Spring turnout for horses is one of the season’s great pleasures, yet reintroducing a horse to the field after a winter spent largely indoors calls for more care than simply opening the gate. A horse that has been stabled and quiet for months can behave very differently when first turned out onto spring grass. Heavenly Pastures, a specialist provider of horse cremations across the north west, works with owners who want their horses to enjoy the field safely, and this guide sets out how to manage the return to turnout. Handled with a little forethought, the return to the field becomes one of the happiest moments of the equine year rather than a source of worry. Watching a horse stretch its legs on fresh spring grass is one of the great pleasures of ownership, and a little care beforehand keeps it that way.
Why the Return to Turnout Needs Thought
A horse that has spent a winter stabled or on restricted turnout has a store of pent up energy, and the excitement of open space and fresh grass can lead to wild galloping, bucking and play that risks injury. At the same time, the rich spring grass poses the dietary dangers of laminitis and colic if a horse gorges on it after a winter of forage. Add ground that may still be soft and treacherous underfoot, and it becomes clear that the first turnouts of spring deserve careful handling. A little planning turns a potentially risky moment into a safe and joyful one. The contrast between a horse that has been cooped up and the wide green field in front of it is precisely what makes both the danger and the delight of spring turnout so great.
The aim is to let a horse enjoy its freedom while protecting it from both the physical risk of injury and the dietary risk of too much rich grass too soon. Getting both of these right takes only a little forethought, and turns the first turnout of spring from a moment of anxiety into one of shared pleasure.
Taking the Edge Off First
Turning a fresh, excited horse straight out onto a big field is asking for trouble, so taking the edge off its energy first is wise. Some gentle exercise before turnout, such as a hack or a spell on the lunge, lets a horse work off the worst of its high spirits so that it is calmer when released. Choosing a smaller, safe, well fenced paddock for the first turnouts, rather than a wide open space, limits how fast a horse can go. Turning out with calm, familiar companions helps settle a horse too. Owners around Chorley horse cremations and Leyland horse cremations take care over those first spring turnouts.
Managing the Grass Intake
Just as important as the physical risk is managing how much spring grass a horse takes in at first. Reintroducing grazing gradually, with short spells building up over weeks, protects the gut from the shock of rich grass and reduces the laminitis risk. Filling a horse with hay before turnout so it is not ravenous, and using strip grazing or a muzzle for those at risk, all help. A horse should never go from a bare winter paddock to unlimited spring grazing in a single step. Owners across Euxton horse cremations and Adlington horse cremations build up grazing time carefully.
Checking the Field and the Horse
Before the first turnout, a thorough check of the field, its fencing, gates, water and any hazards left by winter, ensures a horse is going out somewhere safe. Choosing a calm, dry day rather than a wild, wet one for the first turnout reduces the excitement and the risk of slipping. Keeping an eye on a horse through those first days back out, watching for any lameness, digestive upset or injury, catches problems early. The first few days back in the field are worth watching closely, since a horse settling back into a herd and onto fresh grass is at its most likely to injure itself or to show the first hint of a digestive upset. Owners around Skelmersdale horse cremations watch their horses closely through the return to turnout.
Reading a Fresh Horse
Handling a horse that is fresh and excited after a winter indoors calls for calm, confident horsemanship and a good deal of common sense. Leading a fizzing horse to the field in a controlled way, using suitable equipment and keeping a safe distance, protects both horse and handler at the moment of turnout. Some horses barely turn a hair, while others explode with pent up energy, and knowing an individual horse’s likely reaction allows an owner to prepare accordingly. Turning out in the company of a steady, familiar friend, and choosing a moment when the horse is a little tired rather than at its freshest, all help keep the first turnouts safe. A handler who stays calm does much to keep a fresh horse from tipping over into panic. Above all, it is worth remembering that a horse’s exuberance is natural and healthy, and the aim is to channel it safely rather than to suppress it.
Care Through Every Season
Managing the return to turnout thoughtfully is part of the year round care that keeps horses safe and well, and that care runs through the whole of a horse’s life. Where a horse is lost to injury or illness despite an owner’s best efforts, a cremation service following natural death can be arranged with gentleness, and compassionate support is always at hand. For guidance on any aspect of equine care or aftercare, owners across the north west are welcome to call Heavenly Pastures on 01704 776976.