Moving forward into winter months, many horse pastures have become overgrazed. If you have a pasture that is over-grazed, resting it for the remainder of the year will give the grass a chance to store up nutrients for next year, and the pasture will be healthier in the spring.
Pasture rest - Good for horses
Late fall is a good time to give horse pastures a rest and to take steps to fertilize and prepare to reseed for a great pasture next year.
Keeping horses on the same pasture over winter causes damage to plants. So, keep horses in a sacrifice lot where they have access to hay, water and shelter.
Many horse owners reseed their pastures in the fall, but if you haven't reseeded going into the winter months, you can start thinking of frost seeding about the end of winter or early spring.
Frost seeding or inter-seeding pastures in early spring works best if you begin in the fall by weakening the existing grass stand by allowing some by overgrazing which then allows the frost seeded species to reach the soil and to make the new seedlings more competitive in the spring.
It is a good idea to use compost or a commercial fertilizer and drag manure piles inyo your pasture during the next few months. Testing your soil first will determine how much amd what kinds of fertilizer you need for best pasture growth.
Often only nitrogen is needed in pastures since manure provides quite a bit of phosphorus and potassium. You can control perennial weeds with an herbicide by applying it now during the early winter months. Perennial plants are storing nutrients for winter in their roots now, and as the nutrients go into the roots, so will the herbicide, giving the best change for a successful kill.
If you are going to fertilize your pastures with manure, sample the manure first so you know how much you should spread. Spread manure on your pastures only if you have some place else to move your horses. Remember, spreading additional manure on your pasture can result in greater chances of parasite exposure.
Now is the time to make sure all fences are in good shape before the wind and snow flies. Pay special attention to temporary electric fence (ribbons, wires and string) and replace any broken posts before they are frozen into the ground then they cannot be fixed.
Frosted grass can cause digestive up-sets to horses, so it is important to take horses off the pasture during early frosts. In addition, hoof traffic after a frost can damage grasses. Make sure the grass in the sacrifice lot areas you set up for your horses thaws for the day before putting your horses in the pasture.