Those with horses on their property (Black Forest: home, high school, fencing)

[arzoo4250]

We've always had our horses boarded out and are now planning a move to COS where more than likely we'll FINALLY be able to have them at home with us. My question is regarding grazing/feeding. I noticed how GREEN this time of year is in COS and we saw lots of horses out grazing as we drove around the Black Forest area. Do you guys allow them to just graze all the time or do you have to minimize it due to the richness of the grass? Do you have to supplement?

Any info is greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by arzoo4250

We've always had our horses boarded out and are now planning a move to COS where more than likely we'll FINALLY be able to have them at home with us. My question is regarding grazing/feeding. I noticed how GREEN this time of year is in COS and we saw lots of horses out grazing as we drove around the Black Forest area. Do you guys allow them to just graze all the time or do you have to minimize it due to the richness of the grass? Do you have to supplement?

Any info is greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

We're not horse owners (but play one on TV!). The green this year is not the usual, we've had a lot of rainfall.

We back up to a plot of land where Kettle Creek Ranch runs a horse boarding operation, up near Pine Creek High School. The horses are out grazing every day on the 200 or so acres he has access to, but he supplements them with feed.

[lalahartma]

The grass is not very rich and really does not last too long. We've been fortunate with our early rain this year...it has been far more green than I've seen it in 5 years.

Unless one has very easy keepers and quite a bit of land, most people need to supplement the grazing with hay or grain.

[beezle1]

We have 5 acres in Black Forest, and 3 horses. Yes, we have nice grass this year, but this it not always the case. For our horses, starting in about late March, just as I see hints of grass coming in, I take my horses off the pasture, not for their sake, but for the sake of the pasture. I keep them off for at least 2 months until the grass has a chance to come in nicely, then I put them out on it VERY gradually. I start by hand grazing for about 15 minutes a day, and increase by about 15 minutes every few days. Ideally, I end up having them out there for a max of 8 hours a day. I have some alternate areas that I put the horses out in where I put up temporary fencing too - white electric fence tape - not hot (but don't tell them!).

I also feed hay, and I usually count 4 hours in the pasture as the equivalent of a flake of hay.

[SpringsGuy83]

I have a property east of town, and I let my neighbors horses graze pretty much constantly. I've had horses of my own, and it was the same with them.