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`� Manure and Pasture Management for Recreational Horse Owners Page 8 of410 ' <br /> mid-June Apply supplemental nitrogen (grass pastures) <br /> early July Cut weeds and mature plants <br /> mid-August Apply supplemental nitrogen (grass pastures) <br /> September Cut or spray perennial weeds <br /> September/October Let plants recover <br /> winter Snow cover <br /> Frequently Asked Questions About Pastures <br /> How much pasture should I allow per horse? <br /> Stocking rates depend on your horses' feed needs and the pasture's yield. As a <br /> general rule, horses eat about 1 to 2 percent of their body weight per day in the <br /> form of pasture forage. Assume that a 1,000 pound horse will eat about 15 to <br /> 20 pounds of pasture forage per day. <br /> Stocking rates of one horse per two to four acres may be easily achieved with a <br /> little attention to fertility, weeds, and forage mix. Higher rates could result in <br /> the horses trampling much of the pasture and damaging forage. However, well- <br /> managed pastures (those with adequate fertility, few weeds, and the <br /> appropriate plant mix) can be rotationally grazed at higher stocking rates. <br /> What should I do about uneven graaing? <br /> Since horses selectively graze younger pasture plants, you may need to clip the <br /> mature grasses and legumes still standing after the horses have grazed the <br /> pasture to induce them to regrow. Allowing the ungrazed plants to remain <br /> standing without clipping could stunt the regrowth of the other forages by <br /> shading them out. If you need to clip your pastures, leave a four-inch stubble. <br /> Clipping the pasture too frequently will encourage short, less productive forages <br /> such as bluegrass. <br /> How can I renovate existing pasture? <br /> An overgrazed, underfertilized, weedy pasture will become more productive <br /> when managed effectively. One of the most common ways to renovate existing <br /> pastures is to directly seed legumes into the standing forages. You can do this <br /> by scattering the seeds on the soil surface, interseeding with a conventional <br /> grain drill; or interseeding with a heavy grain or no-till drill. Some county soil <br /> http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/naturalresources/components/7540_OS.html 1/15/2013 <br />