To buy a copy of our advisory 2012 Horse Pasture calendar please visit the Horse Pasture Management Calendar page.

Grass growth is continuing well into autumn. This is advantageous as winter approaches as the grass coverage will protect the ground. As long as there is a combination of sun and rain, the grass will continue to grow. However, horse-keepers need to be prepared for grass growth rates to slow down once hard frosts fall and the soil temperature drops. Now is a good time to check water pipes are adequately protected from frost!

Ragwort rosettes are quite prominent in paddocks at the moment as they too have benefitted from the good growing conditions. Remove rosettes as you notice them and remember that ragwort is poisonous at all stages of growth, dead and alive. The ground is soft now so digging is easy and roots are more likely to be removed intact on smaller plants with less established root systems. More information about ragwort can be found on the Ragwort webpage.

Autumnal weather will bring acorns down to the ground: remember they are poisonous to horses so areas by oak trees should either be fenced off at this time of year or acorns should be regularly raked up. More information on acorns can be found below.

This is an important time to make sure preparation for the winter season is complete. The following advice should put you on course to start next spring with healthy pasture, horses and ponies. Bear in mind that physical land management will be dependent on weather and ground conditions: only take vehicles onto grassland when the ground is sufficiently dry, so that machinery does not cause damaging compaction, ruts or loss of grass cover.

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The optimum height for good grass growth is 5cm (2-3 ins). In some circumstances, grass can be kept at this height as a result of careful grazing management. In other circumstances, topping is required. This length of grass, combined with the tillering effect topping causes, will protect the ground from hoof damage. However, it is important to leave a strip of grass around pasture boundaries which is not subject to regular cutting to provide a wildlife corridor and habitat.

Be aware of the grass growth rate: an 'autumn flush' presents a laminitis risk period. Grass produces fructans - water-soluble carbohydrates - which are known to trigger laminitis. Traditional meadow grasses are best for laminitis-susceptible horses and ponies, as they tend to contain less fructans. However, levels can still elevate quickly when grass becomes stressed, for example due to frost or drought. More fructans are stored in grass stems than in the leaves. Topping or grazing with sheep increases the leaf to stem ratio and therefore decreases the fructans available to grazing horses or ponies. For more information on laminitis and grassland management, please refer to the Grassland and Laminitis page. All horse and pony keepers should be aware of grass growth rates and animal intakes and be prepared to adapt management routines according to individual needs. For more information, please refer to the Grassland Managementadvice page.

Harrow and Roll

Harrowing when the ground is dry enough in October will pull up dead grass, optimising the space for new grass growth. It will also aerate the soil to assist grass growth and help drainage.

Rolling afterwards will help level uneven areas, push stones into the ground and ensure that grass roots are able to obtain nutrients from the soil to promote growth. By encouraging dense grass growth, harrowing and rolling can help reduce the opportunities for weeds to invade pasture. However, rolling should not be overdone (especially on clay soils) as this can lead to soil compaction, causing inhibited drainage and grass growth.

Rotate and Rest Land

The benefits of rotating and resting grazing throughout the year cannot be over-emphasised! Rotational use of pasture prevents overuse of land and allows pasture to recover naturally. It allows optimum use to be gained from the land, without overly depleting natural resources. It becomes especially important during colder weather when grass growth slows down and rainfall increases. Paddocks which are grazed year-round without rest suffer from depleted soil nutrients and easily become overgrazed and poached by horses' hooves. Poaching is detrimental to equine health as standing in wet conditions softens the skin and bacterial infections such as mud fever can easily occur. Pasture suffers as grass roots and the soil structure become extensively damaged resulting in a loss of grass species, an increase in weed coverage and a visual eyesore within the landscape. Repair work becomes necessary following the winter to level-off poached areas with machinery, reintroduce grass by reseeding and allow re-establishment through an extended rest period.

The length of time paddocks are grazed and rested for will be determined by individual circumstances, e.g. acreage available, stocking rate, equine feed requirements, land productivity etc. Rest periods may differ throughout the year, in line with seasonal grass growth patterns. Parasite burdens can be broken by resting land for a minimum of 6 months (depending on the time of year), but in many circumstances resting land for so long is not practical on other grounds. More information on controlling parasite burdens can be found on the Wormingadvice pages. If possible, during very wet weather reduce damage to pasture by grazing for shorter periods than normal.

