Is pasture enough for horses in the summer?
Understanding nutrition gaps, Grazing management & Supplement needs 

For many horse owners across Atlantic Canada, summer means lush green fields, longer grazing hours, and horses spending more time outdoors. It’s easy to assume that a horse surrounded by green grass is receiving all the nutrition they need. 

While quality pasture can be an excellent source of forage, energy, and fiber, it doesn’t always provide a complete nutritional package. Factors such as weather, grazing pressure, soil health, and seasonal changes can significantly impact the nutritional value of pasture throughout the summer. 

Whether you own a retired pasture companion, a growing youngster, a senior horse, or an active performance horse, understanding the strengths and limitations of pasture is an important part of managing your horse’s health. 

 The benefits of summer pasture
Healthy pasture offer several advantages for horses: 

• Natural forage and fiber 
• Consistent movement and grazing behavior 
• A source of calories and energy 
• Improved mental well-being 
• Reduced reliance on stored feeds 

In ideal conditions, pasture can contribute to a significant portion of a horse’s daily nutritional needs. However, “green” doesn’t always mean “nutritionally complete.” 

 

Why pasture quality changes throughout the summer
Your Pasture is constantly changing. What your horse grazes in May can be very different from what they consume in July or August. Several factors influence pasture quality: 

Overgrazing: One of the most common pasture management challenges is overgrazing.
When horses repeatedly graze the same area, grass plants are unable to recover properly. Over time, desirable forage species decline, weeds become more prevalent, and overall forage production decreases.
Overgrazed pastures often look green from a distance but provide significantly less nutrition than healthy, actively growing grass. 

Weather and drought stress: Atlantic Canada’s weather can vary dramatically throughout the summer. Extended dry periods slow grass growth and reduce forage availability. Even when grass remains present, drought-stressed plants often contain lower nutritional value than actively growing pasture. 

Seasonal changes: As grasses mature, their nutritional profile changes. Early-season pasture tends to be higher in digestible energy and protein, while mature summer pasture often contains more fiber and fewer readily available nutrients. 

Soil health and nutrient levels: The nutritional value of pasture starts with the soil. Pastures that haven’t been soil tested or properly managed may lack important nutrients needed to support healthy forage growth. This can ultimately affect the nutritional quality of the grass available to horses. 

 

The importance of pasture rotation
One of the best ways to improve pasture quality is through rotational grazing. Pasture rotation involves dividing fields into smaller sections and moving horses periodically to allow the grazed areas time to recover. 

Benefits of rotational grazing include: 

• Healthier root systems 
• Improved forage production 
• Reduced weed pressure 
• Better drought resilience 
• More consistent nutritional value 
• Less soil compaction and erosion 

Allowing grass to have adequate recovery time helps maintain a healthier pasture throughout the growing season and can significantly extend grazing availability. 

Even small hobby farms can benefit from simple rotation systems using temporary fencing to create separate grazing areas. 

 

How to support your horse on pasture
The best feeding programs start with regular observation and evaluation.
Monitor your horse’s: 

• Body condition score 
• Weight and topline 
• Coat quality 
• Energy levels 
• Hoof condition 
• Overall health 

 

Depending on your horse’s needs, nutritional support may include: 

• Vitamin and mineral supplements 
• Salt blocks or loose salt 
• Additional hay during dry periods 
• Concentrates or feeds for working horses 
• Senior-specific feeds 
• Protein or energy supplementation when needed 

Every horse and pasture system is different, making an individualized approach important. 

 

Pasture is one of the most valuable tools available to horse owners, but it isn’t always a complete feeding program on its own. 

Changes in weather, grazing pressure, soil health, and seasonal growth can all impact the nutritional value of your pasture throughout the summer. By practicing good pasture management, utilizing rotational grazing, and monitoring your horse’s condition regularly, you can help ensure they receive the nutrition they need. 

If you’re unsure whether your horse’s pasture is meeting their nutritional requirements, visit your local Feeds’n Needs store. Our knowledgeable team can help you select the right feeds, supplements, minerals, and forage solutions to support your horse’s health all summer long. 

 

How much water should a horse drink in the summer?
Signs of dehydration, hydration tips & daily water needs 

Summer in Atlantic Canada means longer days, warmer temperatures, trail rides, horse shows, and more time spent outdoors. While most horse owners focus on feed, pasture quality, and fly control during the warmer months, one of the most important aspects of summer horse care is often the simplest: water. 

