Equine Grassland Management

It is believed that wild horses, roaming freely, could forage for different plant species that would naturally provide them with the macro and micro nutrients that they needed to maintain good health. 

Due to a number of factors such as the popularity of ryegrasses and overgrazing due to lack of space, the diversity of species and consequently the nutritive value in swards has declined.  It has become increasingly popular to address the shortfalls in the pasture by feeding concentrates and supplements, but this is not always the healthiest option for the horse or for your bank balance!  

There are a number of health issues that can be directly related to pasture management, nutritional content of the  pasture and time spent eating grass or conserved grass (hay or haylage). These include laminitis, developmental  orthopaedic disease, gastric ulcers, colic, respiratory diseases, mud fever, and wormer resistance. By getting the right mix of grass and herb species for your land and your horse’s needs, the aim is for your horse to gain the majority,  if not all, of its nutritional requirements from forage, relying  less on concentrates and spending more time out in the field  whatever the weather.

This course will cover the forage plants for grazing and haymaking that suit your soil type and system, managing pasture with limited space and extending the grazing season.  We will explore the horse health benefits that different species can offer and learn how to analyse existing pasture so we can plan when and how to start making changes. 

We will be joined by Emma Briggs who will be talking about different types of hay and haylage and how to asses quality. Teresa Hollands (via video link) who will be talking about the nutritional needs of different horses and the Cotswold Seeds team who will be able to advise on establishment and management of the sward. 

This course is designed for horse owners, stud managers, yard managers, vets and students.

Tickets include refreshments and a seasonal lunch from the FarmED Kitchen.

This is a full-day course running from 10am to 4.30pm.

Tiered Pricing

Delivery of our mission is a collective effort and our values embrace inclusivity and diversity. We don’t want price to be a barrier to anyone visiting FarmED or attending our events.

FarmED Bursary

If cost is a barrier to you attending, then please do ask us for financial support. The FarmED Bursary offers free or subsidised places to those that will benefit most.

GREAT Farmers

As part of the GREAT project (see www.greatglos.co.uk) we can offer subsidised places to existing and aspiring farmers, growers and advisers in Gloucestershire to the suite of regenerative agriculture and agroecological transition courses at FarmED. To book, please select the Discounted Ticket option below. You will be asked for a few eligibility details including evidence of your involvement in regenerative agriculture and your potential impact in Gloucestershire.

We like to take photos and occasionally videos of our events to use on our website and social media, please let us know if you do not want to be photographed.

Cancellation Policy

We understand that there may be times where you need to cancel your booking.  Our cancellation policy is outlined here.