It's All Connected
I cherish observing the dynamic connections between land, wildlife, and my animals on a daily basis.
For the ninth year now, a pair of killdeer has built a nest in my riding arena. They nest directly under the rails for protection from the sun and rain, and I am happy to sacrifice a small area for a month while the eggs incubate.
Once hatched, the young killdeer migrate to the horse drylot, where it becomes their nursery. Keeping a clean drylot not only promotes the health and well being of my horses, but also the killdeer.
It's
All Connected
I meet with many landowners whose desire to let their horses run “free” across their 20 acres often backfires and results in poor health for both the horse and the land.
I too strive to manage my horses as "naturally" as possible, but the truth is that there is nothing natural about keeping horses on small acreages.
Knowing how to manage resources is the key to sustainability.
Ecology teaches us that everything is connected in one way or another. People, killdeer, horses, and even grass need clean water to thrive.
Best Management Practices
Visit Library & Links page for resources on every topic below.
GOALS
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Identify your goals.
It all starts with developing a clear idea of what you want and aligning that with the number of grazing animals and the amount of acreage you have.
Grazing too many animals can lead to weak grass, weed infestations, soil compaction, and heavier parasite loads.
RESOURCES
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Become more educated about the water, soil, and vegetative resources on your land.
Utilize books, reputable websites, county extension agents, weed districts, or conservation districts to help you.
Carefully consider what you can invest in your land in terms of time and money.
SACRIFICE AREA
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Create a drylot or sacrifice area.
This area is “sacrificed” so the rest of your land can grow grass. It’s a safe place to house animals during wet weather, drought, pasture maintenance, and more.
When designing, consider the number and type of animals, existing infrastructure, special management needs, and ways to encourage movement and provide interest.
Horses in the wild travel 30-40 miles a day. Nothing likes to live in a box. If you are still feeling bad about locking your animals up, get out and exercise them more often!
WISDOM
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Base your management strategies collective knowledge from experience, not feelings.
Many landowners share with me their concern about drylotting animals.
I too wish my horses could be out all the time, but I am keenly aware, and have witnessed, the resulting devastation.
Overgrazing leads to stressed grasses, increased exposure to parasites, soil compaction, soil erosion, weed invasion, and an overall degraded resource.
FARM GRASS
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A healthy stand of grass is your best defense against weeds!
Grass, like all living organisms, has a life cycle. When a pasture is grazed continuously, grass plants don’t have enough time to recover.
Learn more about how grass grows and how to harvest it sustainably.
Know that weeds take advantage of disturbance, and even grazing grass right can give weeds the upper hand.
Learn more about weed ecology to ensure you are effective with your weed management.
OBSERVE
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Make observations, don’t be afraid to experiment, learn from your mistakes, and try new approaches.
Remember you’re working with a dynamic system and conditions change constantly.
Keep records of hay and forage production, soil samples, and hay analyses to track the health of your pastures.
Take photos often. If weeds are invading, reassess and do something different!
Don’t forget to take the time to recognize and celebrate any success. Healthy land = happy horses!