Rotational Grazing for Horses

Livestock producers have long utilized rotational grazing to more efficiently utilize forages by dividing their larger pastures into smaller paddocks.  Rotational grazing can also be an effective tool for equine owners to more effectively utilize pasture because horses tend to be selective grazers.  Rotational grazing improves pasture utilization, therefore allowing for a greater stocking rate and/or a longer grazing season.  Temporary electric fencing can be utilized to divide pastures for rotational grazing and keeping horses off of overgrazed areas or recently renovated pasture.

Temporary electric fencing can be utilized to divide an existing strong perimeter fence, it’s easy to install, and later move if needed.  Horses should be trained to electric fencing by first introducing them into a small fenced area, but not too small that they cannot get away from the fence.  Electric fencing works as a psychological barrier, so the fence must remain charged at all times.  White polytape that is 3/4-inch wide and contains at least five steel strands is the best option for horses because it is easily visible.  Heavyweight plastic step-in posts are the best option for posts and you should avoid metal T-posts.

Using an example farm with a six acre pasture and water tank in one corner with three horses permitted to continuously graze, we will typically observe the grass being grazed lower in the area closest to the water source.  By dividing this six acre pasture into three smaller paddocks and rotating the horses through each paddock, the horses will more efficiently utilize the grass.  This allows you to lengthen the grazing season. The location of the water source will typically dictate how you design your rotational grazing system and install your temporary fencing. In our example, a second water tank could be placed in the pasture, filled with a hose, and shared by two of the paddocks.

In this example, the estimated cost to install the temporary fence and set up the entire rotational grazing system would be approximately $1,067.30. The estimated cost includes the fence charger, ground rods for the charger, lightning arrestor, 3/4-inch polytape (three strands per dividing fence totaling 3,066 feet), heavyweight plastic step-in posts (69 posts when placed every fifteen feet), 60 gallon portable water tank, heavy duty 150 foot hose, and portable mineral feeder.  Spread out over five years, the annual cost is $213.46. The horse owner would need to get one extra month per year of grazing to decrease the feed costs enough to recoup the rotational grazing costs in this example.  In a boarding scenario, the farm owner may choose to board one extra horse thereby providing greater income. Costs will depend on your local area and could be higher or even lower than these estimates.

Pasture should be managed so that horses do not overgraze the paddocks.  Horses should not graze below three inches.  During periods of fast growth, such as in the spring, paddocks may need to be mowed so the grass does not produce seed heads which will keep the forage actively growing and of better quality.  The temporary fencing can also be utilized to keep your horses off of newly seeded areas until the grass is at least three inches tall.  Even at this height, it may be necessary to move the horses faster to prevent them from pulling out the seedlings and causing damage.

For more in depth information, please refer to: http://www2.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/id/id165/id165.pdf

Source: Temporary Fencing for Horse Pastures by Dr. Kenny Burdine, Dr. Bob Coleman, and Traci Missun.

By: Chris Jeffcoat, Forsyth and Stokes County Area Agent for Livestock