Hydration plays a critical role in your horse’s overall health, performance, digestion, and recovery. Understanding how much your horse should drink—and recognizing when they’re not getting enough—can help prevent serious health concerns during the hottest months of the year. 

Why water intake matters more in summer
Water is the most important nutrient in your horse’s diet. During summer, horses lose significant amounts of fluid through sweating as they regulate their body temperature.
Several factors can increase a horse’s risk of dehydration, including: 

• Hot temperatures
• High humidity 
• Increased exercise and training 
• Long trailer rides 
• Horse shows and competitions 
• Dry forage diets 
• Limited shade or pasture access 

Even mild dehydration can impact digestion, recovery, and performance. More severe dehydration can contribute to the impact of colic, heat stress, and electrolyte imbalances. 

 

How much water should a horse drink?
A typical horse will drink between 20 and 60 liters of water per day, depending on their size, workload, diet, and environmental conditions.
As a general guideline: 

• Horses at rest in moderate weather may drink 20–30 liters daily. 
• Horses working regularly or spending long hours in the sun may consume 40–60 liters or more. 
• Lactating mares and growing horses often require additional water. 
• Horses eating primarily dry hay typically drink more water than horses grazing lush pasture. 

The key is knowing what is normal for your horse and monitoring changes. 

 

Factors that increase water requirements: 

Hot weather: As temperatures rise, horses sweat more to cool themselves. Increased sweating means increased fluid loss that must be replaced.
Humidity: Atlantic Canadian summers often bring high humidity. Humid conditions make it harder for sweat to evaporate, causing horses to sweat longer and lose more fluids.
Exercise and performance: Whether you’re competing on the show circuit, trail riding, or training regularly, exercise significantly increases water requirements. Performance horses can lose several liters of fluid during a single workout.
Dry hay diets: Hay contains very little moisture compared to fresh pasture. Horses consuming mostly hay must make up the difference through increased water intake.
Travel: Many horses drink less while traveling because water tastes different at new locations or because the stress of transport reduces their desire to drink.
Senior horses: Older horses may be less efficient at regulating body temperature and can be more susceptible to dehydration during heat waves. 

Dehydration; What to look for in your horse
Dehydration can develop quickly during warm weather. Watch for these common warning signs: 

• Dry or firm manure 
• Reduced appetite 
• Lethargy or fatigue 
• Slow recovery after exercise 
• Reduced performance 
• Darker urine 
• Dry gums 
• Skin that tents when gently pinched 

If you suspect significant dehydration, contact your veterinarian immediately. 

 

Tips to encourage water intake 

Clean and fresh: Horses are surprisingly picky about water quality. Scrub buckets, troughs, and automatic waterers regularly encourage drinking.
Offer multiple options: Providing several water stations in fields, paddocks, and barns can encourage horses to drink more frequently.
Soaking feed: Adding water to beet pulp, hay cubes, pellets, or senior feeds can significantly increase daily water consumption.
Bring water from home: Many horses dislike unfamiliar water. Bringing water from home to horse shows or events can help maintain normal drinking habits.
Provide shade: Shade helps reduce heat stress and encourages horses to spend more time near water sources.
Electrolytes: Horses that sweat heavily may benefit from electrolyte supplementation to help replace minerals lost through sweat and encourage drinking. Always follow feeding directions and ensure fresh water is available. 

 Product support products here at Feeds’n Needs
Several products can help support hydration during the summer months, including: 

• Electrolyte supplements 
• Performance horse hydration products 
• Senior horse feeds designed for easy soaking 
• Beet pulp and other moisture-friendly feeds 
• Salt blocks and loose salt options 

 

Our team can help you choose the right hydration strategy based on your horse’s age, workload, and lifestyle.  

 

Summer feed tips for show horses
Keeping nutrition performance on track during the show season. 

Summer is one of the busiest times of year for horse owners across Atlantic Canada. From local schooling shows and gymkhanas to provincial hunter-jumper, dressage, western circuits, horses are travelling more, working harder, and facing additional stressors that can impact their health and performance. 

While training and conditioning are important, nutrition plays a major role in helping horses maintain energy, hydration, recovery, and overall condition throughout the season. 

At Feeds’n Needs, we understand the demands of Atlantic Canada’s equine community and the challenges that come with hauling, competing, and keeping horses performing at their best all summer long. 

Summer challenges for show horses
Competition season introduces several factors that can affect a horse’s nutritional needs, including:

• Travel and trailer stress 
• Unfamiliar water sources
• Reduced appetite 
• Increased sweating 
• Hot, humid weather 
• More frequent training and competition
  Even experienced show horses can experience changes in hydration, feed intake, and recovery during a busy season. 

