Horse World

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A horse that is pastured has special needs that the owner needs to be prepared to have ready for the horse before purchasing the horse.

The owner needs to be sure the horse has all of his vaccinations in order, that there is worming medicine on hand, that there is a plentiful water supply available to the horse at all times, and that the owner can give the horse protection from flies such as a fly mask with ear protectors.

Horses require a lot of fresh water daily. An average horse goes through 25 to 30 gallons of water each day. There are some horses that will not drink from ponds or streams so you will need to be sure to have a water trough available.

Horses need a balanced nutritious diet. Just because the horse is pastured does not mean that all of the nutritional needs will be met by the pasture grasses.

You may likely have to supplement with hay or concentrates, especially during the winter months or during times of drought. Older horses and horses who perform heavy workloads often cannot maintain their weight on pasture grasses alone.

It is really important that the horse have shelter from inclement weather such as rain and wind and too much sun. Tree may offer some protection but they still should have some sort of additional protection such as a lean-to or an overhang.

It is imperative that the fencing be inspected on a regular basis for any loose boards, nails, posts or any wiring that needs repairing. Horses by nature, will find anything that is available to hurt themselves on.

Remove any barbed wire from any fencing where horses can come into contact with it. A horse can sustain serious injuries from barbed wire; it can even kill a horse if the horse tries to jump over it or if it tries to run through the barbed wire.

During the rainy season there most be plenty of high, dry ground so that the horse will not have to stand in mud or water that can damage hooves and legs.

Most counties have regulations regarding how many horses you can keep per acre. You can contact your local agriculture extension agent for information and recommendations.

If you over-stock your pasture it may cause soil erosion, which will then lead to overgrazing and bare spots, which then increases the risk for parasites, which may lead to parasitic infections for the horses.

Horses are herd animals and need other horses for companionship. Make sure that the horses are compatible.

All pastured horses need regular de-worming.

Test the pasture soil on a yearly basis to check to see if you need to fertilize to maintain the health of the grass. To prevent weeds from spreading keep the pasture mowed to a reasonable height. This also increases the horse’s grazing.

To help keep the grasses growing, irrigate the pasture whenever necessary.

Previous Articles By This Author

• Buying Your First Horse
• Equipment for Horses
• Basics of Horse Care
• Grooming your Horse
• The History of Horses