Dry Lot Horse Care: Spring and Summer Management Tips

It's that time of year again... when the grass is green and high in sugar and starches, posing a risk for your easy-keeper horse. If your horse is at risk of laminitis or has metabolic issues, putting them in a dry lot can do a lot of good for their health.

What is a Dry Lot?

A dry lot is a fenced area with dirt or any non-grass footing where your horse can be turned out without grazing on grass. This is very beneficial for horses that are overweight, at risk of founder, or having metabolic issues. Dry lots are a great way to manage your horse, allowing them to move freely just as they would in the pasture and providing many benefits to your horse's health.

Benefits of Dry Lots

Dry lots can be very beneficial to not only your horse but your pasture as well. Let's look at some benefits of using a dry lot:

• Controlled grazing: Dry lots allow you to control how much your horse consumes and what your horse consumes. Rather than having your horse on high-sugar grass, you can put low-calorie hay in the dry lot for your horse to munch on throughout the day. This is perfect for easy keepers or horses with metabolic issues. Dry lots are also a great option for horses that don't tolerate grazing muzzles.

• Pasture management: Keeping your horse in a dry lot and off the pasture prevents overgrazing and allows your pasture to rest and regrow. 

• Healthier horses: Not only is putting your horse in a dry lot healthy for your pasture, but even more beneficial to your horse! Dry lots can help manage overweight horses, improve hoof health, and still allow your horse to exercise.

How to Create a Horse-Friendly Dry Lot

Now that you know the benefits of having a dry lot, are you ready to create one?! Creating a horse-friendly dry lot is a simple process:

• Size: The size of your dry lot can depend on how much space you have on your property near your barn or run-in shelter. Give your horse as much space as possible, with a minimum of 400 square feet per horse. Of course, the more horses you have, the larger the dry lot needs to be.

• Location: When planning your dry lot, choose a location near your barn so it will be convenient and easy for your horse to have shelter. Also, consider an area that will have proper drainage and not become a muddy environment.

• Fencing: Use safe fencing that is tall enough to prevent your horse from escaping, and include gates between the dry lot and pasture for easy access.

• Footing: There are various options of footing for your dry lot including sand, stone dust, shredded rubber, or barn lime. When considering footing options, ensure that you choose one that will soak in moisture and have adequate drainage. You can also create an area with soft bedding to encourage your horse to lie down.

• Shelter: Providing a three-sided shelter to protect your horse from the wind and rain is crucial. This is especially important for protecting your horse from the sun as well. If possible, have a fan for your horse to help keep them comfortable in the summer heat if they spend time in the barn.

• Food and water: While you are keeping your horse off the grass to prevent over-consumption, you still need to provide forage for your horse while they are in the dry lot. This will keep their gut and digestive system happy, preventing ulcers or colic. For those horses that are easy keepers, provide low-calorie hay such as timothy or orchardgrass. Pro tip: Use a hay net in your dry lot! This will help reduce hay waste and allow your horse to have hay in front of them all day long. My favorite is Hay Chix nets!

• Manure Management: It's important to remove manure from your dry lot regularly. This helps maintain a healthy and clean environment for your horse.

When should my horse be in a dry lot?

If you are new to dry lots, you may be wondering when you should start putting your horse in this area and what schedule you should have. For horses that are at risk of founder, it's important to start using a dry lot in the spring when the sugar starts rising in the grass. I typically start putting my horse in a dry lot in April, when the grass is starting to get green and lush here in Kentucky. Depending on your area, it can vary when grass growth starts to increase. Even though spring is when the grass starts to grow, it's important to keep using your dry lot throughout the summer as the sugars in the grass are still high. Below is a real-life routine of what I have done for my horse:

Dry lot use: April - September

Times: 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.

I keep my horse in a dry lot during the day when sugars are high, especially in the afternoon. This not only allows me to monitor her but keeps her out of the hot and humid weather during the summer months. Every horse is different, so you can test out different routines to see what works for you and your horse. When the fall season comes and grass growth slows, I turn out my horse during the winter months 24/7 as the grass isn't posing a risk to her anymore.

My Dry Lot Must-Haves:

Hay Chix Half Bale Net: Keeping hay in front of your horse while in a dry lot is crucial. This helps keep their gut healthy and happy and reduces a common issue such as ulcers. Hay Chix gives you many options of net size and mesh opening size. Use code jewellc20 at checkout for 20% off! Read more about Hay Chix here.

Redmond Daily Red Crushed Mineral Supplement: For a horse that is on a forage-only diet, providing free-choice access to loose mineral salt is crucial. This all-natural supplement helps improve body condition, encourages hydration, and ensures that your horse receives all of the salt and minerals he needs.

Espana SILK Natural Bug Spray: This all-natural fly spray is a great option for while your horse is in a dry lot! Containing a unique blend of eucalyptus, marigold, rosemary, cedarwood, peppermint, citronella, and pine extracts, this fly spray is safe for all horses.