Grazing a Newly Seeded Pasture

So you've just planted new pasture for your horses. But you have questions. Should we mow the pasture? If so, how often? When should we start grazing?

Let's try answering some of those today.

You will want to mow a newly seeded pasture three times before allowing horses to graze it. If the pasture is grazed too soon, horses can pull new grass seedlings out of the ground. Mowing helps stimulate root growth and anchors plants without the physical pressures of grazing. It also helps control some weeds common in new pasture seedings. Just be sure to let the grass reach at least 6″ each time.

Once you have mowed three times and the grass has regrown to 6″, you can start grazing. If the horses are acclimated to pasture, they can be allowed to graze until the pasture is, on average, grazed down to 3″. At this time, you would rotate the horses off the pasture, mow the pasture to 3″, allow the pasture to regrow to 6″, then graze again. You would keep repeating this process until the pasture stops re-growing in the fall.

Why? Because it is critical to allow the pasture to rest and regrow. Unfortunately, horses do not graze uniformly, so mowing is necessary to ensure the pasture regrows evenly.

If your horses are not acclimated to pasture, then start grazing in 15-minute increments, adding 15 minutes each day until you reach 5 hours of consecutive grazing. For example, 15 minutes on day one, 30 minutes on day two, 45 minutes on day three, etc. This allows the horses to slowly acclimate to pasture and reduces the risk of laminitis and colic that is often seen with abrupt diet changes.

Along with mowing, make sure to drag manure piles 2 to 3 times a year during hot and dry times, fertilize as needed, and take steps to control any weeds that begin emerging. For additional advice, our pasture management experts are standing by to help. Call or stop by anytime!

NOTE: This post is adapted (with permission) from content proudly brought to you by our partners at Nutrena and Cargill Animal Nutrition. The original article appears here.