Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
to make note of natural topography that could interfere with the flow of desirable cooling
breezes.
Moderately rolling grassy hills are desirable, as they usually drain well and provide a
good environment for the exercise and development of horses. A slope of 2 to 6 percent (2
to 6 feet of rise or fall per 100 feet) is ideal. A much greater slope than this could result in
erosion problems and would probably require extensive excavation costs for any improve-
ments you might add to the land. A slope much lower than 2 percent would offer a poor
chance for drainage and result in wet, marshy, boggy areas. Such areas, which are mosquito
breeding grounds, contribute to the possible spread of equine infectious anemia, West Nile
virus, and other diseases. In addition, wetlands encourage the growth of disease-causing
organisms and are very damaging to a horse's hooves.
A word about wetlands
Wetlands provide vital filtering functions and are an important part of our ecosystem,
but they are not desirable for horse pastures. If you have wetlands on your property,
manage them appropriately (see
chapters 13
, Land, and
15
, Sanitation, for more in-
formation).
Soil
Along with the slope, the type of topsoil will greatly affect surface drainage. A sandy
loam is ideal. The soil should not pack or become excessively muddy for long periods; nor
should it be extremely sandy, or nutrients will be quickly leached out of the soil by rain and
melting snow. In addition, sandy soil results in more cases of sand colic. Clay and adobe
soils pack hard, cup and retain the uneven surface, and are slippery when wet. Gravelly
soils lack nutrients and result in a greater number of hoof and leg injuries from the abrasive
surface. The topsoil and subsurface soil can be tested and evaluated. Saline soils are not
desirable for pastures or hay fields and are difficult to correct, so if the results show a high
salt content, look for other land. The soil profile will also help you plan your planting, fer-
tilization, and irrigation needs as well as deciding where to locate buildings and facilities.
(See
chapter 13
, Land, for more information on soil testing.)
