CHALLENGE 3

OVERGRAZED PASTURES

It is the rare small acreage that can provide 100 percent of the nutritional needs of all its horses---most likely they’ll need supplemental high quality hay. But even small pastures can provide vital grazing time for at least part of the year.

“The most common problem on small acreages,” says Dan Undersander, forage agronomist with the University of Wisconsin, “is overgrazing and under-fertilizing.”

Overgrazing results in more than unsightly pastures. Hard, compacted soils allow rainwater to run along the surface, carrying sediments and manure to ground and surface waters. Weeds thrive in tough conditions and crowd out nutritious grasses. But it is possible to grow a healthy and nutritious pasture even on a small acreage, providing you follow a few simple rules.