Background

Steeply sloping land on properties needs to be carefully managed as there is usually a high risk of soil erosion. It is also usually difficult to access steep land with vehicles and machinery.
 

Where horses have access to steep slopes, bare areas can quickly develop, and horses' hooves can rip up plant root systems under wet conditions. If horses start to 'track' along fence lines down steep slopes, there is a high risk of soil erosion.
 

Pastures may not grow as well on steeper slopes if the soil is shallow or rocky. If the slope is too steep for fertiliser spreading, weed spraying etc, it will be more difficult to maintain a good quality pasture for horse grazing.
 

Steep slopes are regarded as land with an incline of 15% or more in areas up to 1,000 mm annual rainfall, and above 12% slope in areas with more than 1,000 mm rainfall.
 

Steps to achieve best practice

Suggested steps to take are:-

 
Step 1

Identify any areas of steep slopes (12% - 20% or more) on your property.

You can measure slope using a clinometer (you may be able to borrow one from staff at PIRSA offices or Natural Resource Centres in the Mt Lofty Ranges).

These areas should be marked on a property map overlay (land classes) when you do a property management plan.

 
Step 2

Plan to restrict horse access to steep slopes, including any sloping land that has had soil erosion problems in the past.

• Fence these areas off so horse access can be restricted.
• Only graze horses on these areas for short periods, if at all, when there is plenty of pasture cover, and the soil is not wet. Keep a close eye on the pasture condition and remove horses if there is any sign of low ground cover or damage to pasture plants by hooves.

 
Step 3

Maintain good pastures on steep slopes, i.e. ensure there is good pasture composition, and ensure soil fertility and pH levels are suitable for good pasture (see Pasture composition).

• Consider sowing or encouraging perennial native grasses on these areas to help provide a hardwearing ground cover that will last well through summer

 

 
Where horses have access to steep slopes, bare areas can quickly develop, and horses' hooves can rip up plant root systems under wet conditions.

Links

• Land Management Program advisers based in the Mt Lofty Ranges: www.amlrnrm.sa.gov.au/services.html
• Hoofprints - A manual for Horse Property Management - J. Foyel, Primary Industries SA. Agdex 461/10
• Sustainable Land Use for Depastured Horses - RIRDC Bookshop www.rirdc.gov.au
• Healthy Land Healthy Horses - RIRDC Bookshop: www.rirdc.gov.au
• Managing Horses on Small Properties - by Jane Myers. Landlinks Press, available through CSIRO publishing or Horse SA online store.
• Pastures for Horses - RIRDC bookshop: www.rirdc.gov.au
• Check the websites from your State Department of Agriculture for additional books and fact sheets