How much grazing per horse?

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Bright_Spark

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Having a brain freeze moment!

What's the general rule of thumb for the ideal amount of grazing per horse?

Say for a TB type living out all year (rugged and ad-lib hay/haylege in winter) if that helps.

Thanks in advance :)
 
It really depends on the ground and type of grass. If it was well draining, good quality grass you may get away with a couple of acres. If it was clay soil that bogs easily and poor quality grass you may need quite a bit more. more.
 
I thought it was 2 acres per horse and 1 acre for each additional horse. I have 4 acres for my two and when we had no rain and the grass wasn't growing, I was struggling with that.
 
As honey says, it really depends on the land;

I have 5 and half acres for twonatives, they live out and I don't touch at least 3 acres of that! they live on quarter of an acre spring/summer/early autumn ( track system ) while the rest is cut for hay ( neighbour buys it off me ), then they have about 2 acres for winter.

I think 2 and half to 3 acres would be more than enough, you shouldn't need to feed hay at all if its managed well.
 
i have 3 acres for 2 horses (15.2 and 16.2) and have more than enough (but this is pure grazing) we have other facilities for schooling.
 
Its BHS 1 1/2 acres for the first horse and 1 acre for every horse add.Thats what i go by

Tho does depend on ground and grazing and how its looked after we use 2 fields and rest 2 each pair is just over 3 acres we have 6 horses grazing on its sometimes 7 they are part livery thus not out 24 hours we de poo have the fields fert weedkilled and harrowed . doing this we also have got the other two growing for hay in past we got 280 bales from the 3 acres. at present time we have two much grass the top field is long enough for hay but no 1 will hay it for us so horses will eat it in time
 
I go by the BHS. We have 5 acres and four horses. I would like more though as then i could make haylage and the ground wouldnt get so trashed in the winter. Also i would be able to leave them out 24/7/35 But it is still a pretty good guide line. The ground we have is clay so they cant live out in the worst months (dec,jan,feb) and i keep them in over night.
 
I have 3-4 acres and graze a big 16.2 a 15hh and a shetland. Its far far too much grass! i have split it into 3 and they struggle to keep that down!
I dont think i will be complaining its too big come winter tho.

I think the rule is 1.5 for horse no1 and 1 acre for each additional horse.
 
Theoretically shouldn't be possible 7 horses on 3. 1/2 acres but we have ex grazing each pair field has 2 or 3 months between horses grazing . we spent 700 on land management at least we have very few weeds. And as our field guy said you have to look after and feed your fields if you want it to feed your horses even the front field which is an acre has so much grass on it the 3 animals have to were grazing muzzles .
here are our resting field way to much grass
 
Brilliant, thanks everyone :D

My TB and cob filly are not on a lot atm, and there was just enough for the winter, so I'm looking around for extra grazing. I'll go by the BHS view as sounds like that will be fine, and know what is the smallest I can have.

Field I want to enquire about is about 6 acres and looks like good grazing, so that should be more that enough, even if I split it down. I'm thinking of trying a track system too.

Fingers crossed I can have the field, or find something else :)
 
If you can find a farmer or land management guy to help with the maintenance. They are worth their weight in gold

we are VERY lucky Arthur has looked after our fields since before we bought the place , he says we spend more money on it than previous, since we bought land very few docks remain nettles we strim ragwort we pull. Grass has improved incredibly he comes in march to look at ground , this is when he decides on condition of ground and what it needs then he uses the fertilizer he knows it needs and how much what weedkiller also he rolls it in april/may time before he does anything, we depoo 365 days. Result is grazing which feeds our horses well and plenty of it .
 
Thank you, I shall certainly keep that in mind when I find somewhere. I will do all ragwort removal etc myself, but it sounds beneficial to have a professional be involved too.
 
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