ON the banks of the River Bann in Co Down, managing grass is inseparable from managing water. At Shanaghan Hill Farm, that pressure has reshaped how horses are kept. Under the Shanaghan Horses system, horses are managed as part of an integrated grazing model alongside sheep, soil, and forage production.
The 86-acre farm runs approximately 250 sheep alongside around 15 horses. Rather than treating these enterprises separately, they operate within one rotational system designed to protect soil structure, maintain ground cover, and optimise forage use.
Horses are naturally mobile grazers, yet conventional turnout often leads to selective grazing, poaching, and declining pasture quality. To address this, paddocks are subdivided, with sheep moved daily and horses, in smaller groups, moved every two to three days. Horses are co-grazed with sheep within the same rotation, improving pasture utilisation and helping reduce parasite pressure, as the species do not share the same internal parasites.
Rest periods between grazing are critical. They allow swards to recover, roots to deepen, and soil structure to improve, increasing resilience to both heavy rainfall and summer dry periods. This has become increasingly important in a climate of more extreme weather.
Soil management underpins the system. Synthetic fertiliser has not been used for five years. Instead, the focus is on building soil biology and encouraging the latent seed bank. By reducing inputs and allowing plants to reseed, species such as clover, and birdsfoot trefoil have re-established, improving diversity and resilience.
Consistent forage quality
Soil fertility is supported using lime and bio-stimulants, including seaweed, which act as soil conditioners by stimulating microbial activity and root development. Farmyard manure, treated with microbial inoculants, is returned to the land to stabilise nutrients and reduce losses. This approach supports both enterprises. Horses benefit from consistent forage quality and reduced parasite challenge, while sheep performance is maintained through improved grass utilisation. The farm also produces its own silage and haylage and finishes 100% grass-fed lamb sold direct, reinforcing a forage-led system.
Management remains proactive as grazing decisions are based on ground conditions and grass growth, parasite control is guided by faecal egg counts, and body condition is closely monitored to manage risks such as obesity and laminitis. At its core, the system reflects a One Health approach: linking soil, animal, and human health. By aligning stocking levels with the land’s capacity and working with biological processes, the aim is to build a resilient system that supports both productivity and long-term land health.
Shanaghan Horses are bred at Shanaghan Hill Farm, focusing on Irish Draught and Irish Sport Horses. Horses under the “Shanaghan” prefix have been sold and competed successfully across Ireland, the UK, Europe and North America. Notable horses include Shanaghan Faith, Shanaghan Ricochet and Shanaghan Velvet to name a few, each achieving success in competition and export markets.
The breeding programme prioritises soundness, temperament and performance, underpinned by a forage-based, low-input management system integrated with the wider farm.
More information can be found at www.shanaghanhillfarm.co.uk.