Your Autumn Chores List

It is a rainy Labor Day as I work on this blog. This has been the driest summer that I can remember, and my pastures are a reflection of the lack of rain. I have relied on orchard pasture blocks all summer long, which gets costly, but I consider myself fortunate that we are not experiencing wildfires that tend to go with droughts. Not that the entire state is in a drought. There are areas all around me that have been getting plenty of rain….the rain just seems to go all around our farm, and I have learned to rely on my gut instincts and not weather apps, which have been disappointedly wrong….ALOT! The horses and donkeys gaze longingly at my one decent pasture and have happy dances when I do let them out on it to graze for short amounts of time. The Farmer’s Almanac is calling for a wet and cold winter for us…I hope that it proves to be accurate!

But with the arrival of September, it is time for my annual fall maintenance blog. So without further ado, here ya go!

Autumn Pasture Maintenance:

Re-seed pastures in early fall for cool-season grasses. The month you reseed will depend upon your climate and rainfall. Continue to mow when you see seed heads forming. Removing the stem and seed head will stimulate new growth.

Weeds can be sprayed with an herbicide at this time and another application of nitrogen in September will enable more growth during the cooler weather. Now is a good time to spread composted manure.

Continue to check fencing for broken boards or rotted posts, which may need to be replaced before a winter storm knocks it down.

If you have not had your agriculture agent out in more than a year, this is a good time to have them out and test your soil and develop a plan, especially if you think your pastures need a fall fertilizer. 

Autumn Barn Maintenance:

· Clean out areas where manure and other organic material have accumulated, particularly in high-traffic areas. This will reduce the chance of these areas becoming muddy in winter and Spring

· Freshen up the footing in high-traffic areas to reduce muddy conditions later in the seasons

· Clean barn gutters

· Check electrical wiring for rodent damage

· Remove cobwebs from ceilings and rafters

· Blankets and sheets should be taken from storage and be ready to use

· Plans should be in place to care for your senior horses in the coming winter months

· If you live in a climate where you can purchase and store hay and grain for the winter, this should be completed by the end of September

· Any necessary barn and fence repairs should be wrapped up before the first snowfall

· Pipes should be wrapped in preparation for freezing temperatures

· The cooler weather means this is a good time to work on projects you could not tackle due to rain or heat! Constructing your manure compost pile, addressing the muddy areas, constructing a sacrifice paddock, or removing weeds or dead branches are best addressed before winter arrives

And of course, as I state every season….if you don’t have a DISASTER PLAN and a FIRE PREVENTION PLAN, now is the time to create one. If you do have one, be sure to make any changes and as always, DRILL, DRILL, DRILL! If you are a new subscriber, you can read my blogs on these two important topics on the blog site.

In other Common Sense Horse Keeping news:

Cooler weather means festivals and getting outdoors! Here is a list of my upcoming fall schedule:

September 21: Ocala Makers Market, 11:00-4:00

October 4: Meet the Author Event at DragonFly Farm, DeLeon Springs, FL

October 9: Guest Speaker on Fire Prevention, Altoona Trail Riders, Altoona, FL

November 6-9: Guest Speaker and Book Signings at Equine Affaire, Springfield, MA. Speaking on Friday, November 7 on Disaster Planning and How to Be a Good Boarder. Author Signing in Better Living Building. More details to come!

And for those of you in Central Florida, I will be opening a vendor booth for my Etsy and mobile tack store, Two Donkeys and a Horse at Vault 44, opening September 15 in DeLand, Florida. Look for equestrian decor and collectibles, as well as my book and my Etsy favorites!

Don’t forget to hug your horse!

Lori