THE MARYLAND HORSE COUNCIL
Farm Stewardship presented by
Spring Pasture Management by Maryland Department of Agriculture Offi ce of Resource Conservation
MARCH • Acclimate horses to lush spring pastures by allowing them access to pastures for an hour or two during the fi rst few days and then gradually increasing their turnout to full-time over the next 7 days. • Allow horses to graze when pastures show new growth (i.e., “green- up”) and are at a height of 6 inches or more. • Apply composted manure or ⅓ of annual fertilizer amount to pastures that aren’t currently being grazed, following soil test recommendations or your farm’s Nutrient Management Plan. • Move horses from pastures grazed less than 4 inches into rested pas- tures that are at least 6 inches in height. • Drag or harrow pastures to break up manure piles after recent grazing by horses that have been moved to another pasture for grazing. • Check water pipes, gutters, and drain lines for defects and repair. • Contact your local soil conservation district for technical assistance with water management issues on your farm.
APRIL • Continue to manage horses by moving them from a pasture that is grazed to 4 inches to a pasture that is 6 inches in height or more. • Avoid being locked into a pasture sequence if grass height of pasture indicates a diff erent order of rotation.
• Move horses onto the sacrifi ce/loafi ng lot and feed hay if pastures are too wet for grazing. • Inspect pastures at least weekly to monitor forage growth, weed en- croachment, and to inspect fencing and grazing horses. • Control existing weeds with herbicide and frequent mowing to ~4 inches. • Contact your local University of Maryland Extension offi ce to receive help with weed identifi cation and recommendations for their control. • Evaluate grass cover in sacrifi ce/loafi ng lot to begin plans for reseeding of overgrazed and/or bare areas in late summer/fall. • Check for new growth of white clover seeded back in February.
MAY • Mow recently grazed pastures to no lower than 4 inches to maintain vegetative growth and control weeds before they go to seed. • Apply another ⅓ of the recommended annual fertilizer application to pastures. • Delay grazing fertilized or limed pastures until about 0.25 inches of rainfall has fallen. • Evaluate soil erosion in sacrifi ce/loafi ng lot and other heavy use areas (gates, feeders, run-in sheds, waterers). • Contact your local soil conservation district for assistance with soil ero- sion control measures.
Learn more at
MDA.MARYLAND.GOV/HOW Manure Removal & Roll-Off Services
Selling Hay & Straw Round & Square Bales
Offering 10, 15 & 30 Yard Cans For Service Call
www.equiery.com | 800-244-9580
Cory • 301-300-8335 or Bruce • 301-370-7111 THE EQUIERY YOUR MARYLAND HORSE COUNCIL PUBLICATION | MARCH 2025 | 39
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