After months of hard ground, dusty paddocks and grass that seemed to have given up altogether, the rain has finally returned.
For many horse owners, that's a welcome sight. Fields are beginning to look greener, the ground is softening and there may finally be something resembling grass in paddocks that have spent much of the summer looking decidedly brown.
But while fresh growth is good news in many ways, a sudden change in grazing is worth paying attention to.
Your horse's digestive system doesn't see a green field in quite the same way that we do. After a prolonged spell of dry weather, rainfall can change both the amount and type of grass available relatively quickly – and for some horses, that transition needs careful management.
Dry grass doesn't necessarily mean low-sugar grass
One of the easy assumptions during a drought is that once grass stops growing and begins to look brown, there isn't much nutritional value left in it.
Unfortunately, it isn't quite that simple.
When grass is under environmental stress – including drought – growth can slow while sugars produced by the plant remain present. This means a field doesn't necessarily have to look lush to warrant some caution, particularly for horses and ponies that are sensitive to changes in pasture.
The return of rain brings another change.
Moisture combined with suitable temperatures can encourage grass to begin growing again surprisingly quickly. Suddenly, a horse that has spent weeks picking through relatively sparse summer grazing may have access to considerably more fresh growth.
It's the change that's important.
Why sudden changes matter to the gut
A horse's hindgut contains a huge population of microorganisms responsible for helping to ferment fibre.
That microbial population adapts to the diet it's being given. It's one of the reasons we're always advised to introduce new feeds gradually rather than changing a horse's ration overnight.
Grass is still feed. When the quantity or composition of pasture changes, the diet changes with it – even if nothing has altered in the feed bucket.
For most healthy horses, normal seasonal fluctuations are something the digestive system is well equipped to manage. But after such an unusually prolonged period of dry weather, it makes sense to be a little more observant as grazing changes.
Keep an eye on your horse's droppings, appetite, behaviour and condition. Loose droppings, excess gas or a noticeable change in behaviour can all be useful signs that something in the diet has shifted.
Some horses need more careful management
For good doers, native types and horses with a history of laminitis or metabolic problems, new grass growth deserves particular attention.
It isn't only the classic bright-green spring field that can cause problems.
If your horse is in an at-risk group, don't assume that autumn grazing is automatically safe simply because summer has finished. Grazing time, turnout and overall calorie intake may still need managing, and horses with diagnosed conditions should be managed in conjunction with your vet or equine nutritionist.
For everyone else, this is less about being frightened of grass and more about recognising that the field is part of your horse's diet.
If the field changes, their diet has changed too.
Keep the rest of the diet consistent
When something outside our control is changing, consistency elsewhere can be useful.
Make sure horses still have access to adequate forage rather than relying entirely on new grass growth, avoid making several unnecessary changes to bucket feeds at the same time and introduce anything new gradually.
This is also a good time to think about digestive support.
Our pick: Radiance Gold Original
Radiance Gold Original is designed as an everyday digestive and wellbeing supplement, making it particularly relevant during periods of dietary and seasonal change.
Its formulation includes Actisaf Saccharomyces cerevisiae to support the digestive environment, alongside heat-treated fenugreek and sodium bicarbonate. The aim is to help maintain healthy gut flora and efficient digestion so that horses can make good use of the nutrients within their diet.
It's not about trying to counteract rich grass with a supplement – sensible grazing management still comes first. Instead, think of it as supporting the digestive foundation that has to deal with everything we're asking our horses to eat.
Radiance Gold Original can also be fed year-round, rather than waiting until the gut appears unsettled before thinking about digestive support.
Don't forget what's happening beyond the field
September can be a surprisingly big transition for horses.
Grazing changes. Nights get cooler. Some horses begin spending longer in the stable. Competition schedules may wind down while hunting and winter training begin for others. Hay starts creeping back into diets and routines alter again.
We tend to think about each of those things individually, but to your horse they're all changes happening at roughly the same time.
So, after the summer we've had, enjoy seeing green return to the fields – just don't assume that the nutritional challenges of the grazing season disappeared with the heat. A little extra observation and consistency now can make the transition into autumn a much smoother one.