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Improving Forage Vital To Small Horse Operations:

Last Modified: March 19, 1999

It's the dream that can turn into a nightmare: you finally save up and move out of town, purchasing a house and small acreage so that you have personal access to horses, then discover available forage to be woefully inadequate.

Many new owners of small acreage horse sites are aghast to discover the high percentage of weeds present in their native pasture, according to Dave Freeman, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension equine specialist.

"Nutritional value of weed-filled native pasture is low, and erosion and spot grazing will become a major problem," Freeman said. "Horse owners need to ascertain what is possible to accomplish with the forage present, and quickly."

Too heavy a stocking rate is a common scenario for first-time horse owners who own small acreage operations.

"Few things will destroy available forage as quickly as putting too many horses on site," Freeman added.

The amount of grass a horse eats a day depends on grain supplementation, grazing habits of the animal and the amount and quality of hay used in a feeding program. A horse generally will consume 2 to 2 1/2 percent of its body weight per day in forage if forced to obtain the majority of its nutrition from pasture.

Add in trampling loss - which is greater with heavier stocking rates - and the use of forage by one horse may be three percent of its body weight per day.

"Forage type, management practices, soil type, drainage and moisture also affect forage production rates, making it impossible to give one estimate for realistic stocking rates on pastures," Freeman said. "Similarly, different grazing patterns and stocking rates affect how much forage a horse can harvest."

General recommendations indicate at best six months of forage growth for native pasture, because these grasses are warm season growers. Stocking rates may be as heavy as three to four acres per horse during maximum growth periods, while other times of the year require nutritional supplementation regardless of how many acres provided per horse.

"A soil survey will provide information that specifically estimates production for a certain acreage," Freeman stated.

Assistance on conducting soil surveys is available by contacting any local OSU Cooperative Extension county office, usually listed under "County Government" in the telephone directory.

Bermudagrass is the most frequently used improved grass to establish a warm season base for grazing on small acreage horse farms throughout most of Oklahoma.

"The root structure and growing habits of bermudagrass allows for regrowth many times when other grass species would be grazed out," Freeman noted. "The decision to use bermudagrass rather than other choices of forage will depend on expected rainfall, soil type and projected use of fertilizer and other management tools."

To establish bermudagrass, sprig or plant seed in the spring, to take advantage of springtime moisture. The traditional practice is sprigging. Planting bermudagrass seed requires more intensive preparation of the seedbed. Most areas of Oklahoma have businesses that sprig small acreage operations. Improved grasses such as bermudagrass respond favorably to several management practices.

"A soil test will direct levels of individual minerals in fertilizer," Freeman added. "This test and information on fertilization rate and expected forage yield determine fertilization schedules."

OSU Cooperative Extension county offices can assist owners in interpreting test results and developing a management plan for the owner's specific operation. Weeds probably will become a problem regardless of how intensive the grazing management strategy. Increased weed populations increase the chance of a horse ingesting harmful substances while decreasing the nutritive value of the acreage.

"Many owners rely on mowing to control weeds," Freeman said. "While mowing provides a nice aesthetic look, it's not very efficient. Managed grazing programs combined with sound herbicide use is recommended."

Horse owners with agricultural acreage should apply for a private applicator license, to ensure proper application and selection of herbicides.

"While a license is not required to use many herbicides, earning a license is beneficial because owners become more knowledgeable about the proper use of herbicides when reviewing the educational materials provided as part of the licensing process," Freeman stated.

The cost to obtain a private applicator's license is relatively inexpensive. Contact the local OSU Cooperative Extension county office to obtain the review material and test. Once completed, the test is sent to the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, who grade the test and either issue or deny the license based on the test score.

The above article has been provided courtesy of
Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service.