Horses need nutrient-rich grasses to keep their digestive health in tip-top conditions, which is usually where a beautiful pasture comes in. However, beautiful pastures don’t simply spring up from nature with all of the elements you need for your horses.
This article gives you a quick run-through of how you can better the health of your pasture to, in turn, better the health of your horses.
Check the Health of Your Soil Before You Dub an Area of Land Your Land a Pasture for Your Animals
Soil health is important because good soil is nourishing to both plants and animals. It helps the grass grow, while ensuring your animals get the most nutrition from their grazing sessions. Soil can make or break a beautiful pasture. You should get your soil checked every 6 months to maintain a good mix of nutrient density with no invasive parasites.
Watch the Growth of Grass to Time Grazing Periods so Horses Get the Most Nutrients
When the grass grows at quick paces, like in the mid springtime, those are the optimum times to let your horses out to graze in the pasture. This is when the grasses are the most nutrient-rich and beneficial to the health of your farm animals. During the winter, when grass is limp and dead, or gone entirely, you should steer clear of grazing since it lends nothing to the nourishment of your animal.
Control the Weeds with a Goat, Weed Wacker, or by Hand
Weeds lack nutrition and are often riddled with parasites. So, invest in a goat or two to take care of weeds on a weekly basis. Their stomachs can handle the rough texture and occasional parasite. Or, you could also weed whack or hand-pull the weeds to make way for better grass in your pasture.
If your pasture is situated in a valley, be sure to use something like an amphibious dredger to drain sitting pits of water before you allow your animals to roam free.
Invest in a Herd of Chickens to Periodically Take Care of Insects—Let Them Loose Once Every 2 Weeks
Some insects are more invasive and worse for pastures than others, but a herd of chickens can take care of that. Let your chickens loose in the pasture every 2 weeks. They will churn your soil and pick out the bad bugs for lunch.