Companion Animals

Horse Pasture Management and Welfare

Pasture quality directly affects horse welfare through nutrition, forage availability, and parasite burden management. Well-managed pasture supports behavioral and physiological welfare.

Key Facts

Horses evolved to graze for 12-16 hours daily over large areas - pasture management should support this
Overgrazing creates pasture horse sickness risk through high sugar grass and parasite concentration
Rotational grazing systems maintain pasture quality and reduce parasite exposure simultaneously
Track or paddock paradise systems provide exercise and foraging opportunities in limited space
Weed management removes toxic plants including ragwort which causes liver failure in horses

Welfare Considerations

Pasture management is a foundation of good horse welfare that encompasses nutrition, behavioral satisfaction, parasite management, and toxic plant control simultaneously. Poor pasture management causes welfare harm through multiple pathways - from laminitis from over-rich spring grass to redworm damage from high-parasite paddocks. The investment in good pasture management returns in improved horse health and welfare.

What You Can Do

Implement rotational grazing to maintain pasture quality and reduce parasite loads
Test pasture grass sugar content and manage access during high-risk spring and autumn periods
Remove ragwort and other toxic plants systematically before seeding
Provide track systems or strip grazing to mimic natural foraging patterns in limited land situations