Rotating for Better Pastures

Horses are selective grazers which can be tough on pastures and often leads to overgrazing. There are many different grazing strategies that could be implemented to get the most out of your pasture. Rotational grazing is one of those strategies that can lead to healthier, more productive pastures.

Before the horses are allowed to graze, you need to figure out the correct stocking rate. Having the correct stocking rate gives you a much better chance at having green pasture for the horses to graze. Stocking rates can vary depending on the available forage, soil type, and level of pasture management. Generally, 2 acres per 1,000 pound horse is recommended.

Rotational grazing is a grazing system where the horses are allowed to graze until the grass gets to be a certain height and then they are removed to allow the pasture to rest and regrow. There are “start” and “stop” grazing heights for different grasses. Warm season perennial grasses, like bermudagrass and bahiagrass, can start being grazed when it is 6-8 inches tall and should be allowed to rest when it is 2-3 inches tall. Cool season perennial grasses, like fescue, orchardgrass, and timothy, can start being grazed when it is 8-10 inches tall and should be allowed to rest when it is 3-4 inches tall. The amount of time it takes for the grass to regrow can vary from 28 to 60 days and is dependent on the time of year, the amount of rainfall, soil fertility, and how low the grass was grazed.

Pasture set-up is key to being successful with rotational grazing. The main pasture should be divided into multiple smaller sections with, ideally, enough pasture to last the horses 4 to 7 days. When starting out you will have to experiment with the size and number of sections. Rotate horses based on the height of the grass and the pasture conditions. Most people use temporary electric fencing when dividing pastures, allowing for easy set-up and being flexible with pasture design. When designing your pasture layout, keep in mind that each section will need access to water. It is also a good idea to have a sacrifice area. This area will be used when the horses have grazed their current area down to the “stop” height and the next area hasn’t had enough time to get to the “start” height. Another reason to use the sacrifice area is when the pastures are too wet or there are drought conditions; allowing horses on pasture that is too wet or too dry can lead to killing the grass. This is also a good area for feeding hay. Below are some examples of pasture layouts.

If you are thinking about trying rotational grazing on your farm, remember to be flexible and be patient! The more effort you put into managing your pastures, the more you will get out of them! If you have any questions about rotational grazing, contact your local livestock agent.