Strip Grazing for Horses: How to Reduce Pasture Intake Safely and Support Weight Control

Podcast # 29

When used well, strip grazing becomes one of the most effective tools for managing weight, preventing laminitis and protecting pasture. In this episode of the Happy Horse Nutrition Podcast, Dr Nerida walks through exactly how strip grazing works in real life, why it matters and how to tailor it to your climate, pasture growth stage and horse’s body condition.

Drawing on published research, decades of practical experience and her own track-plus-strip system at home, Nerida explains how to move fences strategically, when to increase or decrease allocations, why early-morning moves matter in spring and how straw can be a powerful safety net for easy keepers. She also covers the role of back fencing, how to protect pasture species, and how track systems improve movement, welfare and gut health.

If you manage good doers, laminitis-prone horses or simply want clearer guidance on how much to move the fence and when, this episode gives you the practical framework you need.

Discover and download the MyHappy.Horse app: https://www.myhappy.horse

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If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review! It really helps us to get grounded, science-based information to horse owners… and it is their horses who benefit the most! ❤️

RESOURCES



Strip grazing: Changes in biomass, nutrient content and digestibility of temperate, midsummer pasture by strip-grazed or 'free'-grazing ponies, over 4 weeks

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37890600/

The impact of restricted grazing systems on the behaviour and welfare of ponies

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39275860/

The impact of restricted grazing systems on the behaviour and welfare of ponies

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39275860/