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� Manure and Pasture Management for Recreational Horse Owners Page 6 ofa-10 ' <br /> graze and result in a lot of underutilized <br /> forage requiring clipping or hay making. ., <br /> Lightweight electric fencing consisting of <br /> polywire strung on lightweight plastic or <br /> fiberglass posts work well for dividing a <br /> pasture into paddocks. These materials are <br /> easily connected to perimeter fences and <br /> allow you to modify the paddock size or <br /> shape depending on forage growth. <br /> Species mix. Pastures can provide feed for horses from May through <br /> September. Generally speaking, grasses prosper during the cooler days at the <br /> beginning and end of the growing season, while legumes such as alfalfa and <br /> other clovers are most productive in the warmer, midsummer months. <br /> Additionally, legumes add protein to the pasture's feed value and provide <br /> nitrogen for the grasses through nitrogen fixation. <br /> If you do not choose to devote a high level of management to your pastures, it <br /> may not be worth the extra expense of including legumes. Additionally, the <br /> durability of grasses helps the pasture resist extensive trampling by the horses. <br /> When starting a new pasture, research from the University of Minnesota <br /> suggests the following mix for horses (per-acre basis): <br /> 8 pounds alfalfa <br /> 6 pounds smooth bromegrass <br /> 2 pounds orchard grass <br /> 1/2 pound white clover (if desired) <br /> Close and continuous grazing of pastures with this mix will likely result in the <br /> survival of only bluegrass and thistles. If you choose to allow your horses to <br /> continuously graze the pastures, substitute bluegrass and white clover for <br /> alfalfa. Bluegrass can withstand close grazing and forms a sod that can better <br /> tolerate horses' hooves. <br /> http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/naturalresources/components/7540_OS.html 1/15/2013 <br />