Rotational Grazing horses

[dragonmorgan]

How hard is it to rotational graze horses? We plan on rotational grazing our cows with fescue, Kentucky blue grass, the bahia that already grows in our fields, and sowing in clover and alphalpha. We will supplement hay and grain in the winter if we need to but is it possible to go the summer on just grass for the horses?

 

[secuono]

Mine do. So yes. But if your horses are not easy keepers, then you will need to add hay or even grain. Only time will tell.
Using electric wire is the easiest way to rotate horses if you don't already have solid fencing.

 

[Oakroot]

Keep in mind that fescue toxicity can be a problem for horses if you plan to breed.

 

[secuono]

Keep in mind that fescue toxicity can be a problem for horses if you plan to breed.

Clover can also cause wonky issues because of the fungus that grows on it. No?
Mine drooled last year, this year they had swellings from it. Really odd stuff...

Electric fence will be cheapest and easiest to use. Just make a bunch of rectangles with posts and wire. Add a gate from one to the next in each section. Then toss on an energizer. When you need to move the horses, open a gate, run them in and close it.

 

[promiseacres]

mine get "limited" grazing, in a dry lot at night, during the summer they only get 3-4 hrs (minis) our pens are set up so it's pretty easy to move them pen to pen, but sometimes I walk them with a halter. I have 2 ~1acre pastures would like to divide them more b/c the minis still pick their spots to eat and leave other spots long.
It's pretty easy just getting into a routine, they come back to the dry lots for a bit of grain.

 

[Oakroot]

I have never heard of problems with clover. The only fungus issue know of is ergot poisoning with rye and Sudan grasses.

 

[goodhors]

I have never heard of problems with clover. The only fungus issue know of is ergot poisoning with rye and Sudan grasses.

Clover left tall, can get a problem to horses by giving them slobbers. This is shown by excessive drooling of saliva, literally
running out of their mouths. You can clear it up by just taking horses off the grazing of clover for a couple days. However,
if horses go back to grazing clover, they will get the slobbers again. Here is an explanation of what takes place:

"Slaframine poisoning (Slobbers) (Figure 1) should be considered, especially in a cooler and wetter spring or fall. Spring and fall provide ideal environmental conditions for the proliferation of clovers in pastures. The cooler wet conditions are also ideal for the growth of the fungus Rhizoctonia leguminicola, commonly known as black patch. The fungus infects red clover (Trifolium pratense), white clover (Trifolium repens), alsike clover (Trifolium hybridum) and alfalfa. The name black patch' is derived from the bronze to black spots or rings observed on the leaves and stems (2). Rhizoctonia leguminicola produces the mycotoxin slaframine or slobber factor. It can be present on both pasture and in stored dry hay. The fungus persists on infected fields from year to year. Slaframine can be active in stored hay for 10 months or more; however, its biological activity does decrease."

Here is the site I pulled that from, Dept of Ag in Ontario.

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/horses/facts/info_slobbers.htm

Another problem with clover is horses developing photosensitivity. This means that their white places will react
to sunshine, causing oozing of serum if horses are outside exposed to sunshine. No cure for it, stay sensitive
to light the rest of their life. You can "deal with it", but horse needs that extra daily attention to keep from
getting oozy which is a real mess.

http://www.agry.purdue.edu/ext/forages/Forage_Issues/clover_horses.htm

I have had good luck here with clovers in pasture, by keeping our pastures mowed, so height is always
between 5 and 8 inches. If it gets up taller than the 8 inches, I mow the fields. This lets the clovers dry out
fast in the AM, prevents problems by not making a damp place for bad stuff to survive. I need some clover
for grazing, it may be almost the only green stuff in our drought time. Just that keeping it short and open,
seems to remove the problem issues of using it.

This mostly covers the problem of having fescue in pasture for broodmares, the problems it causes.

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/horses/facts/info_ergot_alkaloid.htm

I won't plant fescues, since we do breed for a foal now and then. You can take the mares off grazing,
keep them dry lotted and feed hay before delivery, if fescue is in your fields.

READ THE LABEL on your seeds. I want no Rye, no fescues, little to no alfalfa in the mixes I buy. I do
need a MIXED seed, so we have something growing all season long. Bluegrass is great, but does best in
cooler temp of spring and fall, doesn't grow in summer heat of Michigan. So heat time grasses, Timothy,
Orchard, are what I am grazing and mowing during late June, July. I want something growing in all
our grazing seasons, so mixed seed is the best for your pasture money.