As horse farm managers and owners face another year of tough economic times and high feeding costs, the University of Kentucky’s Horse Pasture Evaluation Program helps them stretch every dollar. The program, which will run from April to October, is based in the College of Agriculture’s Department of Plant and Soil Sciences and helps managers maximize the health and growth of horse pastures.

The pasture evaluation includes a comprehensive soil map of the farm, a satellite image of the farm, grass species composition assessment, and a personal follow-up meeting with UK experts who will make suggestions for improvements. Personal consultation is one of the main advantages of the Horse Pasture Evaluation Program, according to program director Ray Smith, PhD. This year’s program now includes a small farm option with a comprehensive analysis at a reduced price.

Additional options include tall fescue toxicity analysis, ergovaline measurements, and ascarid egg count. Although there are limits to the acreage that will be included in each package, an entire farm can be included in analysis if requested.

In the five years since its inception, the program has serviced more than 13,500 acres during 80 farm evaluations. One of this year’s goals is to provide farm owners with information about pasture composition so they can improve their pastures and spend less on hay and concentrate throughout the year