Equine Guelph features Introduction to Forage course

Guelph, ON, Feb. 23, 2022- With forage recommended as approximately 80% of your equine’s diet, a caretaker with straight A’s in selection and management of hay and pasture is a horse’s best friend. Join expert in the field, Dr. Paul Sharpe, for the inaugural offering of the Introduction to Forage short online course this Mar 21 – Apr 1, 2022.

Whether your equine runs on regular or high-octane fuel, the role of forage as the main staple of the diet cannot be understated for a digestive system that functions optimally. In line with the University of Guelph’s mantra ‘Improve Life,’ the study of forage and pasture management improves life for horses. Sharpe will provide practical advice and answer questions on selecting, feeding, and managing forage as well as strategies for growing healthy pasture.

Co-author of textbook, Horse Pasture Management, Dr. Paul Sharpe is an animal scientist with bachelor’s degrees in Zoology, Botany, and Agriculture. His research topics, conducted at several agricultural colleges in Ontario, include forage management, pasture management and alternative forages.

Sharpe is a popular guest lecturer and has taught over 22 different courses to students in equine and agriculture programs. He will be your guide exploring the main forms of forage and describing features and nutritional differences between the two types of plants commonly used in forages for horses: grasses and legumes.

Sharpe will explain what factors affect hay and pasture quality and how to evaluate each to supply your horse with the best forage available. You will learn about new research and how to address common problems.

“We need to learn to be flexible and anticipate adversity,” says Sharpe. “Many of the conditions affecting the production of forages are changeable, so it is important to be flexible in response to changes in weather, forage quality and yield, populations of weeds and pests and fluctuations of prices.”

Your horse will gladly spend 18 or so hours a day grazing. Spend 5 – 10 hours learning best practices for delivering optimal forage for your equine companion in this important two-week course.

Introduction to Forage begins on March 21, 2022, on TheHorsePortal.ca and is open for registration now.