(first published in the October issue of The Equiery)
Farm stewardship is a year-round job. Here is a guide from the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Horse Outreach Workgroup to help you stay on top of about what horse farmers should try to do every month.
January
1. Protect Your Pastures
Keep horses off pastures when ground is soft and wet to avoid mud, trampling of pasture grasses, and soil compaction. Confine horses in loafing lots located near the barn with hay, shelter, and water during inclement weather.
2. Daily Manure Removal and Water Check
Remove manure from loafing lots and check drinking water daily making sure to check heaters or break ice to allow horse access to water.
3. Recalculate Hay Needs
Order more hay if needed. Always keep a 2-3 week hay supply on hand in case heavy snows prevent new hay delivery.
4. Calculate Stocking Rate
Determine how many horses your land will support for the grazing season, keeping in mind that 1.5 acres or more of pasture per horse is ideal for maintaining a healthy, productive pasture.
February
1. Keep Monitoring Pasture
Continue to feed horses hay in the loafing lot/heavy use area if pastures are soft and wet.
2. Seed Clover
Broadcast seed ladino-type white clover in bare spots in pastures (~ 1 lb/acre) in order to maintain ~ 25% clover content during the grazing season. Check drinking water daily making sure to break ice to allow horse access to water.
3. Update Nutrient Management Plan
If your operation requires it, meet with your advisor to update your plan including preparing and sending in the Annual Implementation Report (AIR).
4. Maintain Fencing
Check fences and fencing supplies, including perimeter and interior fences.
March
1. Apply Fertilizer
Apply composted manure or 1/3 of the annual fertilizer amount to pastures that aren’t currently being grazed making sure to follow soil test recommendations or your farm’s nutrient management plan.
2. Begin Spring Weed Control
Inspect pastures at least weekly to monitor forage growth, weed encroachment, and to inspect fencing and grazing horses. Control existing weeds with herbicide and frequent mowing to ~ 4 inches. Contact your local University of Maryland Extension Office to receive help with weed identification and recommendations for their control.
3. Review Water Management Strategies
Check water pipes, gutters, and drain lines for defects and repair. Contact your local soil conservation district for technical assistance with water management issues on your farm.
April
1. Begin Grazing
Allow horses to graze when pastures begin to show new growth and are a height of 6 inches or more. Acclimate horses to lush spring pastures by allowing them access to pastures for an hour or two during the first few days and then gradually increase their turnout to full-time over the next 7 days.
2. Rotate Pastures
Move horses from pastures that are grazed less than 4 inches in height to rested pastures that are at least 6 inches in height.
3. Avoid Laminitis
Consider reducing grazing time or use grazing muzzles in obese-prone horses that may experience laminitis when consuming lush spring pasture. Drag or harrow pastures to break up manure piles from recent grazing after horses are moved to another pasture.
4. Mow
Mow recently grazed pastures to no less than 4 inches to maintain vegetative growth and to control weeds before they go to seed.
May
1. Continue Rotational Grazing
Move horses from pastures that are grazed no less than 4 inches in height to rested pastures that are at least 6 inches in height. Avoid being locked into a pasture sequence if grass height of pasture indicates a different order of rotation.
2. Use Loafing Lots if Pastures Need Rest
Move horses onto the loafing lot/heavy use area and feed hay if pastures are too wet or short for grazing.
3. Check Eroded Areas
Evaluate soil erosion in loafing lot/heavy use area and other heavy use areas (gates, feeders, run-in sheds, waterers). Your local soil conservation district can assist with soil erosion control measures.
4. Walk Your Pastures
Inspect pastures at least weekly to monitor forage growth, weed encroachment, and to inspect fencing and grazing horses. Control existing weeds with herbicide, pulling, and/or frequent mowing to ~ 4 inches. Call your county extension office for help with weed identification.
June
1. Begin Summer Stockpile
Reserve or rest one or more pasture fields starting in early to mid-June so that it can be used for late summer grazing (i.e. summer stockpile).
2. Use Loafing Lots While Pastures Recover
Adjust grazing system to manage for slower seasonal pasture growth by providing longer recovery times for pastures between grazing
3. Mow After Grazing
Continue to mow recently grazed pastures to no lower than 4 inches to maintain vegetative growth and to control weeds before they go to seed.
4. Take Soil Samples
Submit soil samples to a certified soil testing laboratory every 3 years to receive annual lime and fertilizer recommendations.
July
1. Assess Vegetative Cover
Evaluate pastures to identify those that have less than 50% desirable grasses so that they can be scheduled for reseeding in the fall. Pre-order certified seed to ensure seed availability and an August delivery date if a late summer reseeding of pastures is planned.
2. Rest Pastures During Drought
Close off and rest all pastures while feeding hay to horses in loafing lots if drought conditions exist.
3. Continue to Rotate Pastures
Continue to manage grazing horses by moving them from a pasture grazed to 4 inches to a pasture rested to 6 inches height or more.
4. Plan for Early Fall Soil Amendments
Establish contracts with agricultural service providers that can apply lime and/or fertilizer if recommended by soil test.
August
1. Plant Certified Seed
Plant certified pasture seed optimal for grazing horses and soil conditions of grazing pastures between August and September. Early planting is critical to provide adequate fall growth and ensure strong grass pasture in the spring. Do not graze reseeded pasture for a minimum of 6 months.
2. Rest Winter Grazing Areas
Begin resting tall fescue pastures to stockpile for winter grazing.
3. Manage in Drought
Close off pastures and feed hay to horses housed in loafing lots if drought conditions and slow grass growth exist.
4. Fix Eroded Areas
Start your soil erosion correction plans to make sure all projects are completed before the fall rainy season.
September
1. Monitor Grazing
Do not allow horses to graze pasture grasses below 4 inches in height. This will preserve the plant’s food reserves and growing points in the lower stems.
2. Control Weeds
Work on suppression of fall weeds with either routine mowing, biological control, or herbicides.
3. Schedule Liming
Plan for winter liming based on soil test recommendations.
4. Fertilize
Apply the remaining 1/3 of annual compost or fertilizer amount to pastures according to your nutrient management plan.
5. Seed Clover
Plan now to broadcast seed clover in February if using legumes in a pasture mix.
6. Order Hay
Place your order for hay to cover fall and winter needs.
October
1. Apply Lime
Apply lime to pasture according to soil test or nutrient management plan recommendations.
2. Control Weeds
Continue the suppression of perennial weeds using mowing (to no less than 4 inches) or herbicide control.
3. Mow and Disperse Clippings
Remove or disperse thick dead vegetation to prevent it from killing the underlying grasses and allowing weeds to encroach.
November
1. Check Out Cost-share
Discuss grazing and conservation cost-share programs with county soil conservation district staff to see if financial assistance is available.
2. Order Seed
Pre-order certified seed to take advantage of dealer discounts, seed availability, and a February delivery if spring spot seeding of pastures is needed.
3. Graze Stockpiled Fields
Begin turning horses out on pasture set aside for winter grazing (i.e. stockpiled) once other fields have been utilized.
4. Prepare for Frost Seeding
For pastures that will be frost seeded in early spring, allow horses to closely graze plants down to 4 inches to remove excess residues. This will allow for better seed to soil contact and establishment.
December
1. Perform Equipment Maintenance
Proper maintenance now means your equipment will be ready to go in spring.
2. Check Water Daily
Break ice and check heaters to make sure horses have access to water.
3. Check Body Condition Score
Assess weight and body condition score on a monthly basis. Make feed changes as necessary to keep weight appropriate through winter.