Equine Pasture Links & Resources

A good pasture will meet the nutritional needs of most horses including brood and lactating mares and growing foals, although working horses may require some supplementation.

However, the grazing habits of horses require that special
consideration is given to the selection and management of the pasture. Because of New South Wales’ range of soils and rainfall, no single pasture species suits all horse properties. Select pastures suited to your area and then select from these the most suitable for horses.

Suitable species:
-Prairie grass
Prairie grass is very acceptable to horses. Prairie
grass performs well on very fertile soils under
favourable growing conditions. It will not persist
under dry conditions. Some varieties have a longer
growing season and are not as prone to go to seed
as early as the naturalised strain of prairie grass
which starts seeding in August/September.

–Ryegrass
Ryegrass is a lush, desirable, cool season pasture
for horses. It requires high rainfall or irrigation,
good soil fertility, and good grazing management to
persist.

-Phalaris
Phalaris sown with white, red and sub clover
and/or lucerne is quite acceptable for horses. It
must be rotationally grazed to allow seedhead
development in spring and good growth after
autumn breaking rains.

-Cocksfoot
Cocksfoot is more suited to high altitudes. It thrives
in the tableland areas of New South Wales.
Cocksfoot dominant pastures in South Africa have
caused calcium deficiency in horses.

-Kikuyu
Kikuyu is the most common coastal NSW horse
pasture because of its ability to persist. It
contains an oxalate that inhibits the uptake of
calcium. This deficiency can be overcome by
supplementary feeding a calcium supplement
(see below) or by overseeding ryegrass and
clover into the kikuyu in autumn.

-Red clover
Red clover has always been regarded as a most
acceptable clover for horses because of its
summer growth habit. Always select a low
oestrogen variety as infertility has been reported
in broodmares grazing high oestrogen varieties.

-Lucerne
Lucerne is another popular legume for horses,
more suited to non-coastal situations. To increase
persistence and yield it is important that the plants
are not overgrazed. Rotational grazing is especially
important when managing lucerne as it allows the
plant to build up energy reserves and to persist.
Lucerne is susceptible to leaf spot diseases. Mares
grazing lucerne or eating lucerne hay with
excessive leaf spot may have fertility problems