What a great summer it has been.

Bumper hay crops all ready for the winter and an early harvest. Our local Agricultural shows are all but over with many prizes won.

All of this heralds the start of autumn and much planning forwards for the winter ahead. There, I said it - sorry!!! This may seem like an odd time of the year to be thinking about managing grass intake for your horse but we are fast approaching the autumnal flush.

Speak to any vet, farrier or nutritionist and they will confirm that in some years (depending on the type of weather) the number of incidences of laminitis in autumn will be higher than those seen in the spring.

There could be many reasons for this and unfortunately the laminitis triggers are still not fully understood.

Grass intake patterns and nutritional content are certainly part of the problem, which is why it is important to continue to manage grass intake of susceptible types/individuals, as autumn and early winter approaches.

Managing grass intake

There are several options for managing grass intake and the one you chose will depend on your individual circumstances and the type of horses that you have.

• Strip grazing - a common choice, with an electric tape line being moved to allow horses access to a strip of fresh grass as and when required. This can be a reasonable option for a group of horses that need their weight managed but may not be suitable for horse's that have already had laminitis, as the "fresh bite" may still be too much for them during the flush periods.

• "Starvation Paddock" - basically a bald patch or outdoor school which allows the horse to get some exercise and be outside with his companions. As mentioned above the horse shouldn't actually be starved and they should still be provided with soaked hay (for 12-24 hours)or low sugar hay, according to their body condition. This is a good option for most people.

• Grazing muzzle - this is a good option if you are unable to fence off a bit of your field or if your pony is an escape artist. Correctly fitted and introduced these can be very successful for some horses. Be aware that some ponies can still get a fairly decent amount of grass, even with a muzzle on, once they become accomplished at it. There are also ponies that can wriggle their way out of most muzzles but a bit of ingenuity and perseverance will normally win the day!

• Race Track - my preferred option. This works by pushing the horses round a narrow circuit - normally round the edge of a field. It can be constructed using electric fencing. This can work well in the summer as it means that the horse has to walk more to get at its grass. Ideally this should be set up and started before the grass starts to grow, but a later set up can also be achieved by setting up the track and then strip grazing the horses around it. Once the circuit is complete it is then ready to go. Obviously the length of the track will be determined by the number of horses you have, two horses will not need much space if the grass is not to get out of control. This option not only reduces grass intake but also encourages exercise; a key component to the management of good doers and laminitics. The middle of the track can be preserved for hay and for strip grazing ("foggage") during the winter. Alas the UK winter weather is normally not conducive to the use of tracks but it can be left up ready to use next spring.

At this time of year grass is everywhere and it is the uncontrolled access to grass that can result in horses becoming overweight and/or cresty. Some horses are so sensitive that even small amounts of lush grass can trigger a laminitis attack. If you have this type of horse then it will probably need confined to a barn or stable for most of the grazing season, or an all-weather turn out paddock, with no grass or weeds at all. Many owners feel guilty about not being able to let their horse out to grass 24/7 or confining it to a small bald patch when it does get out. If you ever feel guilty just remember the saying "Chronic boredom is just boring, chronic laminitis is deadly".

As autumn approaches, continue to keep an eye on your good doers and laminitics. Remember that reduced exercise, due to shortening daylength and changing from 24/7 turnout to being in at night, can all impact on body condition. Also remember to allow your good doers to lose condition over the winter as it is the easiest time to achieve this.