As many people continue to struggle with economic uncertain or job instability due to COVID-19, university experts say one of the best ways to cut costs of horsekeeping is probably right outside your window.
In the first session of this year's virtual Thoroughbred Aftercare Summit presented by the Retired Racehorse Project, Krista Lea, research analyst at the University of Kentucky Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, said good pasture management is key to trimming budgets. Pasture is a cheaper feed source than growing or purchasing hay when it's maintained properly. On one acre of pasture, every inch of grass growth is equivalent to roughly 200 pounds of dry matter, or four 50-pound bales of hay.
“That may not seem like a big deal, but if you look at it across the entire pasture and how many inches there are, it adds up pretty quickly,” said Lea, pointing out that six inches of growth adds up to 24 bales per acre of pasture.
One of the reasons pasture is a better option than hay is that a considerable amount – up to 60 percent – of hay can be lost in the storage and feeding process, which leads to a lot of wasted money, particularly if hay prices are high in your local area. Proper pasture maintenance can not just improve the quality of the grass grown, but extend the growing season. Dr. Jill Stowe, associate professor with the University of Kentucky Ag Equine Programs, found that even assuming a cheap hay price of $4 per 50-pound bale, extending the pasture grazing season by a week can save up to $28 per day per horse.
Lea is frequently called out to consult with horse farms on the best ways to improve their pasture quality and said she finds a few common, costly mistakes. Many people will skip fertilizing their pastures, which ends up costing more in the long-term than it saves in the short-term. Pastures need a replenishment of nutrients, particularly nitrogen, in both spring and fall. There are horse-safe pelleted fertilizer products that can be used on actively grazed pastures as long as they're well-distributed.
Reseeding is also an important aspect of improving pasture, and it can be one of the more costly tasks at up to $150 per acre. To maximize germination success, Lea suggests planning reseeding timing at least a month ahead of time to ensure you have the right mix of seed and have completed your preparation in plenty of time for the seeds to take. Complete reestablishment of a pasture that needs to start from scratch should be planned six months out.
Over-mowing can also be a common error.
“The ultimate goal when mowing pastures is you're mostly mowing off the weeds and seed heads and leaving as much grass as you can for the horses,” she said.
With winter coming, establishing a sacrifice area from a dry lot or area around a gate can be a good way to keep horses from beating up so much ground during wet winter conditions. Adding gravel to a flat space and feeding/watering in this area will keep horse traffic more focused and help combat mud.
Each state has a cooperative extension service, which can provide free educational resources for best pasture practices, and Lea said there are government programs that can help horse owners defray the costs of pasture maintenance, too. The County Agricultural Improvement Program is a cost share program that can provide reimbursements for new fencing and waterers. The Natural Resource Conservation Service also offers a similar program, since properly-maintained pasture is beneficial to the ecosystem.
The most important thing Lea recommended for managers and owners is an open mind.
“So many times I get on horse farms and we've found a problem and we're presenting solutions for it and they say, 'That's just not how we do things here, we can't do it that way,'” she said. “The truth is, that costs you a lot. I think one of the best ways we can improve the way we manage horses is being more open to new things, whether that's being open to new grasses that are out there or new ways of managing our horses.”
Lea suggested that cattle farmers are particularly attuned to pasture management since there is such a direct correlation between pasture quality, weight gain, and final price for their cows. While cows can and will eat some plants horses will not, the basics of the educational resources offered to cattle farms can still be helpful for horse owners.
Other ways to cut costs
As an economist, Stowe is a fan of budgeting as a way to restrict costs. Excel offers simple, free templates for personal budgets that can be easily modified for a hobby horse owner, while for-profit operations often need more complex software. She also recommends weighing options for mortality and other types of equine insurance or establishing an emergency savings account, along with a series of emergency action plans. Now is the time to decide what you'll do if your horse needs colic surgery and your finances are still tight.
Keeping a record of your expenses is an important way to help you decide where you can cut your budget – even if your horse isn't a for-profit entity.
As COVID-19 remains a threat, this is also the time to make a care plan for your horse should you or your family become ill and prevent your being able to provide feeding and turnout. Stowe suggest having feed requirements and pasture assignments written out in a clearly visible location and clearly labeling things in the barn in case a substitute carer needs to find supplements or medications.
If you're worried about budgeting, Stowe said it's best to prioritize your horse's needs, keeping in mind the requirements for forage, friends, and freedom. Those are likely the most important things to the horse himself. Besides water, good quality forage is the most important part of the diet, so Stowe doesn't recommend cutting back on hay or pasture. You may be able, with guidance from a cooperative extension agent or veterinarian, to trim costs when it comes to concentrate and supplements.
“We have so many feds and supplements to help our horses in every way possible,” she said. “I think when finances are tight, it's important to sit back and think about which of these are absolutely critical to the health of my horse. I've got my horse on one or two things that it makes me feel better that he's on them. I don't know if there's a benefit or not. I think it would be really wise to give as objective a look as possible at what your horse is eating and what he or she really needs.”
Watch the complete session below. Virtual Makeover Week webinars continue Tuesday at 7 p.m. Eastern, where a panel will field questions about Thoroughbred behavior.
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