Pasture management

Frost seeding forages into established pastures

Frost seeding can be an effective, low-cost method to introduce new forage species into an existing sod.
Fertilizing horse pastures and hayfields

Proper soil fertility is one of the key factors in maximizing forage production in both pastures and hay fields.
Boost pasture productivity

Divide your pasture into several small paddocks to make it more productive.
Can diseased horses graze?

Some horses may have problems with the sugars in fresh grass.
Common Minnesota horse pasture grass and legume species

Perennial, cool-season pasture species (916 K PDF)
Cool-season perennial grasses for horse pastures

Planting proper forages to maximize horse preference (530 K PDF)
Drought and frost concerns

These conditions affect the composition of plants.
Fall pasture to-do list

Give your pasture a boost for next year.

Fertilizing your pasture

Test the soils and be careful with timing.
Managing established horse pastures

How to manage pasture throughout the grazing season
Pasture site planning

Planning ahead is key.
Spring pasture to-do list

7 steps to a great looking pasture
Taking a pasture soil sample

Soil testing should be done every 3 years.
Transitioning horses to spring pasture

Wait until grasses reach 6 to 8” in height.

Weeds

Black walnut

Black walnut shavings should not be used in horse bedding.
Chokecherry

Chokecherry contains deadly cyanide.
Endophyte-infected tall fescue

Toxic, though endophyte-free fescue is fine.
Field horsetail and brakenfern

Both contain thiaminase activity.
Grass pasture weed control

The first step is correct identification.
Hoary alyssum

Hay containing 20% or more hoary alyssum should not be fed to horses.
Maple

Keep branches out of reach of horses.
Mouth blisters

Can be caused by foxtail, sandbur, and ticklegrass
Oak

Buds and green acorn hulls are especially toxic.

Plants commonly found in established Minnesota horse pastures

See a sample of this publication and purchase it in the Extension store.
Plants that cause death

Foxglove, rhododendron, oleander, Japanese yew
Poison hemlock and waterhemlock

While horses do not find these plants particularly palatable, they are dangerous when accidentally ingested.
Poisonous plants

Proper identification and avoidance of these plants
Tall and smallflower buttercup

Toxic when eaten fresh in pasture.
Weed identification and control

Identifying and controlling annuals, biennials, and perennials
Weed seeds

Common in "bin run", unblown, or unscreened oats.
White snakeroot

Toxic when eaten fresh and when dried.
Wild parsnip

Seeds, fresh plant, and dried plant are all toxic.