Horses need to eat at least 1.5-2% of their body weight in forage daily. That’s roughly 15-20 pounds per day for a typical 1,000-pound horse! It’s no wonder they thrive on pasture. When Mother Nature throws you drought or heat waves, however, that critical forage source can, quite literally, dry up. Here’s how to make sure your horse is still getting all the nutrients he needs when the grass isn’t growing.
What Happens to Grass in Drought and Heat
Drought stresses pasture grasses, shutting down their growth. Dormant grass wilts and browns, offering little nutrition even though the plant is still alive. Meanwhile, heat stress triggers early senescence and nutrient depletion, leaving forage low in fiber and calories.
Drought‑stressed plants might also experience spikes in sugars and fructans. This can increase the risk of laminitis, especially in susceptible horses (e.g., obese, metabolic, insulin-dysregulated).
Horse Pasture Alternatives
Here are some alternative forage options to substitute when pasture grass is scarce:
- Good‑quality, free-choice hay, such as a mid‑maturity grass or grass‑legume mix.
- Hay cubes are practical if storage space is limited or your traditional hay is of low quality. They come in timothy, timothy/alfalfa, and alfalfa varieties and can be fed dry or soaked for easier consumption. For a balanced diet, horses eating hay cubes will also need a concentrate feed or a vitamin/mineral supplement.
- Pelleted forage/hay extenders, also called hay stretchers, can be used to replace up to 50% of a horse’s forage on a pound-for-pound basis. This is a great option for horses that have trouble chewing hay.
- Shredded or pelleted beet pulp soaked in water (two parts water with one part beet pulp for a couple of hours) can be a good source of digestible fiber, especially for older horses with dental issues.
- Haylage is early-cut hay that’s baled and wrapped in plastic. This high-moisture forage comes with botulism risks, however, so make sure your horse is vaccinated against this potentially fatal disease before feeding haylage.
- Complete feeds are designed to meet all of a horse’s nutritional needs, without added forage.
Drought‑stressed forages often lack key nutrients—particularly vitamin E and trace minerals like selenium, zinc, and copper. A high‑quality equine vitamin/mineral supplement can help fill in these gaps.
Lastly, water is nonnegotiable in these situations. A 1,000-pound horse might drink up to 10-15 gallons per day or more when sweating heavily. Offer cool, clean water constantly, and add electrolytes or salt (about 30 grams or 2 tablespoons per day) to encourage drinking and replace sodium losses from sweat.
Summer Feeding Tips
Here are a few things to keep in mind when faced with drought- or heat-stressed pastures:
- When supplementing or changing feed or forage sources, do so gradually over 7-10 days to avoid digestive upset.
- Try not to let your horse graze dormant pasture, as it can prevent regrowth.
- Offer free-choice hay in turnout areas so horses aren’t nibbling on the weeds that often invade dry pastures.
- If sand and soil become exposed in dry turnout areas, horses might be at risk of sand colic. Feed hay off the ground to prevent your horse from ingesting sand and dirt.
An Extension service can offer more pasture management guidance tailored to your local conditions.
Forage Feeding Guide
| Scenario | Action |
| Grass is brown, sparse, or dormant. | Offer hay at 1.5-2% body weight daily. |
| Horse is at risk of developing laminitis. | Feed tested low-sugar and -starch hay, don’t let your horse graze stressed grass, and/or use a grazing muzzle. |
| Heat wave. | Make sure your horse has access to plenty of fresh water, and consider providing electrolytes. Offer soaked forage to encourage more water consumption. |
| Your hay is low quality. | Add a vitamin/mineral supplement to your horse’s diet, especially vitamin E. |
| Rapid weather or forage change. | Introduce the new forage slowly over 7-10 days. |
Take-Home Message
When the grass isn’t growing because of drought or heat stress, focus on high-quality forage, smart supplementation, hydration, and well‑planned dietary transitions. Talk to your veterinarian or an equine nutritionist about ways to keep your horse’s diet balanced without pasture.
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