How to Transition Horses into New Fields This Winter

Despite a particularly wet October, November has been fairly mild and mercifully dry! However, it’s only a matter of time before the proper winter weather hits us, and for many of us, we’ll be faced with the challenge of transitioning our horses into new fields. I’m incredibly lucky to have access to 9 acres of grazing, which is portioned up into 3 paddocks, so we can rotate quite well through the seasons. This means my yard owner can typically make a decent crop of hay in the summer, and we rarely run out of grass year-round. In fact, in summer we have too much grass, which is why I set up my grass track system.

I’ve been slowly strip grazing the centre of my track since about September. This has allowed me to control their grass (and calorie) intake really well throughout Autumn, but I have now systematically used up all the grass in the back field. While new grass has been growing (and growing quite strongly), it’s quite short grass, and they are having to graze a bit harder to get the forage they require. Not only that, but it’s getting pretty muddy, and the field really needs a rest now.

The front field has been rested since they came off it in April, so it’s abundant and particularly mature, fiber-rich long grass. It would be easy to simply ‘chuck them out there’ onto the new field—they’d be very happy gorging through the excessive grass—until the evening when they would undoubtedly all show signs of colic from bloating on it all!

Horses' digestive systems are not all that adaptable, so transitions are really important. In an ideal world, forage and feed should be adjusted over a 21-day period. I know, how impractical! In most yard settings it's simply not feasible to make this transition over such a long period of time, but even if you can spread it out over a week - that will help!

A gradual transition to a new grazing area allows their digestive system to adjust to the change in diet. Here are my top tips for introducing a new field:

1. Gradually Introduce the New Field

Horses are creatures of habit and can be sensitive to changes in their environment. If you’re moving your horse to a new field, it’s important to introduce them gradually. I'd suggest starting by allowing your horse to spend short periods in the new field say an hour at each end of the day, slowly increasing the time spent there. This helps them acclimatise to the new surroundings, including changes in terrain, grass quality, and other horses that may already be in the field. Weather permitting, I also like to turn out without rugs that very first hour as there is likely to be a bit of running around whilst they enjoy their new freedoms...

2. Ensure the Field Is Safe

Though electric fencing is the bane of my life, it's pretty handy stuff. Before introducing your horse to a new field, check for any potential hazards (or escape routes). Look out for uneven ground, debris, or broken fences that could pose a risk. Depending if you own your yard or are a livery, make sure to enforce boundaries or weak spots and remove or fence off anything dangerous that's in the new field. I'm sure I don't need to remind you that winter brings added challenges like frozen water troughs, icy patches, or even hidden holes that may not be visible due to snow. So think ahead for areas of the field that might be best grazed sooner than later or best left until spring. Essentially, don’t forget the basics of ensuring that the field is secure and safe for your horse/s to roam in. No one wants a Houdini act on their hands, especially in winter!

3. Prepare for Limited Grazing

As the cold weather rolls in, the grass quantity and quality will certainly start to deteriorate due to lower growth rates and poaching. Indeed, the field you may be moving onto might not even have significant grass coverage to begin with. You may need to supplement their grazing with quality hay or haylage in the field to ensure they receive their required minimum fibre intake and to help maintain their condition. If you do have to do this, I highly recommend investing in a hay feeder-type contraption to help reduce wastage. You may also want to consider some temporary (or permanent) hard-standing areas in the field to put the hay out onto as the hay areas can become poached very quickly.

4. Check Water Access

Water is just as crucial in winter as it is in the warmer months—in fact, I’d argue it might even be more important! Horse diets tend to be drier in winter overall as they eat more conserved forage. This, combined with the fact that cold water is also not as appealing for horses to drink, can mean dehydration (and thus impaction colic) is a real risk. Added to which, when the temperature plummets, water sources will likely freeze over too. Even if you’re lucky enough to have plumbed-in automatic troughs in the field, you probably need to account for the risk of freezing. There are various insulation methods you can employ to help stop freezing, but definitely also consider offering warm water, flavoured water, and introducing a mash feed into your horse's bucket feed to help increase water intake. I use SPILLERS Perform & Restore Mash all year around to help with hydration. Each horse has approx. 750g (dry-weight) per day.

5. Monitor Their Condition

To be honest, this is an all-year-round need, but it would be remiss of me not to mention it again. Winter is a tough time of year, and rugging can hide a multitude of sins. Many competition horses have some time off following a busy summer and therefore could possibly gain weight. Horses that stand still in dry-lots eating hay all day without moving around much could also be prone to weight gain. Others will have to forage harder where grazing is poor and could lose weight. It's important for your horse to maintain a healthy weight and body condition all year round, and whilst some fluctuation is normal and natural, try to avoid huge swings in weight. Best practice is to body condition score (BCS) your horse every two weeks (all year around). For guidance on how to do this visit SPILLERS guidance page.

Whether your horse is gaining, losing or maintaining weight, adjust the forage and bucket feed accordingly. Being proactive and keeping on top of changes helps to keep adjustments and changes gradual and thus better supporting your horse's digestive system and overall health and wellbeing.

6. Shelter & Rugs

British winters can be tough and, more often than not, very wet. While some horses are happy in open fields, others may require some form of shelter to protect them from harsh winds, rain, or snow. Hedges and trees can offer a fair bit of natural shelter, but those without leaf cover will offer less, particularly in strong winds. If your new field doesn’t have adequate shelter, you may want to consider adding a simple field shelter (if that’s feasible). The best protection, no matter what's available, though, is adequate rugs! Simply keeping your horse dry will go a long way to protecting them from the elements. The weight or the fill of the rug will depend on their body condition, breed, and their own individual internal thermostats. This is especially important during extreme weather conditions. I use the range of 100% waterproof Mackey Ireland rugs which have never let me down!

7. Check the Field Regularly

It may sound obvious because, of course, you'll be tending to your horses twice a day, but don’t forget to objectively check the field too. Winter can bring unpredictable weather, so it’s important to ensure that the field remains safe and that your horse is coping well with the transition. Milder weather could encourage more grass growth, meaning you need to feed less hay in the field, or vice versa. Particularly wet weather could make poaching extreme, meaning you need to bring them in to a stable or onto a dry lot area for longer periods of the day. The key thing is to be fluid with your routine by monitoring their behaviour, eating habits, and general health, and don’t hesitate to make adjustments to their care routine as needed. Horses, like us, are creatures of comfort, so keep an eye out for any signs of them not enjoying their new digs.

Conclusion

Transitioning your horse into a new field no matter the time of year requires careful planning and attention to detail. By gradually introducing them to the new environment, ensuring safety, and adjusting their diet and care routine, you can help your horse adapt and thrive in their new surroundings. Remember, every horse is different, so take your time to monitor their health and adjust as needed to ensure they have a smooth and comfortable winter season. Good luck, fellow equestrians! I know it can be tough, but with a little planning (and maybe a glass of wine for yourself afterward), your horse will be happy, healthy, and ready for whatever the season throws at you!

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