The best maintenance tips for a beautiful green horse pasture

Annual maintenance extends the lifespan of a horse pasture

If you want a horse pasture with a dense and durable sward, annual maintenance is essential. Overseeding helps prevent undesirable grass species and weeds from filling bare patches. Inferior grass species tend to have shallow root systems, making them more susceptible to drought. In addition, these grasses often lack the structure and nutrients that horses require.

Tips for successfully restoring your horse pasture

• Mow the grass short, or allow your horse to graze it down before overseeding. This enables the new seed to make better contact with the soil.
• If the pasture contains a large number of undesirable grass species or weeds, it is advisable to remove them first using a tine harrow. This is easiest after a dry period. If you plan to control weeds using a crop protection product, apply it before overseeding.
• After harrowing, remove any loose plant material using a rake or a forage wagon.
• You can now begin overseeding. Small areas can easily be overseeded by hand. Distribute the grass seed evenly across the field, lightly rake it in, and then firm the soil by rolling or treading it. For larger areas, it is best to use a specialised overseeding machine. Your local contractor can assist with this.
• For overseeding a horse pasture with many bare patches, use 40 kg of Horse Master per hectare. If the pasture has only a few bare patches, 25 kg of Horse Master per hectare is sufficient. For horse pastures, always choose Horse Master rather than grass mixtures intended for cattle.
• Give young seedlings the opportunity to establish 2 to 3 weeks after overseeding by allowing light grazing or taking a light cut. This allows the seedlings to receive more light and compete with the existing grasses. Do not apply slurry during this period.

Reseeding in case of severe pasture damage

If the sward in your horse pasture is in very poor condition, you may want to consider reseeding. Reseeding is recommended when more than 20% of the pasture consists of bare patches, undesirable grass species or weeds. Read more about reseeding here.

A strong, green pasture for your horse

A beautiful green pasture with a durable sward and sufficient grass to graze your horse every day. This is the wish of every horse owner. Unfortunately, many horses are still kept in trampled pastures containing grass intended for cattle. This can lead to a range of health issues. That is why Barenbrug developed Horse Master.

Horse Master is a balanced grass seed mixture. A Horse Master pasture provides a durable sward, rapid regrowth, and grass that is rich in structure and low in fructan. Click here for more information about Horse Master.