When 20 stalls filled up we thought we were going to need more land for grazing, but after implementing these pasture management techniques, there's more than enough grass and it's much higher quality.

August 1, 2003 - photo above - Despite the drought, much of our pasture area remains green and lush.  We have not irrigated, and we do not use any chemical fertilizers.  The grass is deep-rooted and healthy as a result of following proper pasture management techniques.

Horses on our farm are removed from the grass pastures and confined to mud-free "sacrifice pastures" during the wet winter months and at other times when heavy rain soaking/saturation may occur.  Pastures in the northwest cannot survive grazing and trampling in the winter months.  When pastures are soggy, pounding hooves compact the soil and suffocate plant roots.  The hooves also act like plungers, churning soil into mud, which can pull shoes, cause strains, and contribute to hoof/foot diseases.  The photos below (click to enlarge) show pasture conditions before (left) when horses were allowed full access to all areas year-round, and after (right) when pasture manage techniques were put into action.  Hotwire fencing was used to permanently keep horses out of the wet drainage swale area.

Pastures are divided into areas that are grazed and then rested in a planned sequence in order to maintain a healthy forage crop and healthy, thriving horses.  The rule of thumb is to open a pasture area when the grass is 6-8 inches tall, and close it when grazed down to an average height of 3 inches.  Overgrazing severely stunts the re-growth, allows weeds to become established (equine "junk food"), and the bare spots turn to mud when it rains.  Composted manure is also applied in the spring and fall.

We have 4 large pastures that are separated by permanent fencing, and which support 4-6 horses each.  Each pasture is further divided into 8 rotational grazing areas (about 12,000 square feet each) using hotwire fencing.  Every 5 days or so horses are shifted to the next section by simply moving a hotwire "gate," which consists of a section of wire with insulated handle and hook.  The previously grazed section is then mowed and (sometimes) dragged. We typically wait and mow 2 or 3 sections at a time if we don't feel like getting the tractor out so often.  Mowing maintains the grass at a more uniform height, keeps it succulent, and prevents it from going to seed (at which time it will stop growing). If you cheat and repeatedly graze the grass too low, and don't give it enough time grow back, it causes a major setback.  You will likely have to wait a long time for it to recover, and may even have to replant.  Click on the images below to see a representative sketch of a rotational pasture layout, and details of the hotwire gate.

Mud-free sacrifice pastures and paddocks are utilized for turnout and exercise when the main pastures are closed due to: 1) wet winter months - typically beginning of November through early April, 2) short term closure (typically a day or two) during other periods of rain soaking/saturation, and 3) lack of available grazing area if insufficient growth occurs during the late summer season.  In this case an "every other day" rotation between pasture and sacrifice area will typically be employed to conserve/stretch available forage.

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