Dealing with Weeds in Horse Paddocks: Safe Herbicide Practices Around Livestock
Dealing with weeds in your horse paddocks can reduce grazing quality, compete with grass, and pose risks to your horses. Selective Herbicides with no or limited withholding periods (for example, Grazon Extra) are the best approach to managing weeds and can be used safely around livestock when chosen carefully.
Find out how to identify weeds, select appropriate herbicides, and follow safe application practices to improve your farm's productivity.
Why Does Weed Control Matter?
Weeds can be highly problematic for your farm productivity, especially if they’ve grown out of control. In horse paddocks, they compete with pasture, affect grazing quality, and can even present risks for your horses if they nibble on something unfamiliar. It’s in situations like this that safe and straightforward weed control practices become essential.
Another important factor is keeping track of how your horses interact with the paddock. If their health and nutrition are waning, it may be a sign of poor grass cover and troublesome weed growth.
On the Central Coast, farmers experience the same challenges, especially after rain or seasonal growth bursts. Coastal Rural Traders has offered local guidance and the right approach to keeping these farmers’ paddocks healthy while ensuring their animals are safe. If you’re unsure where to start, visit the team in store, and we can guide you through our seasonal approach.
Coastal Rural Trader’s Recommended Herbicides
There are different herbicides for different purposes. Some are designed for grazing animals and allow quicker re-entry times, while others require a longer withholding period. Ensure you choose the right one for your paddocks and horses' needs. Or, if you’re weighing up options, Coastal Rural Traders can help explain what suits your land. Search below for a range of herbicides sold at your local Coastal Rural Traders store in the Central Coast.
Herbicide Products
Grazon Extra - Targets deep-rooted woody weeds and tough perennial broadleaf species.
Bow & Arrow - Specialised for controlling broadleaf weeds in turf without harming grass.
Dicamba - Moves through soil to tackle hard-to-reach deep-rooted broadleaf weeds.
Glyphosate - Provides total vegetation knockdown for clearing unwanted growth.
Fluproponate - Long-acting control designed for invasive grassy weeds like serrated tussock.
Starane - Fast-acting solution for difficult broadleaf weeds that resist standard treatments.
Vigilant - Precise brush-on control ideal for isolated weeds and spot applications.
Halosulfuron - Targets sedges and nutgrass with minimal impact on surrounding plants.
Metsulfuron Methyl - Highly effective on woody weeds and broadleaf species at low rates.
Herbicide Products
Steps To Safe Herbicide Practices Around Horses
Identify And Target The Problem Weeds
Before you buy any herbicide product, first take a look at your paddocks and assess what’s growing. Some weeds react better to spot-spraying than others that need complete revitalisation plans. Finding out which weed types you have first can really help you choose the safest and quickest treatment route.
Or, if you have too many weeds to identify all at once, start with the most problematic one and work your way from there. If you want a second opinion, take a photo of your paddock ground cover and bring it into Coastal Rural Traders; our expert team can help you find the correct herbicide.
Follow Application Instructions Carefully
Always read the instructions of the herbicide product you purchase. While there are methods to tailor the timing of application to your paddocks, you should always follow the directions for accurate mixing rates, proper equipment use, and the ideal weather conditions. These will ensure you use the product as intended and achieve the best results. It can also reduce the accidental drift into areas your horses use, so spray your herbicide on calm days, and apply what’s needed based on the product directions.
Keep Horses Out Of Treated Area
While there is a wide variety of herbicides out there - some organic, some non-toxic, some hard-wearing - all should require an undisturbed period that allows the product to dry and settle into the soil. Accidental ingestion could be harmful for your horses, so make sure you have the right fencing setup to conduct a simple rotation cycle for your paddocks. If you’re unsure how to manage this, Coastal Rural Traders can help you explore what others in the community do, while ensuring you do what’s best for your farm.
Maintain Healthy Pasture
The work doesn’t necessarily end once the weeds are treated. Grass recovery helps prevent new weed outbreaks, so you will need to maintain adequate soil nutrition, good moisture and access to quality products that all contribute to healthy grazing for your horses. It’s also important to know that paddock care works in a recurring life cycle, so healthy grazing will also reduce the chance of weeds returning.
Suggested Products For Healthy Horse Paddocks
Fence Maintenance
Portable electric fencing is perfect for flexible paddock management, while a fabricated fence provides reliability and durability for long-term property boundaries. Our staff can help match the right fencing system to your animals and land layout.
Ideal for setting up strip grazing. Allows you to easily rotate and rest paddocks, improving pasture recovery and grazing efficiency.
Waratah Stocksafe 13/122/5 (or equivalent Fabricated Fence)
A strong, long-lasting option for permanent fencing. Designed to contain livestock while withstanding harsh conditions safely.
Soil and Pasture Maintenance
Understanding your soil pH levels is critical; test kits are available at stores. If the levels are too far out of balance, the plants will struggle to take up fertiliser, and weeds will easily grow. Most paddocks on the Central Coast are acidic, and applying Lime is a great place to start.
A cost-effective way to raise soil pH in acidic paddocks. Works well when applied during soil preparation.
A more efficient, easier-to-spread lime option. Ideal for acidic soils on the Central Coast and effective in helping plants access nutrients.
From there it’s time to fertilise, and we have a great range of products from suppliers such as Seasol, Terra Firma & Incitec Pivot to name a few.
Get Local Support That Matters For Your Farm
If you’re looking to control weeds safely and set your paddock up for the seasons ahead, then now is the perfect time to start. Coastal Rural Traders are your local experts who understand the needs of the coastal rural farms. Get assistance in selecting the right herbicides, spray equipment, and fencing solutions for your farm today.