 

Feeding priorities during the show season
Keeping feed consistent: Avoid making major feed changes during competition season whenever possible. Maintaining a consistent feeding program helps support digestive health and reduces unnecessary stress.
Prioritize forage: High-quality forage should remain the foundation of every show horse’s diet. Consistent access to hay supports digestive function, hydration, and steady energy levels, especially when travelling.
Focus on hydration: Proper hydration is essential for muscle function, temperature regulation, recovery, and performance. Even mild dehydration can affect stamina and recovery time.
Monitor body condition: Competition schedules can make it easy to overlook gradual changes in weight or muscle condition. Regularly evaluate your horse’s topline, body condition, coat quality, and overall appearance throughout the season.
Nutritional support: Depending on your horse’s workload and individual needs, several products may help support performance and recovery during the summer months:
Electrolytes: Electrolytes help replace minerals lost through sweat and support hydration during training, competition, and travel.
Vitamin and mineral support: A balanced vitamin and mineral program helps support overall health, muscle function, and performance throughout the season.
Hydration support products: Hydration-focused supplements can help encourage drinking and support fluid balance during periods of increased work.
Easy-to-feed support: Products such as beet pulp and other digestible fibre sources can provide additional calories while helping support hydration and digestive health. 

 

Successful show seasons aren’t built on performance alone—they start with preparation.

At Feeds’n Needs, we work with equestrians across Atlantic Canada and understand the unique demands of our summer show season. From hydration support and electrolytes to feeds, supplements, and forage solutions, our team can help you build a nutrition program that fits your horse’s needs. 

 

Nesting Boxes: Prep Your Backyard for Spring Birds!

As winter fades and the first signs of spring begin to appear, birds across your neighbourhood are searching for safe, cozy places to raise their young. Adding nesting boxes to your backyard is one of the easiest and most rewarding ways to support local bird populations while enjoying a little more feathered charm right outside your window. Here’s how to get your backyard spring‑ready for nesting season!

Why Nesting Boxes Matter
Natural tree cavities are becoming harder for birds to find, especially in urban and suburban areas. Nesting boxes provide:

• Safe shelter from predators
• Protection from spring weather
• A dedicated space for raising chicks
• A way to attract more bird species to your backyard

From chickadees to bluebirds, many species rely on human‑made nest boxes as part of their spring routine.

Choose the Right Nesting Box
Not all birds use the same type of nest box. Before buying or installing one, consider:

Hole Size
Different birds need different entrance sizes:

• Chickadees: ~1 1/8″
• Bluebirds: ~1 1/2″
• Tree swallows: ~1 1/2″

Matching the size helps attract the right species and keep unwanted visitors out.

Material
Look for untreated wood (pine, cedar, spruce). Avoid plastic or thin materials, which can trap heat and moisture.

Ventilation & Drainage
Quality nesting boxes include vents at the top and drainage at the bottom to keep chicks dry and comfortable.

 

Where to Place Your Nesting Box
Placement matters! For best success:

• Mount boxes 5–10 feet off the ground
• Face them east or southeast to avoid harsh afternoon sun
• Keep away from heavy foot traffic and high‑activity areas
• Space boxes well apart to reduce competition between species
• Ensure there’s open flight access to avoid thick branches blocking the entrance

If you’re installing multiple boxes for species like bluebirds or tree swallows, consider placing them in pairs or clusters to reduce territorial disputes.

 

Clean & Prep Before Spring
Before birds begin searching for homes (usually late February into March), take a few minutes to:

• Clean out old nesting material
• Remove debris, broken pieces, or old bedding
• Check screws, roofs, and panels for winter wear
• Make sure drainage holes are clear
• Secure the box tightly so it won’t wobble in the wind

A clean, sturdy box increases your chances of hosting a successful brood.

 

Help Make Nesting Season a Success
Little touches can make your yard even more inviting:

• Offer natural nesting materials like twigs, dried grasses, or pet‑safe fur
• Provide fresh water in a clean birdbath
• Avoid using pesticides as birds rely on insects to feed their chicks
• Add bird feeders nearby to help parents refuel throughout the day

A supportive environment encourages birds to stay and return year after year.

 

Enjoy a Spring Full of Song
Setting up nesting boxes is a simple, affordable way to enjoy more bird activity this spring while supporting local wildlife. With the right placement, maintenance, and materials, your backyard could become a safe nursery for some of your favourite feathered friends.