🍂 Autumn Horse Care in
New Zealand
Why Consistent Weight and Topline Matters for Saddle Fit
Your saddle fitter will often encourage you to keep your horse at a consistent weight and topline because even small changes in condition can alter how a saddle fits. As horses gain or lose weight, or their muscle changes through the back and shoulders, the saddle may begin to sit differently, creating pressure points or restricting movement. Seasonal shifts in pasture, workload, and coat growth through autumn can all influence body shape. Maintaining steady feeding, consistent work, and monitoring body condition helps keep your horse comfortable and ensures your saddle continues to fit as intended.
Grass Intake in Autumn
Autumn pasture can look lush after rain, but cool nights and sunny days can increase sugar levels in grass. This can increase the risk of laminitis, digestive upset, and behavioural changes in sensitive horses. At the same time, pasture dry matter can decline, meaning horses may not actually be getting as much fibre as it appears. Managing grazing carefully and providing consistent forage such as hay can help keep the digestive system stable.
Ulcer Prevention
Seasonal changes can increase the risk of gastric ulcers, particularly if feeding routines or workloads change. Horses produce stomach acid constantly and are designed to graze for long periods, so long gaps without forage can irritate the stomach lining. Keeping fibre available throughout the day, feeding before exercise, and avoiding sudden diet changes can help reduce ulcer risk.
Weight and Condition Changes
Autumn is a time when many horses either gain weight quickly on rich grass or begin to lose condition as pasture quality drops. Horses also start growing thicker coats, which can hide gradual weight loss. Regularly checking body condition, adjusting feed, and ensuring adequate forage will help maintain a healthy weight heading into winter.
Rugging and Seasonal Management
As temperatures drop, horses begin growing their winter coats and energy needs can change. Rugging should be adjusted gradually depending on age, workload, and condition. Over-rugging can cause sweating and skin issues, while under-rugging may cause unnecessary calorie use as horses burn energy to stay warm.
Top Tip for Autumn
Seasonal transitions are when many small issues appear. Monitoring body condition, keeping feeding routines consistent, and addressing changes early can prevent larger problems later.
If you notice your horse’s shape changing through autumn, it may also be a good time to check saddle fit. Keeping your horse comfortable through seasonal changes is an important part of maintaining performance and wellbeing.
— Equine Saddle Fit