An invitation for busy people with horses kept on small properties. Prepared by Horse SA, a not-for-profit community organisation http//www.horsesa.asn.au Check out the events page on the website for seminars, farm walks and webinars. This presentation was made possible by the members of Horse SA and the NRM Adelaide & Mount Lofty Ranges http://www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/adelaidemtloftyranges/land/landholder-services Thank you to the horse property managers who shared photos for this presentation.

1. 360 deg. look at keeping horses
www.horsesa.asn.au
An invitation for busy
people with horses kept
on small properties
McLaren Vale 8 Nov. 2014
[Tree benefits]

2. The busy horse owner
(is this you?)
Feed
Clean
(Ride)
Work
Feed
Clean
(Ride)
$
Cost of keeping
Get advice Shopping online
+/- agistment
Fast food/
food miles

3. The busy horse owner
An invitation to take a walk around
the outside of what it takes to
horses in our busy lives

4. How much “horse” is in your horse?
• Grazing several hours a
day
• Browsing
• Rubbing
• Rolling
• Scratching
• Running around
• Mutual grooming
• Swish flies
• Walk
• Do nothing
• Lie down flat
• Stand under a tree
• Put a rump to the weather
• Find peace
• Find friends
• Enjoy humans
• Routine vs stimulating
environment
• Run, kick and buck
• Snort, neigh & nicker

5. How well do you know your horse?
- How much time in each 24 hours does he eat, rest,
walk, run or drink?
- Do you watch what plants he prefers to eat in the
paddock? Does he vary eating with his head down
with occasional head up (browsing)?
- Is he stimulated by his environment? Bored?
- Are his companionship needs being met?
- Is the shade and shelter provided useful for him?
- Are we aware of how “trends” & marketing are
affecting our decisions? E.g. rugs, worming products
- Are we aware of how the behaviour of the horse
needs to be utilised to help us manage his living
environment better?

6. The puzzle
Keeping horses happy & healthy AND making sure his living environment is robust enough
to contribute positively to his well-being Photo: J Raphael

7. Keeping grass cover on small
properties- the biggest challenge!
Challenges appear greater when:
• Time poor +/- quick fixes
• Low rainfall +/- water retention, quality & storage capacity natural & artificial
• Sandy soils or other challenges e.g. Onkaparinga Hills ridge tops
• Poor overall biodiversity (trees/shrubs/grass varieties)
• Poor infrastructure to help manage grazing pressures (e.g. yards)
Photo: J Raphael
Photo: J Raphael

8. Yards are an important tool
Yards are probably the most important tool available to ensure sustainable management of the grass in the paddocks,
water courses and native vegetation on small properties – in return giving your horse a higher quality paddock living
environment.
However, the more horses are confined to a small area to help manage the paddock & farm environment, or for other
reasons, the harder we need to work as horse owners to provide the benefits of nature.
Lets just pick one aspect …… Trees
Photo: J Raphael

9. Tree benefits
Many horse owners are aware of the
benefit that trees & shrubs can provide
e.g.
Shelter belts
Biosecurity barriers
Reduce wind erosion
Stabilize soil
Shade & shelter
Promote biodiversity
Protecting trees:
On smaller properties or in smaller
paddocks, especially where a “set”
grazing regime is used, trees & shrubs
may need protecting if horses have
regular or prolonged access.

10. When trees are not available to
horses, “tree benefits” will need to
be provided artificially
• Shade from sun
• Shelter from wind & rain
• Place to “loaf around” &
socialise
• Somewhere to scratch & rub
• Relief from flies (leaves/tails)
• Variety in diet (some trees are
tasty)
• Variety in eating styles –
browsing
Tree benefits
Photo: J Raphael

11. Providing Tree Benefits
Biosecurity barriers, scratch & rub surfaces, browse (eat at different heights & locations),
places to socialise, undertake mutual grooming
Photo: Robyn Warren
Photo: Equiculture Jane Myers Photo: MB Equine Services

12. Providing Tree Benefits
Shade & Shelter
Drawing: http://www.equiculture.com.au (Jane Myers).
Photos: Bathurst Equine Agistment https://www.facebook.com/bathurstequineagistment

13. Manage trees
We have seen how important trees are for
horses.
Manage native trees in paddocks on small
properties to avoid soil compaction (from
hooves), high nutrient loading (from manure)
and promote natural regeneration.
Photo: Robyn Warren
Photo: J Raphael
Photo: J Raphael

14. Apply other “benefits”
As part of working to have a high quality, sustainable living environment for your horse,
yarding may play a role. If horses are yarded regularly, aim to replicate the natural resource benefits including:
• Grasses & herbs (+/-weeds)- variety in diet (taste, texture, choice)
• Water
• Soil, sand
• Native animals, birds, bugs & insects
• Land formation (e.g. slope)
• Climate and weather considerations
Bee savers. Photo: Shan Daw

15. More things for busy horse owners
Individualised de-worming programs + manure management
(reducing chemical use + avoid nutrient run-off into watercourses)
Photo: J Raphael

16. More things for busy horse owners to think about
Emergency preparedness + Property Identification Codes (PIC) + Horse ID
Photo: CFS Communication & Engagement Unit

17. Keeping grass cover on small
properties- the biggest challenge!
Share ideas with successful neighbours - Property plans - book a free property visits from AMLR NRM- seek advice at
free field days- Revisit number of horses on the property to avoid overgrazing – look at rotational or strip grazing
options (vs. set grazing) and resting pasture
Check out the Horse SA & NRM Events Calendars for educational seminars & webinars

18. Photo: Anthea Starr
Check out the events page and register
to receive an e-news from both
organisations
Horse SA
http://www.horsesa.asn.au
NRM Adelaide &
Mount Lofty Ranges
(Request a free property visit for land
management advice)
http://www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/adel
aidemtloftyranges/land/landholder-services