Local Council and Landcare groups
Many local Shire Councils and Landcare groups are increasingly recognising the impact of horses on our local environment. Several of these organisations actively collaborate with horse owners, providing resources and valuable information on best practices for land management. This not only benefits the health of the horses but also contributes to the overall well-being of the environment.
Recommended Resources
Canter for Climate has compiled a list of valuable links that we consider to be some of the best information provided by local Shire Councils and Landcare groups. These resources aim to assist horse owners in better managing the land on which they keep their horses.
While environmental conditions may vary across different regions in Australia, we hope that the information provided through these links will prove useful for your own horse husbandry and land management practices.
Chittering Landcare Centre
Chittering Landcare Centre supports the Equine Landcare movement, promoting the connection between healthy land and healthy horses. They provide valuable resources for horse owners in sustainable land management and enhancing equine well-being.
Local Planning Policy #24 in the Shire of Chittering allows one horse per two hectares of cleared land, with an approved management plan allowing up to two horses per two hectares.
Their Equine Management Plan Template covers soil type, pasture management, weed control, and stabling. They also offer publications like “Horses, Land & Water Management Guidelines” and the “Horses, Land & Water Action Planner” to promote sustainable practices and horse health.
Horse SA
Horse SA operate throughout South Australia, advocating for regulated horse keeping, emphasising responsible land management and horse welfare.
Horse SA connect horse property managers and agistees through educational programs and offer resources such as the HorsesLandWater Action Planner and Management Guide, aiding compliance with local council planning requirements. Collaborating with natural resources management boards, they engage in initiatives like the Upper Torrens Land Management Program, promoting sustainable practices and contributing to the harmonious coexistence of horses and the environment in the region.
While Horse SA is an organisation dedicated to horse owners located in South Australia, many of the resources may be on interest and benefit equestrians throughout Australia.
Vision: To respect and promote the importance and inclusion of horses in the community.
Mission: Respect horses, their community and environment through advocacy, communication, and education.
Macedon Ranges Shire Council
The Practical Regenerative Agricultural Communities Program aims to help you identify and implement practical land management practices to improve your grazing, productivity, soil health, biodiversity, and waterway health.
We are offering the following programs about regenerative agricultural practices to help you improve your land, soil, water and livestock:
- Individual, free, on-farm advice
- Webinars, workshops and field days
- Holistic Grazing Management short course
- Farmer discussion groups
The program is being delivered as a partnership between Macedon Ranges Shire Council, other local Shire Councils, Catchment Management Authority and Landcare groups.
Moorabool Landcare Network
The Moorabool Landcare Network seeks to support horse owners managing horse properties.
They are currently undertaking a pilot project which aims to establish the significance of the horse industry in terms of drought resilience, and further scope demonstrations and a case study concept.
The project will consider what pasture management is sustainable, and what drought resilient operations may look like. The project aims to support the horse industry to better manage pastures and groundcover and update drought feeding guides. This will better prepare and forearm the Horse industry to manage drought.
Moorabool Landcare Network will survey horse owners in early 2023 to gain an understanding of current horse keeping practices across the Port Phillip and Corangamite natural resource management regions. This will help Landcare understand what is needed to support horse owners to manage their horse properties for improved drought resilience.
Mornington Peninsula Landcare Network
The Mornington Peninsula Equine Landcare group welcomes everyone interested in sustainable land management, particularly in the management or resources supporting horses.
We provide a network of support and information for horse owners to develop their paddocks or plan their properties and land management systems to be efficient, horse friendly and environmentally friendly.
We will discuss and encourage:
- Pasture development and soil health
- Weed and pest management
- Protection of waterways and water quality
- The benefits of incorporating and maintaining areas of indigenous vegetation on our land, and practical ways to incorporate and add these to a horse paddock or property
- Explore ways to provide habitat for indigenous birds and wildlife.
Connect with your local Council
Local Shire Councils are a great place to start to find land management information relevant to your region. If your local Shire Council is not on our recommended Resources list we suggest you get in touch with your local Shire Council and ask if they have any resources, information or events relating to horse and land management relevant to your local area.
Not sure how to contact your local Shire Council? Find and contact via this link.
Find your local Landcare group
Find and connect with your local Landcare group via this link.
The National Landcare Directory lists various community groups dedicated to environmental preservation throughout Australia. These groups encompass a wide range of categories, such as landcare networks and groups, Bushcare, Coastcare, farming system groups, landholders, Traditional Owners, First Nations groups, and Junior Landcare schools.
It also includes registered environmental community groups actively engaged in conservation and sustainable land management activities within their local environments, even if they don’t specifically identify as ‘landcare’ in their group name.
Connecting with your local groups
Thanks for reading, we hope that you found the information and links provided on this page useful.
We’d love to hear from you! If you are aware of any other local Shire Councils or Landcare groups that offer useful land management information for horse owners, please don’t hesitate to inform us via email. We would be grateful to add them to our Resource Library, thank you.