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Grass Farming for Horses: Regenerative Pastures, Movement and Health

Grass Farming for Horses: Regenerative Pastures, Movement and Health

Author: NSW Local Land Services March 9, 2026 Duration: 44:14
Big Shift For Small Farms - Australian Agriculture and Regenerative Farming
Science

The episode urges horse owners to shift from viewing land as turnout to thinking like “grass farmers,” linking soil biology, plant diversity and grazing decisions to horse health.

We hear from horse behaviour expert Jane Myers who explains how separating horses and giving constant paddock access drives fence-walking, overgrazing and worn-out land, and she shares a simple yet transformative pasture paddock setup with her Equicentral system.

Hoof care professional Faith Robinson redesigned her NSW property with a track and laneways to boost movement, choice, and pasture recovery. 

Agroecologist Nicole Masters links soil biology and plant diversity to nutrition, hoof and behavioural issues and urges owners to get curious by digging and reading “weeds” as indicators, and promotes diverse browse and nutrition supplements to reduce reliance on routine chemical worming.


Key episode moments

(00:00) Grass Farmer Mindset

(00:40) Meet the Guests

(01:48) Faiths Property Transformation

(03:24) From Bored Horses to Choice

(06:43) Jane on Behavior and Overgrazing

(09:27) Nicole on Pasture Diversity

(11:32) Soil Biology Basics

(13:13) Weeds as Soil Clues

(15:55) Rest and Second Bite Rule

(17:13) Stubby Test and Laminitis

(18:54) Equicentral System Explained

(21:52) Faiths Track and Laneways

(21:30) Design for Movement and Browse

(28:05) Rethinking Worming

(32:57) Manure Management and Dung Beetles

(38:38) Resilience in Drought and Flood

(43:19) Wrap Up and Resources


If this episode sparked new ideas about horse care, grazing, and land stewardship, you can explore more from our guests below:


Founder of Equiculture and educator in regenerative horse and land management.Learn more about the Equicentral system and Jane’s courses:Free Equiculture mini-course: equiculture.net/equiculture-free-mini-course


Agroecologist and soil educator helping landholders understand what’s happening beneath the surface.Explore Nicole’s Soil Horse Course and other training programs:integritysoils.com/products/soil-horse-course

Hoof care professional and horse owner sharing her real-world journey into regenerative horse management.tranquilisland.com.au


If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share it with a fellow horse owner, and leave a review — it helps us continue bringing these important conversations to life.


Produced by Grow Love Project and hosted by NSW Local Land Services. Supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program. Views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of Greater Sydney Local Land Services or the Australian Government.


Hosted by NSW Local Land Services, Big Shift For Small Farms-Australian Agriculture and Regenerative Farming is a conversation about the fundamental changes required in how we work the land. This podcast moves beyond theory, grounding each discussion in the real-world experiences of Australian farmers who are implementing regenerative practices. You’ll hear from those on the front lines-producers, researchers, and industry experts-as they share practical knowledge about holistic land management. The dialogue recognizes that a truly sustainable system connects everything, from the microbiology in the soil to the well-being of the people managing the landscape. These conversations are made possible by the Grow Love Project in partnership with NSW Local Land Services, supported by Australian Government funding. By listening, you join a community exploring how agricultural resilience is built, one small farm at a time. This podcast serves as a vital resource for anyone interested in the future of farming, offering honest insights and collaborative wisdom for a more regenerative path forward.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 49

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Big Shift For Small Farms - Australian Agriculture and Regenerative Farming
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