IntroductionNatural and seeded grasslands provide fodder for livestock and equine populations around the world. Well-managed grazing provides adequate nutrition, while improving soil fertility and reducing soil degradation (Kemp & Michalk 1994). Horses that graze on optimally managed pastures will achieve better health and maintain good condition, compared to horses that graze on optimally managed pastures. poorly managed pasture (Undersander & Antoniewicz 1997, p.1). Understanding the processes involved in good pasture management will benefit farmers when preparing and maintaining their pastures, whilst being cost effective, with little money wasted on unnecessary equipment or control measures. Pasture Selection A good horse pasture allows grazing throughout the year. The pasture mix is ​​selected based on the environment and the needs of the horse(s). It is good management to include a variety of different species in the mix to meet all required nutrients by combining the benefits of each species (Avery 2006). Adding a legume increases forage production and minimizes the need to provide hay or grain (Undersander & Antoniewicz 1997, p.1). Figure 1 shows monthly forage production from grass pastures (good and poor management), compared to grass and legume pastures (good and poor management). Figure 1. Monthly forage production in a 2-acre grass and legume pasture (Undersander & Antoniewicz 1997, p.2). Soil Type and Nutrient Level Soil types vary from sand, sandy loam, clay loam, clay and loam. Soil type is determined by its composition and structure, as well as many other factors. Soil type has a direct impact on what plants can be grown in the paddock, as each plant species varies...... middle of paper ......cle/temperate-grasses-horses-pastures# .U3vhqlyXIlJ>Government of South Australia 2010, A Practical Guide to Rural Land Management, 2nd edition, course booklet. Grazing Management of Pastures nd FAO, accessed May 22, Fairfax County Virginia and “Earth Friendly Suburban Horse Farming,” Fairfax County Virginia, accessed May 22, 2014, FarmStyle and “Pasture Development on Small Farms,” FarmStyle, accessed May 20 2014, Kemp, D & Michalk, D 1994, Pasture Management: Technology for the 21st Century, CSIRO, Victoria, Australia. Undersander, D & Antoniewicz, R 1997, “Horse Pasture”, University of Wisconsin-Extension, Madison, WI, < http://learningstore.uwex.edu/assets/pdfs/a3680.pdf>