Steps to Minimize Weeds in Horse Pastures

The biggest challenge to pasture management is weed control.  Weeds are persistent, seed prolifically, and can spread very quickly.  In general, weeds are less palatable, less nutritious, and lower yielding than the recommended grass species.  Some weeds present in grass pastures are also toxic to our equine friends.  Poisonous plants such as wild cherry, common milkweed, horsenettle, and black nightshade can be harmful, sometimes deadly if consumed.  For more information on plants poisonous to livestock in NC visit: http://harvest.cals.ncsu.edu/applications/plant_biology/poisonous/

Horsenettle

So, what can you do to minimize weeds from taking over your horse pasture?  Here are a few suggestions that can be incorporated into your pasture management plan.

1.   Avoid Overgrazing- Make sure you are correctly stocking your pasture with the number of horses it can support (trial and error is the best way to determine this number).  Anytime you overstock you are weakening your forage and giving weeds an opportunity to move into any bare spots.

2.      Soil Testing Every 2-3 Years- This is the trick to maintaining optimal nutritional levels that the grass in your pasture needs to be viable.  See your local Extension agent for more information and to obtain soil testing boxes.  When you get your results back, your Extension agent will be happy to help you understand what your pasture may need: phosphorous, lime, potassium, etc.

3.      Resting Pastures- This can be done through rotational grazing.  If horses are always turned out on the same pasture every day with no rest, that is a lot of pressure on the grass to perform all year long.  Some NC pastures are cool-season and some are warm-season, each having an off-season.  Therefore, your horses can do serious damage in the off-season.  If you only have one pasture, consider dividing it in half and resting one side at a time.  You can also develop a dry lot so your horses can spend so many hours off the pasture.  During the rest period you can mow, fertilize, and spray for weeds.

A drylot like the one shown above is a great place
for the horses to go while the pasture is on rest.

Thick, well established forage will win against weeds.  However, you have to be a good pasture manager in order for this to happen.  Weeds can be brought into your pastures in a variety of ways including: birds, air, clothing, equipment, etc.  It is best to have an Extension agent or someone familiar with weed identification to help you to identify the weed(s) you are dealing with to take the best approach in controlling it.

For more information please visit: http://www.extension.umn.edu/agriculture/horse/pasture/grass-pasture-weed-control/

Body Condition Scoring App

Body condition scoring or BCS is a necessary tool for horse owners to learn. Estimating body condition, which is how much fat the horse has on its body, is very important to help maintain a healthy weight.  It is very useful to determine the overall well being of your horse.  You can watch some very informative videos to learn how to body condition score at this link:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS_j7MIcs2AE9of8ZJGrD4B-CiLvcSJjW  

It is easiest to learn how to body condition score with a large herd of horses with various body conditions.  You can then pick out the fattest one in the herd and the thinnest one in the herd and start comparing the others in between.  Although looking at pictures and animals themselves is useful to learn, you must feel the different parts of the horse to really master how to do it properly.  

There is a new application that you can use on your phone or computer to track and record the body condition score of all your horses.  You can view a video to learn how the application works at this link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThO-tZ9MEWY  The application is very useful to horse owners, horse business owners, and even law enforcement for neglect cases.  It will teach you how to body condition score the different areas of the horse as well as allow you to take a picture of each horse and store it for future reference.  You may download the application to your phone or computer by going to this link:  http://www.extension.org/pages/71173/body-condition-scoring-apps-for-horses#.VVnxFVVVikr

Horse Hoof Care

It has always been said that everyone needs a good foundation; horses are no exception. Taking care of your horses hooves is very important for their overall health and soundness. In this article, we will talk about how to take preventative measures to keep your horses hooves healthy.

Extremely overgrown hooves. This is a major health and soundness issue for this horse.

 Source: www.yourhorse.co.uk

Trimming is the most important management practice you can do to maintain healthy hooves. This prevents cracks in the hooves, as well as prevents the hooves from breaking off at the hoof wall, which can cause lameness. Other additional advantages to hoof trimming on a regular basis are establishing correct length, balance, and hoof angle. Also, your horse will be safer to ride because their feet will be in good shape meaning they will be less likely to fall or stumble. Preventative care is always best. Trimming should be done every 4-8 weeks dependent on your horse and should be done as closely as possible to the horse's natural state of their hooves.

Does my horse need shoes?

There are many variables to consider when determining if your horse should be shod or simply trimmed:

• health of the hoof
• use of the horse
• desired traction
• confirmation defects
• diseases and / or injuries
  

Always select shoes (if your horse needs to be shod) that will coincide with the type of work the horse will be performing as well as the type of surface the horse will be on. 

Start hoof care at a young age to ensure proper hoof care. This helps foster proper bone growth in the limbs and hooves, as well as gets your foal used to having their feet handled. Find a farrier that can help you keep your horses hooves healthy. Always consult your veterinarian if your horse has any hoof issues not easily fixed by your farrier. You can also contact your local Cooperative Extension office for guidance and direction on hoof care. 

View the original article in full here.

Parts of the Hoof

Source for this picture as well as the article as a whole:  http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/an033

Protecting Your Wood

There are many reasons why horses chew wood, like being confined to small spaces for long periods of time which leads to boredom. Wood chewing can become expensive when it comes to replacing ruined boards as well as potential health problems like excessive wear of the upper incisors, splinter damage to oral parts, and colic associated with the ingestion of wood fragments. There are many chemical products out there that can help deter a horse from chewing the wood. When choosing a solution to this bad habit, it is important to do your research and make sure you are getting a product that is safe for your horse.

One solution that does not involve any chemicals and that is safe and cost effective is covering the surface with a material that will not splinter or wear the teeth down.  Using rubber or chicken wire on the boards will prevent the horse from chewing the wood directly. The horse will not like the way the chicken wire feels under its teeth and should quit trying to chew the wood. Make sure that the rubber or chicken wire is secured tightly so the horse cannot pull it off the wood you are trying to protect.

Wood chewing could also be a result of an unbalanced or inadequate diet. Increasing the amount of long-stemmed forage (hay or pasture) available, reducing the amount of grain in the diet, offering multiple types of forage (such as adding hay cubes), and feeding more, small meals per day are possible solutions for a horse that chews wood.

If you are having a hard time breaking your horse’s bad habit of wood chewing, try some of these solutions.