What doesn’t seem quite so simple is the
idea of a healthy pasture that will nourish
our horses in perpetuity. In reality,
though, it’s easier than you think.
To optimize your equine companion’s
health, wellness and performance, you
need to combine the best nutrition possible
with a happy lifestyle. And the most
important factor is a healthy pasture that
can support your horse effectively.
Hint
A healthy pasture offers good nutrition,
brings emotional well being,
and is
an outlet for play and exercise.
How do you keep your
pasture healthy?
You start with healthy land. Just as a
solid foundation is essential to a house,
a foundation of healthy land is essential
to good pasture, which in turn is
a building block to a healthy horse.
Simple, right?
Many scientific studies tell us about
the decreasing nutritional value of the
plants we grow. Land overuse and
other environmental factors have led
to soil depletion. As plants grow they
draw nutrients from the soil; if there
are inadequate nutrients in the soil, the
plants will also be deficient. So we have
to start with the soil.
Here are a few things to keep in mind as
you build and maintain a great foundation
of healthy pasture for your horses.
First, you have to assess the health of
your soil. Then you have to make sure
you use the pasture in a healthy and
responsible manner. Finally, you have to
properly maintain the pasture.
Assess the land
The first step to an environmentally
healthy pasture is to evaluate the soil
and plant life.
1. Start with a visual inspection.
Get out there and walk your land. Pay
attention to:
• the type of grasses growing there that offer
forage for your horses
• the varieties of weeds present (both broad
leaf as well as noxious)
• whether there is moss
• where the horses don’t seem to be grazing
• where there are areas of heavy wear
2. Next, you should have your soil
tested. You need to understand which
nutrients are both present and lacking in
order to be able to build a better crop.
Most experts suggest an annual test, or
one every other year at a minimum. The
results will help you develop a good plan
for building your soil foundation and
monitoring the effectiveness and progress
of your pasture management program.
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Published in the May/June 2008 issue of Equine Wellness Magazine |
