Healthy pastures are the first step to environmentally safe horse management.  Grass provides essential nutrients for horses and prevents water runoff that can contaminate local water sources.

• Compost, Compost, Compost…Composted manure becomes a valuable resource for pastures, gardens or crops.  Manure should be stored far away from water sources and neighbors and covered to keep out moisture.

• Spread compost/manure during the warmer months to ensure that the nutrients are absorbed into the ground.  Spreading manure when the ground is frozen is ineffectual.

• Do not overgraze.  Rotate pastures so that the grass is not grazed below 3-4 inches.  Grazing to the ground discourages re-growth of plants. 

• Mow pastures on a regular schedule.  Regular cutting encourages even grazing and reduces weeds.

• Spread manure by dragging pastures.  Spreading enables nutrients to be absorbed by the soil and inhibits the spread of parasites.

• Keep horses off wet pastures as much as possible. In winter, always keep hay in the pastures to discourage horses from grazing grass that is dormant and can't rejuvenate.