Kentucky bluegrass:
No other grass is held in as high esteem by horse owners as Kentucky bluegrass. It is well adapted to the North Dakota climate and soil types, and grows naturally throughout the state. It is palatable and high in nutritional value, withstanding close grazing and trampling.
This grass can be managed to maintain a legume component if desired. Kentucky bluegrass is very winter hardy but does not tolerate low moisture conditions. It is not recommended for pasture development in western North Dakota.
Smooth bromegrass:
Bromegrass also may be used successfully as a horse pasture. It is commonly found through central and eastern North Dakota. This grass is not very drought tolerant and will not grow very successfully in western and west central North Dakota.
Closer pasture management is required with smooth bromegrass because it is somewhat sensitive to close grazing. Palatability and nutrition is very good in the spring and early summer, and again in late summer and early fall. Smooth bromegrass makes a good mix with alfalfa.
Intermediate wheatgrass:
Intermediate or pubescent wheatgrass will make a good grass mixture with other grasses and alfalfa. This grass will allow for spring and early summer grazing but does become rank as it matures and may need to be clipped or grazed by cattle to maintain palatability throughout the remaining grazing season.
Intermediate wheatgrass also withstands trampling but will not withstand close grazing over time. It is a drought tolerant grass and is recommended in a grass mixture for western and central North Dakota.
Russian wildrye:
Russian wildrye will make a good horse pasture in western North Dakota, either as a single grass or, preferably, as a mixture with other grasses. It is leafy and palatable throughout the grazing season. This grass will make an excellent fall pasture when seeded by itself.
It withstands close grazing and trampling and is drought tolerant. Altai wildrye can be substituted for Russian wildrye but has been classified as more difficult to establish.
Crested wheatgrass:
Crested wheatgrass is the most drought tolerant of the grass species mentioned and makes good forage in May and June. The plant will become rank and be grazed sparingly after this time. Clipping will be needed to remove the coarse seedstalks.
This grass is recommended as a single spring pasture or as part of a grass or grass-legume mix in western North Dakota. It is very palatable in the immature growth stage.
Orchardgrass:
Orchardgrass is a very desirable grass for horses but is not drought tolerant or very winter hardy. It can be used successfully as part of a grass or grass-legume mixture in southeastern North Dakota. It is equal to Kentucky bluegrass for horse pasture and can withstand somewhat close grazing. It makes a good companion with legumes.
Legumes:
Any legume that is adapted to the soil type and moisture conditions of an area can be used successfully in horse pastures. Horses must be adapted to the legume pasture to minimize fear of using alfalfa, birdsfoot trefoil, or clover.
Horses will accept sweetclover as a preferred plant, but since it is a biennial (lives for two years), it will only be used in temporary pasture conditions.
Birdsfoot trefoil is not nearly as drought tolerant as alfalfa and only recommended for use in eastern and possibly east-central North Dakota for the legume mix. Alfalfa is the preferred legume mix in North Dakota due to higher drought tolerance and winter hardiness and higher forage production potential.
No legume will withstand close grazing, so including legumes in a pasture means increasing the management needs and use of rotational grazing. Limiting the amount of alfalfa in the seed mixture to 35 to 50 percent will help minimize slobbering or excess saliva production. Slobber is not harmful to the horse but may be considered unattractive.
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