Manure should be spread with a light drag. Do this during hot, dry weather. Internal parasites will be killed by the hot sun. Mowing areas where horses do not graze and dragging pastures to spread manure piles will improve the quality and the utilization of the pasture. Insects are not usually severe enough to justify insecticide application, but occasional outbreaks can be controlled.
Rotational grazing can be one of the most valuable management practices employed.
It calls for 2 to 10 pastures which can be grazed in sequential order. This allows the forage to recover in a given pasture while another pasture is being grazed. Having more than one gate and alternating the one used can help prevent these spots from developing near the gates. This may vary to some degree, depending on location, type of grass, and size of the horse. In general, when the pasture area is less than one acre per horse, exercise becomes the main use of the pasture and its use as a source of feed becomes secondary.