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Entry 809Filed under Breeding

Which Horse Feed Changes Can Cause Gas—and How Can You Prevent It?

Sudden changes to hay, concentrate, or lush pasture can upset a horse’s digestive adaptation. Learn how to transition feeds and when to call a veterinarian.
4-minute read By Animalso Team
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Fast changes to hay, concentrate or pasture can disrupt a horse’s hindgut adaptation and contribute to fermentation-related gas and digestive upset. The practical safeguards are to make feed changes gradually, limit initial pasture access, avoid oversized grain meals, and keep forage, water and feeding routines consistent. Gas is not a diagnosis: contact a veterinarian if your horse shows signs of colic or another concerning change.

Which feed changes can contribute to gas?

No feed always causes gas. The risk depends on how quickly and substantially the ration changes, the forage and pasture conditions, meal size, and the individual horse. Fermentation is a plausible mechanism, but gas after a change does not establish a single cause.

Hay and other forage

A sudden change in hay type, source, cutting, or amount changes what reaches the hindgut, where microbes need time to adapt to the routine diet. University of Georgia Extension notes that rapid forage changes can disrupt those microbial populations, but published data do not establish one specific hay-transition schedule. University of Georgia Extension: Equine Colic

Concentrate type, amount, and meal size

Quickly switching grain or increasing its amount can raise the starch and carbohydrate load. Starch that escapes digestion in the small intestine can ferment in the hindgut, producing gas and affecting pH and fluid balance. A large starch-heavy meal may be especially challenging; splitting a large daily grain ration into smaller meals can reduce the load in any one sitting. Extension Horses: Feeding Management of the Equine

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Sudden access to lush pasture

A horse moved abruptly from winter hay to lush spring grass encounters a rapid change in both feed and intake opportunity, and may overconsume. The University of Illinois identifies this sudden transition as a possible colic trigger; the British Horse Society lists lush or excess grass as a potential contributor to gas colic. University of Illinois: Spring Pasture-Induced Colic in Horses British Horse Society: REACT Now to Beat Colic

How to change feed more safely

1. Keep a baseline and change one thing at a time

Before changing the ration, note the current forage and concentrate, quantities, feeding times, turnout, water access, appetite, and manure. When practical, avoid changing feed, exercise, and turnout all at once; that makes it easier to notice what the horse is responding to. Consistent routines are a core colic-prevention measure. University of Illinois: Spring Pasture-Induced Colic in Horses

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2. Mix old and new hay or concentrate

There is no single evidence-established timetable for every horse or feed. Published recommendations vary: Extension Horses gives an example of replacing 25% of the old feed with new feed every other day, completing the change in six days; the British Horse Society advises 10–14 days; and Georgia Extension describes a week to two weeks for grain while noting the lack of published hay-transition guidelines. Treat these as general guidance, not a guarantee. Take longer or pause the transition if your horse is not eating normally or seems unwell, and ask your veterinarian for advice when needed. Extension Horses: Changing the Diet of Horses British Horse Society: REACT Now to Beat Colic University of Georgia Extension: Equine Colic

3. Introduce spring pasture in short sessions

The University of Illinois recommends starting with 15–20 minutes of pasture per day and increasing exposure over 10–14 days. Keep hay available during the transition so the horse is less likely to arrive hungry and gorge on grass. For an easy keeper or a horse on a restricted diet, a grazing muzzle can help manage access; it is not a treatment for gas. University of Illinois: Spring Pasture-Induced Colic in Horses

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4. Make forage the foundation and split large grain rations

Merck Veterinary Manual says most healthy horses should have free access to hay and/or pasture forage, salt, and fresh water. It reports increased risk of colic, laminitis, and equine gastric ulcer syndrome when more than 50% of ration dry matter comes from high-starch or high-sugar concentrates. This is a general reference point, not an individualized ration target. Merck Veterinary Manual: Feeding Practices in Horses and Other Equids

For daily grain above 0.5% of body weight, University of Kentucky Extension advises dividing the amount across two to three feedings. The threshold is general feeding guidance, not a substitute for a horse-specific ration plan. Extension Horses: Feeding Frequency for Horses

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5. Keep water and routine steady

Provide clean, fresh water and maintain a consistent feeding schedule. A sudden change in water access or daily management can complicate a diet transition, so keep these conditions stable where possible. University of Illinois: Spring Pasture-Induced Colic in Horses University of Pennsylvania: Colic—What You Can Do

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When to call a veterinarian

Colic describes signs of abdominal pain; it does not identify the cause. Do not assume discomfort is harmless gas because it followed a feed change. Contact your horse’s veterinarian if you notice signs of abdominal pain or another concerning change, and follow the veterinarian’s instructions about feed and care. The University of Illinois advises communicating with a veterinarian even though some mild gas-colic episodes may resolve. University of Illinois: Spring Pasture-Induced Colic in Horses University of Pennsylvania: Colic—What You Can Do

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Quick Recap

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