Rangeland improvements

Temporary closure of the range

Taking the horses or other livestock off the range during some part of the growing season will usually benefit the vegetation and improve the range condition. Continuous and intense grazing will gradually reduce plant vigour, root depth and density and lead to spot erosion or more serious forms of erosion. It is therefore advisable to give the range a periodic rest from grazing. The rest will also reduce the risk of parasitic worm infestation, which can have considerable effects on the performance of horses. The risk of infestation is greatest in small, intensely grazed paddocks that should be given a rest in late summer.

It may be advisable to divide the range into sections by fencing. The sections are used at different times during the grazing season. This should improve vegetation utilisation, lighten the pressure of intensely grazed areas and increase grazing in areas less favoured by the horses. The vegetation will also benefit from the periodic rest. In small sections with high stocking rate extra care should be taken as damages to vegetation and soil can occur over a short time.

Grazing of steep slopes or other fragile land with unstable or poor soil and vegetation can lead to considerable damages in a short time, e.g. in early spring or during periods of heavy rainfall. Such areas within the range should be given special attention and care, as they may have to be closed from grazing during parts of the season. Light and moveable electric fences could be used for that purpose.

Where the horses or other livestock is fed during the winter increasing the feeding period and delaying the beginning of grazing on the range will usually improve the condition. The plants will benefit from a shorter grazing period and the quantity of herbage will be greater when the range is opened. With increased quantity of herbage the animals will spend less time grazing which should reduce the pressure on the land.

If there is limited rangeland available for grazing fertiliser application may be considered to improve the condition. Grassland and drained mire vegetation usually show a strong response to fertiliser applications and the growth and herbage biomass may increase considerably. At least 2 weeks should pass from the application until the horses are allowed to graze the fertilised range, as sudden and great changes in herbage quality may have negative effects on the horses. Horse dung in the range may have fertilising effects that may be increased considerably if it is possible to spread them out with a tractor and a clod crusher (drag).

Drainage can affect vegetation composition and production on wet rangelands. Good drainage usually favours grassland vegetation that is preferred by the horses rather than sedges or other wetland plants. It is therefore important to maintain the drainage system on the range. In many areas wetlands have been drained extensively and few unspoiled wetlands remain with their associated wildlife. Therefore conservation value of wet rangelands should be considered before new drainage operations are started.

Within the farmland there may be some unvegetated areas that have been denuded from natural causes or by poor land use. It may be possible to reclaim these areas by seeding and fertilising them, applying manure, spreading old hay over them or even by having feeding stations for livestock on them. If successful this should eventually increase the area available for grazing.

A farmer should generally not keep more horses than is profitable and within the carrying capacity of the available rangeland. High number of horses usually reduces the efficiency of breeding. Where land is limited reduction in the number of horses may be the only option to improve the condition of the rangeland.