Horses become bored with little to graze on and can also suffer from health problems, for example mud fever. Repair work - involving expense, effort and an extended pasture rest period - becomes essential to level uneven areas, encourages new grass growth and discourages invasive weeds.Carry Out a Soil Analysis

Carry out a soil test now - this will determine the lime (pH) and soil nutrient levels and will allow for advance planning in the event of a fertiliser application being necessary in spring. The ideal pH for horse pasture is 6.5. Acidic soil (with a low pH) may result in weak, patchy grass growth. Alkaline soil (with a high pH) can result in some elements in the soil becoming unavailable, resulting in grass suffering a deficiency. If a soil test reveals that soil is acidic, an application of lime will help to restore the correct pH. Three other major elements are necessary in balanced proportion for the soil to support optimum grass growth: nitrogen, phosphate and potash. Nitrogen encourages leaf growth whilst phosphate and potash are responsible for root growth and grass health. If these elements are not in balance, it may be necessary to apply a fertiliser.

Fertilising pasture without first assessing the soil's requirements may result in expenditure on inappropriate or unnecessary applications, which could detrimentally affect pasture. Overuse of fertiliser leads to a loss of native grasses and plants, which support wildlife. The growth of dominant grasses, at the expense of native species, leads to a loss of biodiversity. Organic compound fertilisers (e.g. farmyard manure) contain a variety of nutrients which are released slowly into the soil over a long time period, resulting in steady grass growth. In addition, the organic matter improves soil condition.
In contrast, in-organic fertilisers (either straights or compound) are released rapidly into the soil. This can lead to rich lush grazing that is unsuitable for horses and ponies as it can cause growth disorders, digestive problems and laminitis. Semi-organic fertilisers combine the positive benefits of in-organic fertilisers by allow accurate rates of nitrogen, phosphate and potash to be applied in accordance with soil analysis results, but with the advantage of being released slowly into the soil due to the organic content. The use of organic fertiliser should be favoured when possible, but when soil test results identify a particular element requirement, a semi-organic fertiliser may be used as a compromise.

Agricultural suppliers' details can be found in local directories and they often carry out soil analysis. They may visit pasture to take a sample, or give you guidance and ask you to provide a sample ready for testing. Home-testing kits are also available from some agricultural merchants and garden centres. If you discover that a fertiliser application is necessary and you need the services of an agricultural contractor, remember to make contact early in advance to discuss your land's requirements.

Permanent grasslands that have not been 'improved' in the past (for example through reseeding, drainage work or the application of artificial fertilisers) are an important landscape feature and provide a valuable wildlife habitat. Such pastures are in decline across Surrey, but through careful management horse-keepers can play a role in maintaining any existing unimproved grassland they control, and ensuring other grassland is not unnecessarily improved. Maintaining low grazing pressure and rotating grazing areas may allow permanent pastures to remain productive without the use of fertiliser.

Harrow and Roll Pasture

Harrowing and rolling are best carried out in March but only when the ground conditions are dry enough for a tractor to pass without causing damage.

Harrowing pulls up thatch (dead grass), optimising the space for healthy grass. It also aerates the soil, helping drainage and increasing the nutrients and water available to assist grass growth. Rolling will help to level any areas that have become uneven due to hoof damage during the winter. It will also push stones that have surfaced into the ground and ensure grass roots are able to obtain nutrients from the soil to encourage growth. T

By promoting tillering (new grass shoots), harrowing and rolling can help improve the sward density, reducing the opportunity for undesirable weeds to invade pasture.

However, rolling should not be overdone as this can lead to soil compaction, inhibited drainage, increased surface run-off and reduced grass growth.
The timing of harrowing and rolling is important; if it is left until late spring or early summer, there is a risk that the nests of ground-nesting birds will be destroyed, so plan to harrow and roll as soon as ground conditions allow. Harrowing late is also likely to damage new grass growth.


Monitor Grass Growth Rate

Whilst the majority of horse-keepers welcome spring grass growth, vigilance is necessary to prevent laminitis which is known to be triggered by fructans
- water-soluble carbohydrates - that are present in grass. Traditional meadow grasses are best for horses and ponies susceptible to laminitis, as they tend to contain less fructans. However, levels can still elevate quickly when grass becomes stressed, for example as a result of drought or frost. Grass stores higher levels of fructans in stems than in leaves. Mechanically topping grass or grazing during the growing season with sheep increases the leaf to stem ratio and therefore decreases the fructans available to grazing horses and ponies. All horse and pony keepers should be aware of grass growth rates and animal intakes and be prepared to adapt management routines according to individual needs.

Year-round care

Tasks such as the removal of droppings from pasture must be carried out throughout the year. This helps to reduce the pasture's - and therefore horse's - parasite burden and prevents rank patches of grass forming, which can lead to a reduction in the amount of pasture actually grazed. A horse weighing 450kg will produce about 20kg of droppings per day, equating to approximately 9 tonnes per year. If the horse is turned out for just half the day, 4 ½ tonnes of droppings will be deposited in his paddock each year! If removal by hand into a wheelbarrow is impractical, consider investing in an ATV (All Terrain Vehicle) and trailer to reduce the work involved. Paddock sweepers and hoovers are also available to assist with the removal of droppings from pasture.

Grassland monitoring should incorporate safety checks throughout the year, to ensure pasture fences, hedgerows, etc have not been damaged and to check for potentially harmful objects such as dropped litter as well as natural problems like rabbit holes and poisonous plants.

Avoid intensively grazing or overstocking - not only do overgrazed paddocks look awful but the quality of pasture is reduced as weeds replace grass. The environment progressively becomes less healthy for horses as the parasite burden increases, the feed value of grazing decreases and problems such as mud fever arise. The British Horse Society recommends 1-2 acres (0.4-0.8 ha) of pasture for each horse during the summer. However, the horse or pony's individual needs (depending on age, type, size, workload, management, appetite, health and condition) will impact on the grazing requirement, as will the grazing particulars (e.g. grass species, stage of growth, soil type, drainage, fertility, climate and weather conditions).