As some of you may recognize, one of my major concerns is the approaching end of cheap oil and its effects on food production and transportation. Years ago I read a book about Great Britain that claimed if the petroleum-powered internal combustion hadn't been invented, Britain would have faced an energy crisis of its own because the number of horses needed to power its society was at or approaching the maximum number the country could support. In fact, the author insisted that without cheap grain imports from its colonies, Britain was already at horse-population overshoot.

That's the background. In my years on the farm we never kept horses, so my question is this: Assuming hay production of 1.5 tons per acre and permanent pasture fertilized by dropped manure and the occasional (once every two years?) application of barn muck, how much land is required to support a horse for a year? Or perhaps more accurately, a small herd of horses, perhaps four adults with assorted youngsters coming along as replacements or for off-farm sale.

Thanks in advance. Cash

-- Cash (cash@andcarry.com), March 11, 2001

Answers

There are a lot of variables in your question. What type of horses, riding or draft? What breed? What's the weather like? Can you utilize pasture for 6, 8, 10 months a year? How many acres of pasture, and hayfield?

I have 3 riding horses, 2 are extremely easy keepers. We took 1200 45- 50# bales of mixed grass hay off approximately 30 acres of hayfield. We have approximately 15 acres of decent pasture. I could keep about 8 horses of varying breeds on what I have set up right now without having to supplement hay in the summer.

Stacy Rohan in Windsor, NY

-- Stacy Rohan (KincoraFarm@aol.com), March 11, 2001.

Horses eat between 2-3% of their body weight per day in feed. Most mature average horses weigh between 1000-1100 pounds. A non-working horse will eat the lower range where a working horse (used 2 hours or more per day) will eat the higher range. Also the quality/type of the hay will make a difference. I have found you can keep horses on less alfalfa than on bermuda or other grass hays.

We feed about 120-130 pounds good quality alfalfa per day to feed 5 mature horses, one pregnant mare and 2 yearlings. We also feed about 10 pounds grain plus 8 pounds formulated feed. Cold weather ups the amount of feed while warm weather lowers it. In hot weather we feed no grain and a bit less hay, and up the above amounts slightly in cold weather. It averages to the above. On bermuda we have to feed about 150 pds a day as it has less nutritional value.

Tho we don't grow hay your tonnage per acre seems low. Check with your local AG extension office and ask about the averages in your area.

-- Stacia in OK (oneclassycowgirl@aol.com), March 11, 2001.

The best rule of thumb I know of is that a horse takes the same space 3 cows would or in otherwords a horse eats 3 times as much. Of course we always kept our horses in good flesh. Look at your neighbors pastures or ask an old timer in your area....that will be your best guide.

-- Amanda in Mo (aseley@townsqr.com), March 11, 2001.

This question is similar to "how much milk does a goat give". Too many variables envolved for an email answer. For example, pastures are more productive in the midwest than in a desert state. Do as Amanda recommends, talk with the locals.

-- Nancy Bakke-McGonigle Mn. Sunset (dmcgonig@smig.net), March 11, 2001.

In our part of the world, West of the Cascades in Washington, where pastures grow lush and thick from high rainfall and mild temperatures, the rule of thumb I've heard before is one acre per horse minimum. I think I would allow two acres per horse with cross fencing to allow rotation. In drier climates you would obviously need more, but even with good pasture you need to supplement with hay and a little grain.

-- Skip Walton (sundaycreek@gnrac.net), March 11, 2001.

You do intend to use a harrow for all that manure and compost, right?? Leaving it sit in lumps will burn what plants there are, and generally deplete the ability of the soil to produce healthful feed.

It requires at least 1 ton of good quality alfalfa hay to get a horse through a winter. This is in addition to several hundred pounds of grain in the form of corn, oats and wheat or barley. (Caution - too much corn and or oats will bloat a horse!)

Now... just to run around in, and for legal requirements, one acre per animal.

So, I would think that somewhere between 2 and 3 acres per horse would cover it, unless you are talking Belgians, Percherons, or Clydesdales - then, about 6 acres per animal.

For what you are speaking of - figure closer to 40 acres. That many horses on one pasture will not be supported very much at all by the land they roam on. And, figure harrowing it about twice per week. Young horses will eat the dung.

-- Sue Diederich (willow666@rocketmail.com), March 11, 2001.

Hmmm, should have been more specific. Hokay, we're talking northern New England, where average hay production is two tons per acre, oats a tad over one ton per acre. Grazing pasture available (roughly speaking) from late April/early May to late October. Yes, the pastures would be maintained, and I'm talking working horse.

As background, I'm trying to figure out how much land would be taken up by the horses required to replace petroleum power in modern agriculture. Does anyone know what percentage of arable land was needed to support horses and mules prior to, say, 1900, in the US in general? Or do you know a source for that information?

-- Cash (cash@andcarry.com), March 18, 2001.