MU Extension is offering a free webinar series for horse owners this year.
The first of four is 6 p.m. March 19.
Many horse owners struggle to maintain good grass health in their pastures and paddocks, organizers said.
Often, horse pastures become filled with weeds, bare spots and have little grass available for their horses’ natural grazing behavior. This also contributes to increased costs of supplemental feed and hay to meet the nutritional needs of horses, organizers said.
With the variability of hay availability due to drought year to year and the rising costs of horse ownership in general, horse owners and caretakers should consider how to optimize their pastures as an inexpensive way to meet the nutritional needs of their horses.
Dr. Harley Naumann, Associate Teaching Professor, Extension State Forage and Grazing specialist with the University of Missouri Division of Animal Sciences, will discuss forages and grazing management for horses. He has an extensive background with various forage types and will cover forage varieties, stocking rates for pastures and grazing strategies to maximize forage health and production.
If unable to attend, this webinar will be recorded and will be sent directly to those who register for it.
Participants can register online at https://extension.missouri.edu/events/horsemens-webinar-series-march.
For any questions, contact MU Extension Livestock Specialist Elizabeth Picking at the Howell County Extension Office at 417-256-2391 or by email at pickinge@missouri.edu.
