29. Strip Grazing for Horses: How to reduce pasture intake safely and support weight control

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 And ask your nutrition questions 24/7 with Dr Nerida AI: https://www.myhappy.horse/nerida-ai If today’s episode gave you something useful to take back to your horses, I’d love it if you left a rating or review. It helps more owners find trustworthy nutrition info instead of guesswork. ❤️ RESOURCESStrip grazing: Changes in biomass, nutrient content and digestibility of temperate, midsummer pasture by strip-grazed or 'free'-grazing ponies, over 4 weekshttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37890600/ The impact of restricted grazing systems on the behaviour and welfare of ponieshttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39275860/