It’s that time of year when the grass gets greener and grows fast! But is it time to let your horses begin grazing on the pastures you’ve carefully fenced off all winter? Putting horses out too soon can reduce the productivity of your pastures this summer and letting your horses graze too much can be dangerous to horse health. Overgrazed pastures aren’t good for the environment either; at least three inches of leafy material is needed for rapid regrowth and for the biofiltration of nutrients and sediments (from mud and manure). Poor pasture management results in reduced quality and quantity of grass, soil erosion, increased weeds and increased feed costs.
So, this month we embark on a series of tips for spring and summer horse pasture management. We begin with how to start your horse out on pasture. Next month we cover soil tests and liming. In the last of the series we finish with rotational grazing and fencing tips.
Don’t let your horses have too much grass too soon!
Remember to limit turnout time when horses begin grazing again—too much grass can cause very serious horse health problems, especially in the spring when grasses are rich and lush. Increase grazing gradually. Start with about an hour at a time, and work up to several hours over a period of several weeks. If you have any questions about how much grazing time is safe for your horse, consult your veterinarian for their recommendations.
For healthy grass plants, keep horses off of pastures until soils are no longer soggy.
One of the most important aspects of pasture management is the time you keep horses off the pasture. Saturated soils and dormant plants cannot survive continuous grazing and trampling. When soils are still wet they are easily compacted, suffocating the roots of grass plants. A simple test for sogginess is to walk out in your fields and see if you leave a footprint—if you do, you know it’s too wet and that the weight of a horse will be sure to compact the soil.
Remember the golden rule of grazing: Never allow grass to be grazed shorter than three inches. This ensures that the grass will have enough reserves left after grazing to permit rapid regrowth. Consider the bottom two or three inches of grass an energy collector that needs to be left for the plant. Only put horses on pasture that is at least six to eight inches tall. And then never allow them to graze it below about three to four inches.
Stay tuned next month for information on how a soil test and liming can be even more important then fertilizer. Until then, good horse keeping to you!
Join Horses Clean Water at the following events and check out the website, www.HorsesforCleanWater.com, for new events added regularly:
IN JUNE:
WINTHROP, WA, June 10
Join Alayne Blickle at Bear Creek Equestrian Center in the town of Winthrop located in Washington's beautiful Methow Valley. This all day workshop will focus on manure management options for horse owners as well as natural ways to control mud, dust & bugs. For registration & pricing info: Bear Creek Equestrian Center, 93 Lower Bear Creek RD, Winthrop, WA, bearcreekequestriancenter@methownet.com or 509-996-3727.
PRESTON, WA, June 6, 6:30-9p.m.
Good-bye to the Fly! Join WSU Extension horticulturalist and entomologist Todd Murray. Learn how understanding these insects’ lifecycle will help you discover ways to control them. See how you can cut back on pesticides, use integrated pest management and implement habitat controls. To register and receive a map contact the King Conservation District at 425-277-5581, ext. 125 or Roseanne.Campagna@kingcd.org.
PRESTON, WA, June 17, 10 a.m. to noon
Tour the environmentally sensitive horse property of equine veterinarian Hank Greenwald in Preston, WA. Hear about siting considerations for horse facilities, sacrifice areas & footing choices, manure management & composting, dealing with odor challenges, the benefits of landscaping with native plants, considerations for building an outdoor arena and the importance of proper lighting for your facilities. Pre-registration is required as participation is limited. FREE! King Conservation District at 425-277-5581, ext. 125 or Roseanne.Campagna@kingcd.org.
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