Anatomy of the Horse’s Digestive Tract, Part 2: The Small Intestine
The horse's digestive system labelled and explained, with facts, figures and other important information that is relevant to their health. In this three-part series we dissect the equine gastrointestinal (GI) tract to gain a better understanding of the digestive...
Anatomy of the Horse’s Digestive Tract, Part 1: From Mouth to Stomach
The horse's digestive system labelled and explained, with facts, figures and other important information that is relevant to their health. In this three part series we dissect the equine gastrointestinal (GI) tract to gain a better understanding of the digestive...
Horse Weight Calculator
To instantly estimate the weight of your horse, scroll down to use our Horse Weight Calculator There are two ways to calculate the body weight of your horse. The first and most accurate way is to weigh your horse on an equine specific weighbridge, however, many of us...
When the Drought Breaks… Hold Your Horses!
Horse pastures drought recovery After yet another dry and hot year in Australia, most horse owners and farmers are longing for some steady rain to kick-start the growing season and seeing some green and standing grass. And, while nature does seem to restore things in...
Managing and Feeding Horses During Drought
Managing and feeding horses during drought: Drought conditions in various parts of Australia have coupled with the arrival of the non-growing (winter) season. Grass has turned yellow or brown and the pastures are being eaten down with only bare soils left. If you are...
Building Resilience and Drought-proofing Your Horse Property
Drought-proofing horse properties. Australia is a country in the grip of extreme weather bingo. Over the last year we have seen record temperatures, prolongued dry conditions in some areas whilst in others, the drought broke with devastating floods and damage....
The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Right Fence
Choosing the right fence. From a practical and safety point of view, boundary and internal fencing are the most obvious structures that require attention when laying out your property to meet the needs of your horses (and potentially other animals). When you start...
5 Property Improvements for all Budgets
Property improvement. Here are five common changes that can be done at any stage on small and larger budgets to improve or redesign your existing horse property... When horses become part of your life and you are lucky enough to own one (or a few), the next best thing...
All About Soil. Part 5, Using soil tests to improve horse pastures
Soil tests. In this All About Soil series, we have been ‘digging deeper into soils’ and explored what soils are, how soil is formed, the different types of soil (Part 1) and how they sustain life through the soil-food-web (Part 2). We learned about sampling and...
All about Soil. Part 4, Lab soil tests
Laboratory soil tests. In this exclusive Equine Permaculture series, we have been ‘digging deeper into soils’ and explored what soils are, how soil is formed, the different types of soil and how they sustain life through the soil-food-web. In Part Three (Horses and...
All about Soil. Part 3, DIY soil tests
DIY Soil Tests. In this Equine Permaculture series, we ‘dig deeper into soils’ and, to date, we have explored what soils are, how soil is formed, the different types of soil and how they sustain life through the soil-food-web. If you missed those articles, you can...
All About Soil. Part 2, The soil food web
In this Equine Permaculture series, we ‘dig deeper into soils’ and explore what soils are, how soil is formed, the different types of soil and how they sustain life through the soil-food-web. We will also discuss the importance of soil tests - in the lab and DIY -...
All About Soil. Part 1, Facts about soil
Facts about Soil. In this Equine Permaculture series, All About Soils, we ‘dig deeper into soils’ and explore what soils are, how soil is formed, the different types of soil and how they sustain life through the soil-food-web. Furthermore, we discuss the importance...
Managing Pastures for Soil Health – Part 2
Managing pastures for soil health, Keyline design. As horse owners, we care for large herbivores and, in order to support them with the food they are designed to eat, we must take care of our land. Making the right land management decisions - ones that will create...
Managing Pastures for Soil Health – Part 1
As horse owners, we care for large herbivors and, in order to support them with the food they are designed to eat, we must take care of our land. Managing pastures for soil health by making the right land management decisions - ones that will create healthy pastures,...
How to Compost Horse Manure
If you manage a property and horses, you would most likely have encountered pasture and land problems. While issues such as overgrazing, erosion, compaction, no grass growth, weeds and waterlogging are likely to be seen on smaller properties with high stocking rates,...
Equine Permaculture Design: Part 7 Make it happen
Equine Permaculture in action. Following on from previous articles, in Part 7 of this exclusive Equine Permaculture Design Series, Mariette van den Berg explains how the permaculture design principles are put into action. First with observation, then planning and...
Equine Permaculture Design: Part 6 Manage runoff and erosion
Manage Runoff and Erosion. Following on from last month’s look at how the shape of the land influences design and layout of a property, in this Part 6 of this exclusive Equine Permaculture Design Series, Mariette van den Berg gives some practical solutions for...
Equine Permaculture Design: Part 5 Slope and Aspect
Slope and Aspect Following on from last month’s concept of energy flow, in this Part 5 of this exclusive Equine Permaculture Design Series, Mariette van den Berg explains the design tool that permaculture design consultants use when deciding the best placement and...
Equine Permaculture Design: Part 4 Energy Flow
Energy Flow When it comes to horse property layout, it pays to consider the permaculture design approach because it aims to build systems that are easier to manage, more efficient and sustainable, whilst considering the health and wellbeing of all - people, horses,...
Equine Permaculture Design: Part 3 Property Layout
When it comes to horse property layout, it pays to consider following the permaculture design approach because it aims to build systems that are easier to manage, more efficient and sustainable, whilst considering the health and wellbeing of all - people, horses,...
