Overview:
- This farm is just in its beginning and planning
stages.
- The farm consists of 19 acres which is broken up into
pasture land and wooded land.
- They would like to attract four boarders this year
and eventually have 12 horses on the property.
- They are not going to focus on riding disciplines but
just that there farm is going to try for a natural approach, which
means no stabling, wooded land for shelter, and pasture for nutrition.
Management Practices:
- When they moved to their land, the land was heavily
farm. They have now re-seeded that land to start pasture land.
- They plan to drag and mow the pastures for parasite,
fertilization, and weed control.
- The pasture has been seeded with 50 percent bran
grass, 40 percent orchard grass, and the rest alfalfa.
- The plan is to bale their own hay for winter
nutrition.
- There is a small creek that runs through a corner of
their wooded property. The horses won't go near this.
- They have a rich clay soil that is very fertile.
- Guinea hens have been purchased to eat the fly larvae
and keep parasites under control.
- Horses will also be put on a worming schedule.
Environmental Considerations
- The reason for their 'natural' approach is that it is
better for the environment as well as the horses that live on the
healthier land.
- Once again, manure was sited as a big management
issue that has to be dealt with.
- They are also concerned with pasture management and
making sure that the field cover doesn't get eaten down too far and the
amount of horses per acreage stays so that the pasture can stay viable.
- They don't like to see horses in small dirt paddocks.
- Their approach keeps horses on fresh pasture versus
dry hay.
- Also believe that horses do better in small social
groups rather than large and that they are happier out in the natural
elements.
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Future Pasture and Wooded Shelter
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