If the winter wheat is in the vegetative stage of growth, you can start grazing your horses gradually, as you would any other pasture. The slow initiation should consist of 15 minutes on the first day, followed by adding 15 minutes each day until the horses reach 5 hours of grazing. After the horses reach 5 hours of grazing, they can be turned out with unlimited access. If the winter wheat has started to head-out (you can see the seed heads), it is not advisable to graze. The seed heads have awns (the long hairs coming off each individual seed) which are jagged. The awns can become lodged in the horse's mouth and gums and can cause the horses to develop mouth ulcers and go off feed.
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Can horses graze on winter wheat in the spring and summer?
Last Updated: January 05, 2012
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