Comments from Jane Myers

I am the author of the book Managing Horses on Small Properties (CSIRO publishing) and I have been running Managing Horses on Small Properties workshops in numerous locations around the country for the past year. I recommend in my book and workshops that one of the most important steps in successful pasture improvement is to have an accurate soil test done, preferably from an independent laboratory.

For many horse property owners this pro-active approach to maintaining their pasture is new and can be somewhat overwhelming, it is important that this first important step is handled efficiently and written in a language that anyone understands.

I recommend SWEP not only for their independence, but also for the level of service they offer. Their analysis is returned promptly in an easy to read format, with the very valuable bonus of the opportunity to discuss the results with the experienced staff at SWEP or Pat Coleby.

Without soil tests the land owner does not know if what they are adding to their land will do any good or indeed if it will do harm (by doubling up on something that is already at a high enough level, such as selenium).

Therefore soil tests are a cost effective way to plan your pasture improvements while having peace of mind that you are applying the correct amounts of minerals and fertiliser.

For more about Jane and caring for horses, please visit:

Equiculture.com.au