The Grass is Always Greener: Quick Pasture Management Tips

Basic pasture management is relatively simple but requires diligence and understanding.
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Watching horses graze quietly on pasture is a sight many owners find to be a simple pleasure. In order to have this picture continue throughout the year, however, it is imperative that your pastures are well-managed and taken care of properly.

Basic pasture management is relatively simple, but requires diligence and some knowledge on the horse owner’s part.

Pasture rotation is the best and most effective pasture management technique. By not allowing your horses to graze down the grass to the root, you maintain a healthy root system in the grasses. This helps to avoid bare patches and will allow the grass to spring back more quickly. The North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service advises, “Add and remove animals at the correct times to obtain optimum nutrition, rapid forage regrowth, and stand persistence.”

Consider creating a “sacrifice space” for when all of the pastures are overgrazed and/or in the growing phase. This area can be smaller than the other pastures and will end up with large bare patches and poorer quality grass. You might find that this sacrificial pasture is also a great place to keep your horses throughout the winter months in order to let your larger pastures go completely dormant throughout the winter.

Mow your pasture periodically to aid in both weed control and grass health. While this might seem counter-intuitive, the mowing knocks down the plants that your horses have decided to avoid and allows the tender shoots of forage that your horse prefers to snack on.

Removing manure from pastures will help the grass grow more evenly and not create the “dead” patches in the grass. When you remove manure, consider treating the area with a stall refresher to neutralize the ammonia, which can kill off tender grasses.

When the grazing season wraps up, it’s wise to fertilize pastures to keep them healthy come spring. Consult your local cooperative Extension agency for advice on fertilizing requirements, as they vary depending on location.

Pasture management does not require fancy equipment, but it does require a well-thought out plan. By utilizing these quick tips, you can help prolong the grazing season and watch your horses graze in the early morning to your hearts content.

If you have any specific questions about managing your pastures, your country cooperative Extension agency will be familiar with the area and the grasses that you are working with and be able to provide tips and education you can use in the future.

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