P3421

Forage Management Considerations for Horses in Mississippi

Three horses graze in a fenced pasture. The area where the horses are grazing has short grass, and other areas have taller grass. — Figure 1. Horses are highly selective when grazing and are destructive to pastures.

The horse population in Mississippi has been estimated at 125,891. An understanding of various aspects of horse care and management is necessary to achieve proper animal welfare while also being cost-efficient. Pasture management considerations should include grazing effects on pasture, potentially toxic plants, pasture rotation schemes, and stocking rates. This publication outlines various management considerations to maximize forage quantity and nutritive value for equine grazing.

Publication 3421 (POD-03-26)

By Clay Cavinder, PhD, Professor, Animal and Dairy Sciences, Courtney Heaton, PhD, former Intermittent Worker, Animal and Dairy Sciences, and Rocky Lemus, PhD, Extension/Research Professor, Plant and Soil Sciences.

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