An Exploration of Environmentally Sustainable Practices Associated with Alternative Grazing Management System Use for Horses, Ponies, Donkeys and Mules in the UK.
Authors: Furtado Tamzin, King Mollie, Perkins Elizabeth, McGowan Catherine, Chubbock Samantha, Hannelly Emmeline, Rogers Jan, Pinchbeck Gina
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary Grazing management practices in equine keeping remain poorly characterised despite their potential for substantial environmental impact, prompting researchers to survey 758 UK keepers of horses, ponies, donkeys and mules about their use of alternative systems during summer 2020. Track systems dominated adoption at 56.5% of respondents, followed by Equicentral (19%), non-grass turnout options (12.5%), rewilding (7.5%), and moorland or woodland turnout (collectively 3.2%), with responses analysed through descriptive statistics and thematic coding to identify underlying motivations. Three principal sustainability priorities emerged across all systems—maintaining botanical diversity through targeted grazing restriction, enhancing wildlife habitat and biodiversity, and implementing integrated parasite and dung management—whilst Equicentral practitioners additionally prioritised soil health improvement. The research reveals that equine keepers are substantially engaged with environmental stewardship, though their specific practices and justifications vary markedly according to grazing system choice. These findings suggest scope for targeted guidance and best-practice sharing among different keeper communities, particularly regarding evidence-based approaches to parasite control and pasture management that align with both equine welfare and ecological objectives.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Track systems represent a practical, widely-adopted middle ground for managing environmental impact while maintaining equid turnout; consider implementation if concerned about pasture degradation or parasite burden
- •Restricting equid access to certain grazing areas appears to support plant diversity and wildlife—rotational or sectioned grazing may improve long-term pasture quality without requiring complete system overhaul
- •Equid keepers are actively problem-solving sustainable management of dung and helminth control through alternative systems; networking with other users of your preferred system may reveal practical solutions beyond traditional approaches
Key Findings
- •Track systems were the most popular alternative grazing management approach, used by 56.5% of surveyed UK equid keepers
- •Equid keepers employing alternative grazing systems demonstrated high engagement with three major sustainability categories: supporting diverse plant life, supporting wildlife biodiversity, and sustainably managing droppings and helminths
- •Equicentral system users specifically aimed to support soil health in addition to the three major sustainability practices
- •Alternative grazing systems (tracks 56.5%, Equicentral 19%, non-grass turnout 12.5%, rewilding 7.5%) are being actively adopted by UK equid keepers with varying sustainability approaches