Welcome to e-Tips!
Welcome to the February e-Tips brought to you by My Horse University and eXtension. This month we will focus on pasture management as we continue to learn more about how to manage horses in a green environment. Dr. Dave Freeman will discuss pasture management in a FREE webcast on February 10th at 7 p.m. ET. Freeman, presenter of the second webcast in this series, Pasture Management for Horse Acreages, says "Small acreages with large number of horses, along with little knowledge about agronomic practices for farms are typical scenarios of horse ownership across the U.S. Horse owners have to reposition themselves to becoming 'grass managers' if pastures are going to work out." Learn more.
Did you know...?
Forage for Horses
Adapted from Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Bulletin ANSI-3980
Daren D. Redfearn
Extension Forage and Pasture Management Specialist
David W. Freeman
Extension Equine Specialist
 Forages supply energy, crude protein, minerals, and vitamins at varying levels, depending on forage species and nutritive value. Forage nutritive value and the resulting effect on animal performance are greatly influenced by forage stage of maturity and soil fertility. Unlike ruminants, such as cattle, horses are limited to their ability to utilize forages that are low in nutritive value. Therefore, forage production for horses demands a higher level of management than is generally required for other livestock operations. When managed to optimize forage nutritive value and production, improved pastures can generally meet the nutritional requirement of mature, nonproductive horses with little or no supplementation during most months of the year. Read on...
Click here for additional resources on forages for horses...
This Month's e-Tips
Tips for managing a productive horse pasture:
Identify the forage in your pasture.
- Identifying existing forage and weeds will help make the decision on whether to reseed.
Check soil fertility.
- A soil sample analysis will provide recommendations for fertilizer mixes and lime application rates.
Plant forage species appropriate for horses and pasture location.
- Check with your County Extension Educator to determine which forage species are adapted to the soil and climatic factors present at your location.
Avoid overgrazing.
- Overgrazed pastures limits will increase the risk of toxic plant ingestion and lower the pasture's nutritional value.
Body condition score you house.
- The most common way horse owners determine how well a pasture is providing nutrients is by assessing body condition on the horses grazing the pasture.
Question of the Month
Choose the best answer:
Manure storage should be located:
A) Away from surface water
B) On top of a hill
C) Away from horse contact
D) In a wet land
E) Away from your neighbors view
F) A, C, E
Click here for the answer!
Photo of the Month
This is Katie in Michigan with her horse "Jade." Katie is 12 and Jade is 6. They have been through a lot together already. Jade has hoof problems as well as just being diagnosed with navicular. However, they are doing great together. Jade loves when Katie just holds her head and babies her. They are inseparable and when you watch them ride, you see them as a "team."
Want your extraordinary equine featured in the next Photo of the Month?
Send your photo along with your name and a little background info to info@myhorseuniversity.com.
Write "Photo of the Month" in the subject line. |
February 2009
In This Issue
Gold Sponsor
Purina Mills is a proud sponsor of My Horse University and eXtension.
News & Updates
Join us for a FREE live Webcast!
Pasture Management for Horse Acreages
Dr. David Freeman
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
7:00 p.m. EST
NCSU Horse Facility Short Course
Hampton Inn & Suites
Raleigh, NC
February 26, 2009
MHU and EquiNetwork Equine Behavior Webcast Series
March 18th, 25th, and April 1
Register Now!
AYHC 2009 National Youth Horse Leaders Symposium
University of Nebraska
Lincoln, NE
March 27, 2009
Horses 2009
Rutgers Equine Science Center New Jersey
March 28th and 29th
National Institute for Animal Agriculture Annual Meeting
Louisville, Kentucky
March 31, 2009
Ask the Experts
eXtension invites you to Ask the Experts your horse-related questions
Free Horse Learning Lessons
eXtension's team of horse experts have developed specialized lessons on various topics.
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