Suggestions for fencing a 25 acre parcel to maximize grazing and grass recovery?

Equine occupancy averages between 8 %26amp; 12 mares and 2 geldings.


How can I fence this for maximum grazing yield and recovery?|||You would want to set an acre or two for a sacrifice area. This is where you would feed winter hay and where they can get to water. They would always have access to this. I would divide the remaining into 3 sections that branch off the sacrifice pasture, I would rotate the horses through each pasture about every two weeks or less. Then go in and break up the manure piles or remove them in the pasture they just came out of. If you are able it would be good the cut the grass to about 4 inches,mainly to even it out. A rotation like this would keep your grass good and healthy. This way you maximize your grass yield.|||This depends upon if it%26#039;s just additonal grazing along with hay or just turn out. I%26#039;ve NEVER turned a horse out to graze without hay on anything under 100 acres. So, let%26#039;s suppose you%26#039;re going to section it off for excercise and a little grazing with hay fed AM and PM. 12.5 acres wouldn%26#039;t get stomped down into the ground in a month%26#039;s time... 5 acre parcels probably will. I%26#039;ve seen what my own horses (8 at one time) can do to 2.5 acres in a single month and you%26#039;re talking 10-14 head out there. 12.5 acre areas would allow you to turn them out on half while the other half with water and care can regenerate. Just remember to have ample water and salt out in each pasture for your crew.





Best of luck.|||http://www.extension.umn.edu/distributio...





http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/cses/418-101/...





http://www.horsemanshipnz.com/articles/A...





http://www.extension.org/pages/Pastures_...





http://www.3k88.com/pasture.htm











Excellent, informative links relative to your questions.





It isn%26#039;t just in the grazing it%26#039;s also in regrowth patterns of your grass in your pasture.|||You come close to the 2 acre/head forumla. I%26#039;d probably split the two and do a rotation. The key to rotation, when you have adequate ground, is to watch the resting side. When it has grown up to optimal grazing height, move them over even if the other side doesn%26#039;t appear to be completely grazed down. That way it doesn%26#039;t need as much recovery.|||The rule of thumb I have always heard is to split into three parcels for pasture rotation and have one currently in use and two resting. I think that since you will have a good number of horses, that rotation will be really important for you. I could also suggest the book %26quot;Horsekeeping on Small Acreage%26quot; by Cherry Hill. I have not read it myself, but I have some of her other books and I find her to have very practical and sensible solutions.|||I do not know how much money you want to spend. But your choices are 1/2, 3,3, 4/4 and how ever you want or can afford. on a 2/2 you can graze on side and work the other. and switch back when the grass gets short, the same with the other,it just a lot more cost for fencing and posts. 14 head of stock should not over graze a pasture, fertilizer it to push it in the spring, like now.|||i would split in half. rotate usage each month. seems like awful small area for 14 horses.


put in water tubs and keep cleaned between use of fields.


i had two horses on six acres. had it divided into three fields. never had fields wore down. i always heard you needed 2 and a half acres per horse.


so you really need to feed hay in the middle of summer or dry spells to help your fields.


might even let them stay in during day and out at night for flies and heat.


good luck, hope i helped a little.|||are they all going out together? if so you could just split it in 2 but if they are going out in groups you%26#039;ll need 2 paddocks for each group so one can rest while the other is being grazed. creeks don%26#039;t make good water sources. you%26#039;re better off with troughs in each so you can clean them make sure they are drinkin.|||That sounds like a lot of horses for that amount of acreage. I would divide it into at least two pastures and rotate when one of them begins to get grazed down. That way, one pasture can %26quot;rest%26quot; and recover while they graze the other. But, fewer horses or more acreage would certainly help.|||Check google for manageing small acreage with horses...they have awesome detailed explanations...


http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog...|||I%26#039;d split it down the middle and rotate them every 1-2 weeks. Remember mowing the pastures a few times makes them stronger to withstand grazing.|||whats your water point situation?


are they being supplemented?


more information if you please|||you could strip graze it using eletric fencing.