Pasture Management

EQUINE NUTRITION

Care & Maintenance of pasture & Grassland.

Tracey Cross

Introduction.

The pasture in which a horse or pony is kept can provide all of the nutrients required in a balanced form for horses (brown et al p190), however this is greatly depended of effective pasture management and the quality of the grassland. When looking at equine grazing and pasture there are many significant areas to consider. The research contained in this report is taken from one field on Bicton College campus, at the equestrian centre, the aim of the report was to evaluate and asses west park as an ideal pasture for equine grazing, and then a annual plan was devised considering the problem areas and improvements that could be made to west park to produce and utilize hay production and storage.

Procedures.

To evaluate West Park as an area of equine pasture the following factors were assessed.

* Types of grass species present

* Soil PH

* Areas for shelter

* Fencing type and safety

* Slope and aspect.

To assess the species of grass present, 20 plots were randomly selected from all areas of the fields. A key was used to identify the different species of grass and plant. Using each square on the 25 squared quadrat the percentage of each species was estimated.

Soil PH was tested by using a test tube, adding barium sulphate distilled water, and soil neutral water, the test tube was then shaken, and left to settle for 1 minute.

The shelter and fencing type were visually evaluated and checked for safety and appropriateness,

Slope and aspect were determined using the following formula and measuring the distance

Discussion

West park is situated 130ft above sea level and is primarily east facing. (Brown et all 2003) notes that paddock “should be on relatively flat ground”. West park is mainly flat with some slope climbing on the north west side of the paddock this slope is of an 8% gradient at its steepest point.

The sward height of the...