.
Fewer Insects
Most insects, such as flies, are less active during nighttime hours. For horses sensitive to insect bites or prone to allergic reactions, night grazing provides relief from constant irritation and promotes a more peaceful environment. We still recommend using fly spray or a fly sheet for protection, but the night hours will help take the edge off annoying insects.
Do’s and Don’ts of Night Grazing
Because your horse will be turned out through the night, they won’t be under your or other property employees’ watchful eye. Therefore, some things must be remembered to ensure a safe and beneficial turnout session.
Do’s:
- Secure Fencing: Ensure perimeter fencing is safe and gates are locked to prevent accidental escapes or intrusions.
- Provide Fresh Water: Ensure access to clean, fresh water throughout the night to maintain hydration. Check out some turnout feeding and water solutions to keep your horse properly hydrated.
- Monitor Grass Quality: Be cautious of grazing on brown or yellowed pastures, as grass may still be high in sugars. Rotational grazing helps maintain pasture health and reduces the risk of overgrazing.
Don’ts:
- Neglect Insect Protection: Even at night, some insects like mosquitoes, can remain active. Use fly sprays or other prevention methods to protect horses from bites.
- Overgraze Pastures: Continuous grazing in one area can lead to pasture degradation and encourage weed growth. To preserve pasture quality, be sure to implement rotational grazing practices.
Learn More
Another way to help your horse avoid overconsuming the luscious grass during turnout is with a grazing muzzle. Discover the benefits of a grazing muzzle and some additional tips to remember when using them.
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