Place waterers in areas where filling and cleaning is convenient, and if possible, where multiple pastures have access.ħ. Water: Clean, fresh water is a requirement for horses. Avoid placing gates in low areas where water may pool.Ħ. Narrow gates should be avoided because they increase risk of injury when more than one horse passes through. Gates should be large enough to get equipment through (i.e. Gate Placement: Gates should be placed away from corners, closest to the direction of travel. Dry lots can vary in size, however they should provide a minimum of 500 square feet per horse.ĥ. Sacrifice Paddock/Corral: Dry lots, or sacrifice paddocks, provide an opportunity to move horses off pastures when they are excessively wet or dry, and to avoid overgrazing. If the pasture is to be used for year round grazing, at least two acres per horse is needed anything less should be considered an exercise area.Ĥ. Irregular shaped pastures should be avoided because they create a greater risk of injury. Rectangular shaped pastures tend to better suit horses as they encourage exercise. For example, two one-acre-sized pastures should be sufficient for rotational grazing of two adult horses. Pasture Size: Pastures should be large enough to handle your stocking rate and grazing system. Wet areas should be avoided because they typically have a greater number of insects (biting flies and mosquitoes) and poisonous plants.ģ. Poor pasture management can cause environmental damage. Environmental Concerns: Keep horses out of rivers, creeks, swamps, or wetlands. Also, paddocks should not be oriented up and down hillsides.Ģ. Topography and Geography of Your Pasture: Individual pastures should not include steeply sloping hillsides soil types that vary significantly in suitabilities due to wetness, presence of rocks, inherent differences in fertility or forage species that differ greatly in growth or yield characteristics. Other things to consider when planning your pasture include:ġ. These topics will be discussed in further detail later. However, if the pasture is to serve as a feed source, other factors need to be considered including its potential nutritional value, carrying capacity or stocking rate, and grazing system design. Free exercise reduces behavior and respiratory problems, promotes optimal growth and development of young horses, and improves overall horse health. Most horses benefit from being outside regularly for exercise. ![]() When planning your horse pasture, you should ask yourself the following question: will the pasture be a major feed source or just an exercise area?
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