Article submitted by Cassie Tonkin, Sydney Equestrian Supplies
Horse owners often find the task of pasture management a very difficult one and consequently our paddocks quickly fall into disarray.
With a few simple steps and some effective management an overgrazed, underfertilized, weedy pasture can become far more productive and plentiful without breaking the bank.
The idea behind producing a productive pasture is dependent on a few key ingredients; selecting the right seed mixture; establishing a good stand; proper fertilization and grazing management.
One of the most common ways to renovate existing pastures is to plant seeds into the ground over the top of current grass.
Methods for planting seeds:
Scattering Seed or Broad casting as it is commonly referred to is the scattering of seeds by hand all over the prepared area followed by covering the area with a wooden plank, harrow or gate to encourage contact of seed with soil.
This method is the quickest and cheapest requiring no additional equipment, however you will tend to use more seed in this way and not get even growth coverage.
Direct Drilling -
If possible, re-seed pastures by ‘direct drilling’, especially on any ground that may be at risk of soil erosion from previous horse traffic. Direct drilling is where the seed is sown along with fertiliser into unworked ground.
Usually, direct drill seeding implements are designed to cut a slot just along the row where the seed is sown. The method is great for achieving uniformed growth and economising on seed however a skilled person with the correct materials is generally required.
What seed should I sow?
There are many aspects which need to be taken into account when deciding on a species or cultivator for your horses pasture.
Take into consideration how your manage your property –
- do the paddocks get spelled often or are you limited for space?
- What is the soil like in your region – is it
- very sandy, dry or mostly clay?
- How much rainfall do you get – is the seed resistant to drought?
All these considerations are important when deciding on the best type of seed to sow.
Explanation of Grasses:
Fescue pastures are very acceptable to horses in the first year of growth.
Prairie grass:
Prairie grass is very acceptable to horses. Prairie grass performs well on very fertile soils under favourable growing conditions. It will not persist under dry conditions.
Ryegrass:
Ryegrass is a lush, desirable, cool season pasture for horses. It requires high rainfall or irrigation, good soil fertility, and good grazing management to persist.
Phalaris:
Phalaris sown with white, red and sub clover and/or lucerne is quite acceptable for horses. It must be rotationally grazed to allow seedhead development in spring and good growth after autumn breaking rains.
Cocksfoot:
Cocksfoot is more suited to high altitudes. It thrives in the tableland areas of New South Wales. Cocksfoot dominant pastures in South Africa have caused calcium deficiency in horses.
Kikuyu:
is the most common coastal NSW horse pasture because of its ability to persist. It contains an oxalate that inhibits the uptake of calcium.
This deficiency can be overcome by supplementary feeding a calcium supplement (see below) or by overseeding ryegrass and clover into the kikuyu in autumn.
Couch grass:
Couch grass has often been regarded as a weed. It is very acceptable to horses, very hardy and capable of tolerating high stocking rates on poorer sandy soils.
Red clover:
Red clover has always been regarded as a most acceptable clover for horses because of its summer growth habit. Always select a low oestrogen variety as infertility has been reported in broodmares grazing high oestrogen varieties.
Subterranean clover:
Sub clover is a self-regenerating annual with winter spring growth habit. It is adapted to many horse areas. Horses readily accept subterranean clover. Some older varieties contain highoestrogen levels.
White clover:
White clovers are not readily accepted. In most cases horses prefer to graze other pasture species and weeds in the paddock. However, white clovers should be included in pasture mixes because they are widely adapted to coastal and milder inland areas.
Lucerne:
Lucerne is another popular legume for horses, more suited to non-coastal situations. To increase persistence and yield it is important that the plants are not overgrazed.
Rotational grazing is especially important when managing lucerne as it allows the plant to build up energy reserves and to persist.
Lucerne is susceptible to leaf spot diseases. Mares grazing lucerne or eating lucerne hay with excessive leaf spot may have fertility problems.
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