PB1651-Pasture for Horses

Properly managed pastures can provide much of the feed needed by horses, while providing the most natural and healthy environment for exercise and rest. For most classes of horse, a well-managed pasture can provide all of the nutrients needed by the animal. For horses with elevated nutrient requirements (i.e., growth, reproduction, exercise), pasture should be an important part of their nutritional program. Productive pastures can provide an inexpensive, high-quality portion of the horse diet, while a poorly managed pasture will supply limited, low-quality feed. Poorly managed pastures will be unattractive and could potentially be the cause of some health/nutritional problems.