Relative Traffic Tolerance of Cool-Season Turfgrasses and Suitability for Grazing by Equine.
Authors: Jaqueth Aubrey L, Turner Thomas R, Iwaniuk Marie E, McIntosh Bridgett J, Burk Amy O
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Cool-Season Turfgrasses for High-Traffic Equine Areas Researchers at [institution] evaluated eight cool-season turfgrass cultivars as potential alternatives to traditional pasture grasses in high-traffic zones such as dry lots and sacrifice areas, using a mechanical traffic simulator to replicate trotting hoof impacts over two years across spring, summer, and autumn seasons. The study subjected replicated plots to zero, one, or two weekly traffic passes for six weeks followed recovery periods, measuring soil compaction, vegetation persistence, biomass availability, and forage nutritional composition. Tall fescue emerged as the most traffic-tolerant option, maintaining better persistence and biomass than other species, whilst hard fescue and creeping bentgrass also performed respectably; however, all traffic treatments significantly reduced vegetation persistence (19–36%), increased soil compaction, and decreased available biomass by 19–43% depending on season. Nutritional analysis revealed that some cultivars fell below the 15% nonstructural carbohydrate threshold ideal for equine grazing, and calcium–phosphorus ratios deteriorated beyond recommended levels in year two, warranting careful mineral supplementation monitoring. For practitioners managing high-traffic areas, tall fescue and hard fescue cultivars warrant serious consideration as ground cover alternatives, though expectations should account for realistic forage loss under heavy use and the need for supplementary feeding during peak demand periods.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Tall fescue and hard fescue are viable alternatives to traditional forages for high-traffic areas (dry lots, high-use paddocks) on equine operations
- •These turfgrass cultivars will still degrade with heavy use, requiring management strategies such as rotation or rest periods to maintain ground cover and reduce compaction
- •Monitor calcium-to-phosphorus ratios in grazing areas, as this study found deficiencies that could affect equine health
Key Findings
- •Traffic treatment reduced vegetation persistence by 19-36% across all trials (P=0.0003)
- •Soil compaction increased significantly with simulated horse traffic (P<0.0001)
- •Biomass available for grazing was reduced by 19-43% following traffic treatment (P=0.02)
- •Tall fescue and hard fescue cultivars demonstrated superior traffic tolerance compared to other cool-season turfgrasses