Equine Permaculture Design: Part 2 Managing Resources
Managing resources. If we want to live and manage properties more sustainably - preserving natural systems and creating better environments for our horses and ourselves - we have to get smart with our resources. In this Part Two, Mariette van den Berg explains the...
Equine Permaculture Design: Part 1 Natural Systems
Natural Systems Permaculture, or permanent agriculture, is a design system for sustainable living devised in Australia by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren in the 1970’s. It is one of the movements that can help us use the land in a cleaner and less costly manner,...
Renovating Damaged Pastures and Soils
Renovating damaged pastures and soils - soil compaction The key problem on horse properties is compaction and, in this article, I’ll explain what compaction is and how to recognise it. I’ll provide some practical and integrative solutions for renovating damaged...
Equine Permaculture: Part 3 We Are Grass Farmers
We are grass farmers! When we own horses, we sign up to become the caretakers of large herbivorous animals that have adapted to eating a plant-based diet primarily made up of grasses. This is why we, as horse owners, should think of ourselves as ‘grass and forage’...
Equine Permaculture: Part 2 Sub-Dividing Pastures – Advanced Paddock Grazing
Sub-dividing pastures - advanced paddock grazing Most horse owners recognise a horse-sick pasture; the one with poor quality grasses containing weeds, compacted, eroded soils and manure build-up with parasite pollution. Some think the problem is caused by...
Horsing Around the World: Andalucia, Spain
There’s nothing like the practical experience of travelling, visiting and talking with horsemen and women in different countries to learn how they work with horses and their land. This month, we visit several regions of Spain and the Pura Raza Española. Andalucia...
Equine Permaculture: Part 1 An Introduction
While many people begin to explore ways to make farming more sustainable and others think of the lifestyle choices they can make to help save the planet, the question is can horse owners be part of the solution instead of adding to the problems? To introduce this new...
Making Sense of Taste and Smell: Part 2
Equine flavour preferences. Ever wondered why horses have such big, long noses? How important are smell and taste when it comes to preferences and food choices? And, do you think horses use their senses of smell and taste in the same ways we do? In this two-part...
Making Sense of Taste and Smell: Part 1
Making sense of taste and smell. Chemical senses. Ever wondered why horses have such big, long noses? Well, just like in the Little Red Riding Hood tale: All the better to smell with! But, how important are smell and taste when it comes to preferences and food...
Feeding the Broodmare
Feeding the broodmare. The feeding program of the broodmare is an important management aspect. Feeding can affect the fertility, milk production, and the skeletal development and growth of the foal. Understanding the nutritional needs of the maiden/barren, pregnant...
Taking the Guesswork Out of Choosing Hay: Part 4 Choosing the right hay for your horse
Choosing hay for horses. In the previous edition we presented an example of forage testing of four types of hays and reviewed the results of the laboratory analysis. In this last part of the series about choosing the right forage for your horse, we continue...
Taking the Guesswork Out of Choosing Hay: Part 3 Hay Testing
Hay testing With thanks to SGS Agriculture & Food Laboratories for providing the analysis specifically for this series. Conserved forages can comprise a large part of the diet of horses; therefore, it is important to review the type and quality of all the roughage...
Taking the Guesswork Out of Choosing Hay: Part 2 Choosing Roughage
Choosing quality roughage. Managing your pastures to provide enough forage for your horses would be ideal; however, in reality not many horse owners have the capacity to maintain horses on pasture as well as harvesting roughage/hay to preserve for lesser times in the...
Taking the Guesswork Out of Choosing Hay: Part 1 Feed Properties
In previous articles we have discussed a number of aspects relating to pasture management, and provided an overview of a number of common grass species found in horse pastures in Australia. In the Pastures for Horses series we touched briefly on non-structural...
Holistic Management for Horse Properties: Part 5 Practical Guidelines
Management guidelines. In the previous edition we discussed the process of decision-making and the seven tests that assist you with determining if you are making economically, ecologically and socially sound decisions for your horse property. This has been so far very...
Holistic Management for Horse Properties: Part 4 The Seven Testing Questions
Socially and environmentally responsible. In order to support horses and provide the food they are designed to eat, we must take care of our land. To create healthy pastures and adequate food for our horses (and for ourselves) we must ensure that our decisions are...
Holistic Management for Horse Properties: Part 3 Ecosystems Processes
Ecosystems Processes. As horse owners we are taking care of large herbivorous animals. In order to support horses and provide the food they are designed to eat, we must take care of our land. In turn, to be able to make the right decisions and create healthy pastures...
Holistic Management for Horse Properties: Part 2 Forming a holistic goal
Forming a holistic goal. To be able to make economically, environmentally and socially sound decisions in our lives and for our horses and properties we must have a look at the four key insights, that when taken together, proved to be critical to the development of...
Holistic Management for Horse Properties: Part 1 Introduction
Holistic Management for Horse Properties - Holistic Management is a new approach to decision-making and management that can be successfully incorporated in horse management. In this series of articles, Mariette van den Berg introduces the concept and goes on to...
Biological Pasture Management: Part 2 Healthy Soils
In part 1 we highlighted the importance of dietary fibre and pasture management for our horse’s health. The brief history that I presented on farming and pasture management methods should not be surprising, it is something that can be found on a simple internet search...
Biological Pasture Management: Part 1 Roughage and Pasture
Part 1 of a 3 part series on biological pasture management for horse properties. There are many commercial manufactured feeds for horses available. Horse feed companies promote their muesli or pelleted feeds in colourful bags and many horse owners see these as the...
