If the grass starts to look like spring grass - green and growing - then you need to be very cautious. Because a resurgence in the grass this time of year can happen. So watch your pastures. I’m in TN and we went without rain for 40+ days. Rained two days this week and my grass is now coming back in. My laminitic horse and mildly IR and possible PPID (though he tested negative) pony are off the pasture for now for any length of time (pony gets 3 hours/horse gets none). They had both been going out to pasture for 6 hours during the drought, as all my grass has basically gone dormant. Fall in my opinion is almost worse than spring, as the grass conditions can literally change overnight.
My vet thinks morning/daytime turnout is better than night time turnout, due to sugar levels in the grass (when they are allowed to have grass that is). So I no longer do night time turnout for these two. They are in a 1/2 acre paddock that due to the drought, has no grass at all anymore.
Lots of people use roundbales with much success. These two are piggies and would try to eat the whole thing, even with a net (they are both easy keepers to begin with). So I do 3 to 4 hay feedings a day from square bales. If your horses get too plump, just remove the round bale and cut sections off it to feed them.
it is very advantageous to have a paddock connected to your pasture so you can restrict grass intake all year. So, you might consider fencing off a portion of the pasture to make a smaller area to keep them in and off the grass. Because as you noted, having a muzzle on and eating hay can be difficult if not impossible.
Over the last 10 years, my horse that is prone to laminitis and the pony who thankfully hasn’t had a laminitic episode since 2003 are fine once the grass is dead/dormant. Never had an issue. However, this doesn’t mean ALL horses prone to laminitis or have Cushings or are IR are fine on winter pasture. It really depends on the pony/horse.
