July/August 2024 Issue

EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN July/August 2024 Page 27 44 Edgefield Rd. • Quarryville, PA 17566 Tell our advertisers you found them in East Coast Equestrian! Penn State Extension is offering an online course titled “Fundamentals of Equine Pasture Management,” designed for cur- rent and prospective horse farm owners and farm managers. The course covers how to manage pastures to benefit horses and the environment. The course is ideal for indi- viduals who are dissatisfied with their current pasture conditions or those looking to establish high-quality pastures on new properties. Although tailored for Pennsylvania horse farms, most concepts are applicable to farms throughout the Northeast and mid-Atlantic states. Participants will learn about the benefits and potential drawbacks of grazing, common pasture grasses and legumes, and their nutritional values at different growth stages. Registrants will learn to:  Identify the benefits and hazards of pasture grazing for both horses and the environment.  Identify and use different types of forages.  Understand the differences between continuous and rotation- al grazing and design a grazing management system that works for their pasture.  Assess soil health and cor- rect soil fertility issues.  Determine when pasture renovation is necessary and un- derstand the renovation process.  Manage weeds through integrated weed management techniques.  Recognize common plants toxic to horses and when they are most dangerous in a pasture. This self-paced course in- corporates readings, educational videos and interactive elements to teach the basics of equine pasture management. Participants will have access to a download- able workbook to apply course concepts to their own pastures. Knowledge-check questions are included throughout the course, along with supplementary re- sources. The course is divided into eight sections, each concluding with a short quiz. Participants must achieve a score of 80% or higher on the quizzes to pass the course and receive a certificate of completion. Registration for the course is $99, granting participants 365 days of access. More informa- tion and registration details are available at extension.psu.edu, search for Equine Pasture Man- agement. Penn State Extension Offers Equine Pasture Management Course Remember...tell our advertisers you found them in East Coast Equestrian!