The final field day of the Better Pasture series, funded through the State NRM Program WA, was held on Saturday, June 23rd in Mardella.
Held at the Mardella venue, Shanley Green Agistment Centre, the early morning vista with the bright blue sky and green paddocks greeted those attending along with morning tea.
The series, as the name suggests, has focussed on educating horse property owners in building healthier, resilient pastures.
Starting from property planning, moving into the important building block the soil, and ending in the pasture itself, the series has had more than 100 attendees.
After an introduction from Landcare Support Officer Teele Hooper-Worrell explaining the program and thanking the SJ Equine Landcare Group for their help in coordinating the series, Belinda Taylor from Hoof Hearted Hoof Care gave a presentation on the different pasture species available to WA horse property owners.
The presentation covered the different types of pasture species like perennial and annual grasses, clovers and herbs. Attendees were able to ask questions and chat about what they wanted on their property in contrast to what was growing in their paddocks now.
After the presentation, there was a paddock walk where Belinda Taylor was able to point out different types of grass, the emerging annual ryegrass species and was able to identify some of the common winter weeds present.
After the obligate pat of the paddocks resident pony, it was time for lunch catered by the Jarrahdale General Store.
After lunch, Fiona James the Author of Secret Herbal Recipes for Horses and The Herbal Hoof, presented on herbs and how to integrate them into your horse’s diet. Fiona’s years of experience in using herbs in a horses diet to improve their health and wellbeing was apparent with many attendees asking questions relating to specific issues with their equines.
While presenting Fiona was careful to educate those at the field day about what part of the herb to use, when to use them, and whether a herb could become a weed if planted in the wrong area.
An advocate for potted gardens in certain situation Fiona then demonstrated how to construct a simple herb garden to support your horse’s diet.
What’s more perfect is that most herbs commonly used by humans can be used for your equines making constructing a herb garden even more beneficial.
Attendees were given a copy of Fiona Adams book Secret Herbal Recipes for Horses as a take-home resource.
You can keep track of what’s on next in the Landcare SJ Equine Landcare Program by joining the newsletter list.
Email teele@landcaresj.com.au to sign up or for more information on equine landcare.
