JUNE 2014 THE RIDER /7 The Way of Horses Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & LinkedIn


www.facebook.com/TheRiderNewspaper www.twitter/#!/theridercom


By Eleanor Blazer Copyright @ 2014


Nutrition for Horse Pastures


Just like horses, pas-


tures need proper nutrition. Fertilizer can provide


the nutrients which the soil may be lacking. But, what do the numbers mean? Commercial fertilizer


products will have three numbers, for example: 23- 10-22. The first number represents the nitrogen con- tent; the second the phos- phorus and the third is potassium. Each of these ingredients provides a spe- cific nutrient needed by the plant.


Nitrogen promotes


leaf growth. It stimulates growth of new seedings and assists with re-growth after grazing. Nitrogen is an important component of chlorophyll, which makes the plant green. Phosphorus promotes


root and stem growth. It strengthens the plant. Grass varieties have


fibrous root systems and are able to extract phospho- rus already present in the


soil. Phosphorus will not easily leach from the soil. For these reasons the phos- phorus included in a fertil- izer will have a low num- ber.


Potassium increases


plant vigor and helps main- tain a healthy plant. It aids in the plant’s ability to tol- erate stress (heat, drought, cold and intense grazing). Potassium also helps the plant fight off disease. Potassium is very sol-


uble and will leach from the soil. The amount in a fertilizer mix developed for pasture will be high. A soil test can help


you determine the type and amount of fertilizer needed to provide the lacking nutri- ents.


According to the Ohio


State University Extension, horses do not need to be removed when applying granular fertilizer. Avoid


any spills of fertilizer where a horse could eat enough of the material to be toxic. (OSU does rec- ommend


horses be


removed from the pasture if liquid fertilizer is used - wait until rain washes the fertilizer off plants.) If you have limited a


limited amount of money to spend on pasture manage- ment use that money to insure the pH is correct. Grasses need a pH level of 6.0 to 7.0. No matter how much fertilizer is applied, if the pH is incorrect the plants will not utilize the nutrients in the fertilizer. You will be wasting money on ferilizer if the pH is incorrect. Lime is used to correct a low pH. The best way to know if you need lime is to soil test. Continuous close graz-


ing will kill plants. Horses should be removed from


the pasture when the plants have been grazed to a height of 2 to 2 ½ inches. A minimum of 30 days rest should be allowed for the pasture to recover – this time will be longer if a drought occurs. There’s nothing pretti-


er than watching horses graze on a beautiful pas- ture. Do what you can to keep the plants healthy.


* For information about


caring for and feeding hors- es take the online courses “Stable Management” and “Nutrition for Performance Horses” taught by Eleanor Blazer. Earn certification or work toward a Bachelor of Science degree in equine studies. Go to www.horsec- oursesonline.com for more information. Visit Eleanor’s web


site at www.thewayofhors- es.com


www


.net


2014 Merhow Verylite, 3 hrs, 12’6” LQ, Slide out Dinette, Entertainment PKG, Mangers, Rear tack, Spare tire, Awning, A/C, $63,900


2014 Merhow 2+1, 4’ dress, box stall doors, rear ramp and side ramp, Pass thru door, spare tire $27,995


2014 Merhow 2 horse straight load, rear ramp door, small front dress, spare tire $14,700


$184.00


Monthly


Lakota 2 horse straight load, all aluminum, lined and insulated, 7’6” tall spare tire. Only 1 left!


2014 Corn Pro stock trailers


Merhow 2 horse straight load gooseneck, XL model, All aluminum, Spare tire, dressing room, ramp load, pass thru door, two escape doors. $18,900


2010 Bison, 2 hrs, 6’ LQ, rear tack, awning, A/C, Spare Tire, $22,900


14’ & 16’, starting at $6795


2014 TwiLite Duchess. 2 horse straight load Spare tire. Escape door. LED lights. All aluminum


$193.00 Monthly Financing available


SALES • SERVICE • FINANCING TOLL FREE:


1-800-532-3396 Located on Hwy #7 -


2006 Lakota, 3 hrs, 4’ dress, rear tack. Lots of extras, $16,900


2009 Lakota, 4 hrs, 9’ LQ, Dinette, 2 awnings, mangers, A/C, rear tack, spare tire $40,900


load, ramp, separate dress, spare tire, escape doors, led lights, all aluminum.


2014 Twilite New Yorker, 2 horse straight 2.5 Miles East of Peterborough, ON www.trailersplus.net


$12,500


$10,700


$14,700 $27,995 $63,900


$24,900


$18,900


$13,700 $40,900 $16,900


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64