I have known for some years now, that we can contribute to the reversal of climate change by the way that we manage our horses grazing.
I just came across Alan Savory’s TED talk about reversing climate change by changing the way we manage our grazing of hard footed animals. His talk supports what we do here. I have put the link below.
On this property at Rokeby, I am managing my horses grazing in such a way that sequesters more carbon than trees and contributes to the reversal of climate change. I learned this method from Graeme Hand, an Australian agricultural scientist a few years ago. Thanks Graeme!
The benefits to my horses’ health is big too.
Biodiversity in our pasture is slowly increasing. The more biodiversity there is, the more different types of plants – the healthier the horses will be, naturally, as they choose what they need. The more biodiversity, the healthier the land is too.
The sugar content of the grass is decreased – even my miniature horses run with the herd of big horses for most of the year with unlimited grazing.
The weed profile of the land is changing without expensive and health damaging weed sprays. Dock weed and paspallum are dramatically reducing with no action other than grazing management. Thistles are also dramatically reducing, although our landlord requires more immediate action on them so we chop them out. Blackberries I am still having trouble with, so if anyone can help me with a non chemical way of eradicating them I would be grateful!
Outside fertiliser is unnecessary, as the animals manure and the composting of the dry grass into the ground provides all that the pasture needs.
I feed a small amount of grain and hay, so my feed bill is low.
I am happy to start a conversation here in the comments section about HOW I am actually going about doing my bit to reverse climate change. And we can toss around ideas about how you can do your bit too under all kinds of circumstances…
Click here to watch this TED talk Alan Savory on greening the deserts and reversing climate change. There’s a very disturbing part of his talk where he confesses to a shocking mistake that he made about elephant overpopulation. His grief and authenticity about that mistake contributes to his very positive message about how we can save the planet.
Do you add any herbs to your pastures and what are your grasses like in the winter?
I don’t add any herbs to my pasture, but they do come up all by themselves. For example milk thistle, dandelion, red clover to name a few that popped up into my head. I have however, added on purpose a few wormwood bushes on my side of the fence so that they will poke through the fence as they grow and be available and I am growing comfrey and calendula in my vegie garden. Hmmm thinking with my mouth open – maybe I should plant the comfrey and calendula under the fence line where they can help themselves.
My winter pastures tend to be greener and have have more water content, although I try to keep the horses in as long a length of grass as possible.
I do not feel that I have a complete handle on all the grazing issues in this style of grazing yet, specially with my minis in winter, who last year in late winter as we rotated our paddocks we came to slightly shorter and greener grass and they did not do so well. They didn’t do any better locked up either. Mel bought them grazing muzzles that we are thinking of trying for that period of time and into the spring this year so that they can stay with the herd. I am ambivalent though and will play it by ear!