Why, How and When Should I Soil Test my Horse Paddock?

Why should I Soil Test my Paddock?

One of the most impactful factors for your horse’s wellbeing is the quality of the grass on which it grazes; whilst the the quality and volume of grass depends on the quality of the soil in which it grows. Good quality soils will ensure a reliable supply of energy, protein and other nutrients, and may also help to provide a long season of potential grazing. Management of these plant nutrients can result in improved performance of the grasses and legumes and may also suppress many common pasture weeds. Without soil testing on a regular basis, you cannot know what your soil needs to maintain this balance. Regular soil testing is a low cost investment that could have a major impact on your horse’s health.

How should I soil test my paddock?

If you go ahead with soil testing, you will likely be sent specific instructions by the company who is doing the testing. The following is simply a rough guide to the process.

To take a soil sample, you need to use either an auger or a trowel to take the samples from about 6 inches in depth. If the paddock that you are testing is all of a similar soil type then you need to take about 20 different samples, zigzagging across the field. Mix the samples together and then send a sub-sample off for testing. This way you will get a good range from across the field.

Avoid areas where the horses may have congregated as their droppings and urine may have altered the nutrient status. It is also wise to avoid areas just inside the gate or around the water trough. If your field seems to have a range of soil types then it may be worth sending off a number of different samples, making sure to record where the samples you have sent where taken from.

When should I soil test my Paddock?

Whilst you can take soil samples at any time of the year, the optimal times are between September and December or between February and April. Do not take soil samples within two months of applying fertiliser as this may give an unrepresentative result. In an ideal world, on light land you would test the soil every three years, whilst on heavy land every five years.

What next?

Meadowmania do not provide a soil testing service. There are many companies online offering this that you can approach. Hutton Soils, part of the James Hutton Institute, is commonly recommended to customers. If you have horse in a paddock and have never tested the soil, we would highly recommend that you consider getting it done.

Please see our horse paddock mixes for a wide range of seed mixtures designed to create healthier pastures, whatever your specifications.