Prevention is better than cure: stock appropriately; rotate and rest grazing and monitor carefully.

Check and Repair Fencing

A thorough fencing check will highlight any damaged areas or potential weak spots which could present danger to grazing horses and ponies. As the ground becomes softer, this is the ideal time to carry out repairs involving driving fence posts into the ground. Again, care will have to be taken not to damage the ground with machinery.

Remember to use dark coloured materials, which are less intrusive in the landscape and consider the strength, safety, longevity and security offered by different types of materials and styles of fencing. For more information please refer to the Fencing advice page.

Protect Trees and Hedges

Check trees and hedgerows are protected from grazing animals. Trees and hedgerows in or surrounding pasture provide valuable shade and shelter for grazing animals whilst screening development and enhancing the larger landscape. In addition, mature native trees and hedgerows provide a habitat, corridor and food source for wildlife. However, sometimes horses strip bark and eat leaves and twigs causing damage to trees and hedgerows and possibly even harming themselves, especially if the species is known to be poisonous. Fencing around trees and hedgerows provides protection for the trees and hedgerows, prevents equine access to harmful trees and hedgerows and enforces field perimeters. Remember to leave an adequate gap between trees and hedgerows and fencing, to allow for growth and to make sure horses cannot reach over the top! Fence rails (and other fencing materials) should never be nailed directly onto a tree. For more information, please refer to the Trees and Hedges advice page.

Trees require little maintenance but should be checked regularly for signs of ill health, damage or dead wood, especially if they are by a building or highway. Dead wood is a valuable resource for wildlife ranging from mosses and lichens to insects, so stack a few fallen or removed branches on ungrazed land to benefit wildlife.

Remember that acorns contain toxic tannins so horses must not be able to have access to acorns on branches or on the ground. Acorns are believed to be most harmful when green, but it is advisable to keep all acorns out of reach of horses. Be aware that some horses have been known to develop a liking for the bitter taste of acorns and to actively seek them out in pasture.

Are you planning to plant a hedge? Trees are best planted between October and March, but not on days when the ground is frozen or waterlogged. Select native species of British provenance (e.g. hawthorn, blackthorn etc.) which are suited to your particular soil type and landscape and which will support local wildlife. Look at neighbouring countryside to see what native trees are growing well, to find suggestions of species which are suited to the local soil type and ground conditions. Avoid poisonous and non-native species, such as Leylandii.

Year-round care

Tasks such as the removal of droppings from pasture must be carried out as often as possible throughout the year. This helps to reduce the pasture's - and therefore horse's - parasite burden and prevents rank patches of grass forming, which can lead to a reduction in the amount of pasture actually grazed. A horse weighing 450kg will produce about 20kg of droppings per day, equating to approximately 9 tonnes per year. If the horse is turned out for just half the day, 4½ tonnes of droppings will be deposited in his paddock each year! If removal by hand into a wheelbarrow is impractical, consider investing in an ATV (All Terrain Vehicle) and trailer to reduce the work involved. Paddock sweepers and hoovers are also available to assist with the task.

Grassland monitoring should incorporate daily checks throughout the year to: observe grass growth rates; ensure pasture fences, hedgerows, etc have not been damaged; check for potentially harmful objects such as dropped litter as well as natural problems like rabbit holes and poisonous plants; check water supplies. For more information on safety, please refer to the Equipment and Vehicle Storage and Safety advice page.

Avoid intensively grazing or overstocking - not only do overgrazed paddocks look awful but the quality of pasture is reduced as weeds replace grass. The environment progressively becomes less healthy for horses as the parasite burden increases, the feed value of grazing decreases and problems such as mud fever arise. The British Horse Society recommends 1-2 acres (0.4-0.8 ha) of pasture for each horse during the summer. However, a greater acreage is often required, depending on the horse or pony's individual needs (depending on age, type, size, workload, management, appetite, health and condition) and the grazing particulars (e.g. grass species, stage of growth, soil type, drainage, fertility, climate and weather conditions).