Autumn —
20 October 2026
Preparing your horse for autumn
Autumn is a season of change for many horse owners. The days become shorter, temperatures drop, and pastures visibly change. Horses spend more time in the stable or paddock, while grass quality, nutritional requirements and physical demands also shift. This transitional period requires extra attention to both nutrition and management.
Why is autumn such an important transition period?
While summer is often focused on grazing and preventing excess weight gain, the situation changes quickly in autumn. Grass growth slows, its nutritional value changes, and many horses spend fewer hours at pasture. As a result, the ration gradually shifts from fresh grass to hay or haylage. At the same time, growing a winter coat requires additional energy, and fluctuating temperatures can affect the immune system. Management routines also change. Horses often have less free movement than they do during the summer months. This influences digestion, energy expenditure and the need for forage.
Fructan in autumn grass: an underestimated risk
Many horse owners assume that a sparse autumn pasture is automatically safe, but this is not always the case. During autumn, fructan levels in grass can increase significantly. After cold nights followed by sunny days, grass growth is limited, yet the plant continues to produce sugars.
For healthy horses, this is not necessarily a problem. However, horses that are prone to weight gain, insulin resistance (EMS), PPID or laminitis are at greater risk. It is therefore advisable to monitor grazing carefully under these conditions. For sensitive horses, it may be wise to limit turnout after a cold night. If you are unsure whether your horse is sensitive to fructan, consult your veterinarian or nutritionist for advice on how best to manage grazing.
Watch out for sand accumulation in the intestines
Bare pastures present another risk. Once grass stops growing, such as when temperatures fall below 5°C, horses are more likely to ingest sand while grazing close to the ground. Excessive sand accumulation in the digestive tract can lead to diarrhoea, colic or weight loss due to reduced nutrient absorption. Make sure sufficient forage is available and, where possible, avoid feeding directly from the ground.
From pasture to paddock
The transition from summer grazing to a ration based primarily on forage requires a thoughtful approach. Reduce grazing time gradually and ensure that enough high-quality forage remains available. This gives the gut microbiome time to adapt to the changing composition of the ration. It is also important to continue providing sufficient exercise. Less time at pasture often means less free movement, while exercise plays a vital role in maintaining healthy digestion and overall fitness. In yards with multiple horses, such as sport horse and trading stables, this transition requires additional planning. Not every horse has the same nutritional needs, so assess the transition on an individual or group basis.
During this period, regularly monitor your horse’s Body Condition Score (BCS). Some horses finish the summer carrying too much weight, while others may lose condition as grass quality declines. Making timely adjustments helps prevent small changes from becoming larger problems later on.
Test your forage with the Voermeesters Forage Analysis
Forage forms the foundation of every ration. That is why it is important to know both the quality and the exact nutritional composition of your forage. Only then can you be sure that your horse or pony is receiving everything it needs. At Voermeesters, we offer three different forage analysis options. Whichever option you choose, the results include a detailed explanation. This provides valuable insight into the nutritional values of your forage and shows whether your horse or pony is receiving sufficient nutrients. To provide additional support, our customer service team will contact you within three working days after you have received your results. This gives you the opportunity to ask questions and receive tailored nutritional advice.
Beware of acorns and maple trees
In addition to nutritional changes, autumn also brings other risks. Many pastures are located near oak or maple trees. Acorns can be toxic, particularly green, unripe acorns. Not every horse will eat them, but some horses find them highly palatable. In addition, the seeds, leaves and seedlings of the sycamore maple contain a toxin that can cause equine atypical myopathy, a serious muscle disorder that often develops suddenly.
For this reason, inspect pastures regularly, especially after storms or strong winds. Remove fallen acorns, leaves and maple seeds wherever possible. Make sure horses always have access to sufficient forage. While this may reduce the likelihood of them eating acorns or leaves, it does not eliminate the risk entirely. During high-risk periods, avoid allowing horses to graze all day in pastures with large amounts of fallen seeds or leaves. If you notice symptoms such as muscle stiffness, trembling, sweating or dark-coloured urine, or if you suspect poisoning, contact your veterinarian immediately.
Feeding tips for autumn
A healthy ration always starts with sufficient high-quality forage, even during autumn. From there, nutrition should be tailored to the individual needs of the horse. Not every horse automatically requires more concentrate feed when temperatures drop. Age, workload, body condition, health status and housing conditions all play a role.
A few practical tips:
- Introduce dietary changes gradually.
- Always provide sufficient high-quality forage.
- Monitor your horse’s body condition regularly.
- Take changing energy requirements due to workload and weather conditions into account.
- Check pastures regularly for acorns, oak leaves and maple seeds.
- Adjust the ration whenever your horse’s condition or workload changes.
Autumn forms the bridge between the grazing season and winter. By paying close attention to nutrition, forage, body condition and pasture management during this period, you can reduce the risk of problems later in the season. A gradual transition helps maintain a healthy digestive system and ensures that your horse enters winter fit, healthy and in good condition.
Unsure about your horse’s ration?
Do you have questions about our horse feed and would you like to know which feed best suits your horse? We would be happy to help. Request a personalised feeding advice. Together, we will assess your situation, both in the stable and in the pasture, and create a ration tailored specifically to your horse's needs.