Sponsoring a Safergrass clinic:

I need a full day to put my information in proper perspective. Consider offering continuing education credits for veterinarians. This may require some advanced preparation, but may increase participation. Consider an additional day for a local pasture experts or conservation agency personnel to speak on local problems (of which they will be much better informed than I). Then I can put that information in proper context for managing the average recreational horse (which is different from a cow ) AND get local experts on the same page at the same time. Best management practices in agriculture must be specific to the conditions in YOUR region, just as best management practices in horsekeeping must be individualized to each horse. No video taping of lectures is allowed.

What you need to provide as a sponsor:

  • large projection screen
  • portable microphone
  • seating in a room that can be darkened.
  • refreshments for attendees
  • Not necessary, but its really useful to have a pasture with horses close enough for 'in-field' session on grazing behavior, grass and weed identification, and pasture management topics
  • organize venue, catering and local advertising

Topics that can be covered:

  • Factors affecting the carbohydrate content of forage
  • Holistic management of the carbohydrate intolerant horse, or "Are you feeding your horse like a cow?"
  • Soil Minerals: The basis of Nutrition
  • Why native grass may not work under your management practices.
  • Laminitis: prevention, early diagnosis, and first aid treatment
  • General pasture management principles, advanced session or 'growing grass for city slickers'. -fertilizer, liming, herbicides, the importance of a sacrifice area, drainage, rotational grazing, environmental protection
  • Why a mineral supplement based on national averages may be inappropriate in your region, or 'why forage
    specialists laugh at the nutrient content tables in the 1989 NRC Nutrient Requirements for the Horse'
  • Proper sampling procedures and handling to get believable forage analysis results.
  • How to assess if your mineral supplement is sufficient for your horses needs, based on your hay analysis.
  • Learn the math to make your own custom mineral supplements ( it's easier than you think!)
  • Equine nutrition for the rest of us: Applying common sense to feed horses as individuals (which may differ from the 'average' horse featured in the equine texts)

Private consultations at local farms as time allows @ $60/hour.

For more information please contact me