Paddock management for horses: grazing, rotation and ground cover

A good paddock is a feed source, not just a place for horses to stand. Healthy pasture means lower feed bills, less mud and dust, fewer weeds and healthier horses. Healthy Land and Water, a South East Queensland natural resource management body, points out that pasture can provide feed at about a tenth of the cost of buying it in (Healthy Land and Water – horse grazing management factsheet).

But horses are tough on pasture. They graze very close to the ground, trample wet soil and tend to eat favourite areas down while leaving "rough" toilet areas untouched. On small properties especially, paddocks can turn to dirt and weeds without a plan. This guide covers the basics.

How much land does a horse need?

There's no single answer – it depends on rainfall, soil, pasture type and management. Victoria's Code of Practice for the Welfare of Horses says that in temperate areas with permanent pasture fertilised every year, about 1 hectare (2.5 acres) per horse should provide maintenance feed in normal rainfall years (Code of Practice).

Many properties have far less. Healthy Land and Water cites an Australia-wide survey that found the grazing area on most horse properties wasn't enough to feed the number of horses kept, even with good management (HLW factsheet). If that's you, plan to supply hay for much of the year and use the techniques below to protect the pasture you have. See how much to feed a horse.

Rotational grazing

Rotating horses between paddocks gives grass time to recover, improves pasture growth and helps with parasite control. Healthy Land and Water recommends (HLW factsheet):

• Several smaller paddocks instead of one large one.
• Moving horses in groups rather than giving each horse its own paddock – it's easier on the pasture.
• Put horses in when grass averages about 15–20 cm high.
• Move them out when it's grazed down to about 5–8 cm.
• After moving horses out, harrow (in suitable conditions), slash to an even height, then rest the paddock to regrow.

How long to rest a paddock

Rest periods depend on growth rates, season and rainfall. For parasite control, Victoria's Code of Practice suggests spelling paddocks for at least 6 weeks and preferably 12, or grazing them with other species such as sheep or cattle (Code of Practice).

A simple rotation for a small property

On a small block, you might:

1. Divide grazing into three or four paddocks with electric tape or permanent fencing.
2. Set up a sacrifice yard or feeding yard where horses can be kept with hay when no paddock is ready.
3. Graze one paddock at a time, moving horses on when grass reaches 5–8 cm.
4. Slash, harrow if appropriate, and rest each paddock in turn.

Protect ground cover

Bare soil leads to dust, mud, weeds and erosion. Healthy Land and Water recommends keeping more than 90% ground cover, and spelling or fencing off any area with less than that (HLW factsheet). Ground cover means anything that protects the soil from rain – living grass is best.

Practical ways to protect cover:

• Take horses off wet paddocks to avoid pugging (deep hoof prints that damage roots and soil).
• Move feed and water points to spread wear, or put them on hard standing.
• Use sacrifice yards in wet weather and droughts.
• Fence off bare patches and reseed when conditions suit.

Sacrifice yards and feeding yards

Healthy Land and Water calls feeding yards invaluable for small properties, because they let you keep horses off pasture when there isn't enough feed. If you don't have yards, a section of paddock fenced with electric tape can act as a sacrifice area. Their guideline is about 100 square metres per horse, with a well-drained surface that won't erode (HLW factsheet).

Sacrifice yards are also useful for horses at risk of laminitis, which may need limited grazing – see grass sugar and laminitis.

Victoria's Code says barbed wire, ringlock and high-tensile wire must not be used for yards and small areas (Code of Practice).

Pasture species and fertiliser

The right pasture species depend on your climate and soil. Healthy Land and Water notes, for example, that Rhodes grass can be a good introduced species in suitable soils in subtropical Queensland, alongside native grasses such as Queensland blue grass and kangaroo grass. It recommends soil testing to work out what fertiliser is needed (HLW factsheet).

Get local advice from your state agriculture department, local land services, council or an agronomist. Some pasture species and growth stages carry higher sugar levels, which matters for laminitis-prone horses (UMN Extension). See horse pasture.

Manure management

Manure management matters for both pasture and worm control, and the advice varies:

• Picking up manure is the most effective way to break the worm lifecycle. The 2025 Australian worm guidelines recommend removing manure two to three times a week in warmer months (Australian Veterinary Journal, 2025).
• Harrowing spreads nutrients and breaks up rough patches. Healthy Land and Water recommends it when removing manure isn't practical, with rest afterwards (HLW factsheet). But the worm guidelines caution that spreading manure isn't generally recommended except in very hot, dry weather, and that horses should then be kept off the paddock for a few weeks (AVJ 2025).

The practical compromise: pick up manure where you can, and only harrow in hot, dry conditions, followed by a good rest. Compost collected manure well away from waterways. See horse worming and muck heap management.

Weeds

Weeds take over where pasture is weak. Agriculture Victoria notes weeds often flourish after autumn rain following a dry summer, and lists Paterson's curse, ragwort, bracken fern, flatweed, marshmallow and St John's wort as common weeds poisonous to horses (Agriculture Victoria – winter care). Competitive pasture is one of the best defences (NSW Government). Read poisonous plants for horses.

Water, shelter and fencing

• Water. Victoria's Code requires free access to an adequate supply of good-quality water, and recommends checking troughs and water sources at least daily (Code of Practice). Dams need safe access and monitoring in dry periods. See water for horses.
• Shelter. Horses must have access to proper and sufficient shelter at all times in Victoria. Trees, hedges and gullies can provide some shelter (Code of Practice). See shelter and water.
• Fencing. Fences must be safe and well maintained. Agriculture Victoria advises keeping fences in good repair (basic horse care). See horse fencing.

Seasonal checklist

Spring: watch for fast, sugar-rich growth and laminitis risk; control weeds before they seed; fertilise if soil tests show a need.

Summer: watch ground cover in dry spells; move horses to a sacrifice yard before paddocks get too short; check water daily; harrow only in hot, dry conditions.

Autumn: expect a weed flush after rain; watch for flatweed and stringhalt; plan hay for winter.

Winter: protect wet paddocks from pugging; feed hay in yards or on hard standing; beware the "green drought" of short grass that looks better than it is (Agriculture Victoria – winter care).

Looking for land? Find agistment near you on horse.work, or browse our agistment guide.

FAQ

How many horses per acre?

Victoria's Code suggests about 1 hectare (2.5 acres) of fertilised permanent pasture per horse in temperate areas with normal rainfall (Code of Practice). Most smaller properties need supplementary hay.

When should I move horses to a new paddock?

Healthy Land and Water suggests grazing from about 15–20 cm and moving horses off at about 5–8 cm (HLW factsheet).

How long should I rest a paddock?

For parasite control, Victoria's Code suggests at least 6 weeks, preferably 12 (Code of Practice). For pasture recovery, it depends on growth rates.

Should I harrow horse paddocks?

Only with care. Harrowing helps pasture but can spread worm larvae. The 2025 worm guidelines advise doing it only in very hot, dry weather and resting the paddock for a few weeks after (AVJ 2025).

What is a sacrifice yard?

A small yard or fenced area where horses are kept with hay so the rest of the pasture can recover. Healthy Land and Water suggests about 100 m² per horse (HLW factsheet).