Spring has sprung, and that means that it’s time to prepare your horses and pasture for spring grazing. Here are some quick tips to keep in mind:
Is your pasture ready?
- Check and repair all fencing and gates.
- Check that water sources are clean and working.
- Begin grazing when a majority of the pasture is 6 to 8” tall.
Are your horses ready?
- Schedule annual dental care
- Test manure to determine fecal egg count and deworm accordingly to reduce parasite load on the pasture.
Start grazing!
- Start with 15 minutes per day.
- Add 15 minutes each day until 5 hours of grazing is reached, then unrestricted grazing can begin.
- Stop grazing when a majority of the pasture is grazed down to 3″ to 4” tall and rotate to a new pasture or dry lot.
Written by Aubrey Jaqueth, PhD, University of Minnesota. This and other horse nutrition articles can be found at http://www.extension.umn.edu/agriculture/horse/nutrition/.