Managing equine grazing for pasture productivity

By understanding the concepts of animal units and stocking rate, horse farm managers can determine the best use of their land and find management solutions for under- and overstocking. Continuous grazing is a convenient method for most farm managers, but it is inefficient and often results in overgrazed, highly erodible, unproductive pastures. Implementing rotational grazing systems increases pasture forage efficiency and extends the grazing season, as pastures are allowed to rest and regrow between grazing periods. Proper rotational grazing requires an understanding of when to graze and rest pastures, how stocking rate and size of the pastures affect grazing schedules, forage growth rates, the “take-half, leave-half” rule, and balancing a horse’s nutritional needs with available forage dry matter. When pastures are managed properly, a relatively small amount of pasture can meet a horse’s energy needs.