11/02/2025
Great information for metabolic horses!
When the temperature dips below 40°F, it’s not just your fingers that get cold. The grass changes how it metabolizes fuel.
Here’s what’s happening:
During daylight, grass uses sunlight to make sugars through photosynthesis. Normally, those sugars are used for growth or stored in the roots overnight. But when nighttime or daytime temperatures drop below about 40°F, the grass can’t grow, meaning it stores those sugars instead of using them.
This means high sugar levels in the blades of grass, especially on bright sunny days followed by cold nights.
For horses with metabolic syndrome, high insulin, or a history of laminitis, that sugar spike in the grass can be risky. It’s like turning the pasture into dessert.
What to do when it’s cold out:
Avoid turnout on frosty mornings. This is when sugar levels are at their highest.
If possible, wait until late afternoon for grazing because sugar levels tend to drop as the day warms up.
Use a grazing muzzle or limit turnout time to control intake.
Rely more on tested, low-NSC hay when temperatures are consistently cold.
Keep tabs on your horse’s insulin and body condition. Early management prevents flare-ups. Ask us about insulin testing. It's quick and easy.
Cold weather doesn’t mean you have to lock your horse away from the pasture forever. It just means being strategic. Knowing how grass changes with the weather can help you keep your metabolic horse safe and comfortable all winter long.
