27/05/2026
Thanks to for sharingโฆ
When is grass highest in sugar? ๐ฑ
Itโs a question weโre asked regularly, especially by owners who worry about sugar and calorie intake. So itโs great to understand how grass behaves over a full 24-hour cycle.
During daylight hours, grass uses sunlight to photosynthesise, producing sugar (water soluble carbohydrates or WSC). As the day goes on, these sugar levels increase, usually peaking later in the afternoon and evening.
Overnight, the plant uses that stored sugar for growth, so levels typically fall again, reaching their lowest point by early morning ๐คโ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ค. Thatโs why youโll often hear that early turnout can be a better option for those needing to manage sugar intake.
However, itโs not quite as straightforward as a simple morning vs afternoon rule. Weather and growing conditions play a huge role. Bright, sunny days increase sugar production, while cold nights can prevent the plant from using that sugar, so on sunny frosty mornings levels may very high.
๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฟ:
โ Sugar levels tend to rise throughout the day
โ They often peak late afternoon/ evening
โ Levels usually drop overnight (if itโs warm enough)
โ Cold, sunny mornings can lead to unexpectedly high sugar levels
But perhaps the most important takeaway is thisโฆ
๐ง๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐น ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ถ๐น๐น ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ถ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ๐น๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ.
Even if you turn out at a โlower riskโ time, unrestricted grazing can quickly lead to excess calorie and sugar intake, especially for efficient grazers. Some horses and ponies can consume over half their daily intake in just a few hours at pasture.
Using tools such as grazing muzzles, strip grazing, track systems, grass free or very poor turnout areas can help you control overall intake more effectively and increase enrichment at the same time.
Remember: managing grass intake is the big focus. Consider both ๐คโ๐๐ your horse is grazing and โ๐๐ค ๐๐ข๐โ theyโre able to eat to support long-term health and reduce risk.
