Draft Horse Question-OT-Bret4207 or Others

Just a question about acres required. I know it all actually depends on the part of the country you are in, and I am in Central KS. My question is, I have 23 acres of good grass at my house. I have one team of Percherons, and am looking at another team. That would make 4 big horses on 23 acres of grass.
With all the rain this year, I could have had 20 horses out there and not had any issues with them eating all the grass. Hay is not a problem as I put up my own brome, and can bale all the brome and prairie hay I can use.
Question is, do any of you have multiple teams or horses, and think that would be too many for the acres available? Thanks for any thoughts - Bob

Beautiful horses. I love draft horses.

Larry

Nice looking greys! I have a team of full sisters that look a lot like them, but they've greyed out more.

You know as well as anyone that carrying capacity is going to depend on rain, fertility and how resilient your acreage is. I currently have 10 horses, 6 draft/draft pony and 4 riding horses on a little more than you're talking. But I also have access to some real rough pastures that I can turn them on in years like last year where it was so dry in summer. All but 3 of mine are real easy keepers, the Haffies are really a bit too easy and need to slim down a bit. So, I can't give you a real solid answer. I'm sure there are a lot of places that can maintain 4 drafters on 10 or 12 acres and others that would need 100 acres. I'm in northern NY on the border with Canada. All I know about Kansas is that Dorothy and Toto come from there and there's "dust in the wind", ya know? I imagine there are other with a better understanding of your area than I have.

Great looking team. I love horses of all sizes.

Unlike Bret 4207 I will say that you will be able to keep all of your horses because you say you have ample hay. Many horse people relie on hay to feed their livestock when the pastures get short. Go for it.

First, I will say I'm sorry I can't help much with your question as I've never owned horses. I would think you'd have sufficient grass for two teams, especially if you have access to lots of grass for hay. That would also depend on how hard you work them.

Second, those are some beautiful horses you have. Though I've never had horses, I've always had an interest in drafts. My grandpa hated working with horses (so much so he wouldn't let my mom or aunts have horses growing up) but said Percherons were the gentlest of the breeds his father had in all his years of farming. I would love to get some experience working with drafts someday.

I live in Eastern Kansas and yes grass is aplenty this year. I keep 6 mules and 1 horse year around. Mules are 16-17 hands. Go for it, you can always hay them.

You have more than enough acreage for 4 horses.

I had 4 on about 6 to 8 acres. The only time I had a problem was during the extreme drought in 2011.

Father-in-law love horses and had Percherons. I alway said I would get a team when retired. Guess I am still thinking about it. He had this saying, If you have too much grass you have just the right amount.

Anyone that is interested in draft horses, or oxen for that matter, should search around for any local draft horse club shows. Seems like every area has 2 or 3 a year. Draft horse people are about the most welcoming group you'll run into. But be warned, once you get the bug it's a consuming activity. But the old saying about "the outside of a horse being good for the inside of a man" holds true IME.

Back to the OP. It's also going to depend on what you're doing with those horses. Working teams need a good area of good pasture to stay healthy. I know some folks make up for poor pasture with lots of concentrates, but IME nothing works as well as good pasture to put and keep weight on an animal. IMO the concentrates add issues to the horses diet that sometimes become problems. Of course if you're really working them they'll need at least good clean oats, maybe some corn too. But every time I see some sugar junky horse with multiple personality and health issues, I always get the feeling a few weeks off the concentrates and on decent pasture would make him a different animal. In winter you see horses acting a little different than in pasture weather and they react to work differently too.

Just my opinion.

2 acres,good pasture ,per horse.