A report from Konradsheim
Healthy soils are the foundation for healthy horses – we at Steinkraft are convinced of this. Especially in horse husbandry, where feed quality and pasture care are closely linked to animal well-being, it's worth taking a closer look. An example from the mountains of Lower Austria shows how KALKMEISTER slurry lime and bedding lime were able to transform meadows with a high buttercup content into dense, valuable forage grass areas – without any reseeding.
From problematic herbs to robust grasses
Many horse owners are familiar with this: meadows with lots of buttercup , meadowfoam, or dandelions. These plants may look pretty, but they are unsuitable for horses – buttercup, for example, is poisonous when fresh, and these plants have little forage value. In Konradsheim, it was observed that where lime was regularly applied with KALKMEISTER , these plants slowly disappeared – making way for vigorous forage grasses.
Why lime makes such a difference on horse pastures
Soil pH values say a lot about their health. In Konradsheim, the pH on untreated leased meadows was 5.4 – too acidic. The regularly limed areas, in contrast, were at 6.4, which is ideal for forage grasses. The difference was visible: dense growth, healthy turf, and hardly any weeds. Horse owners know how important a stable turf is – it protects against trampling, prevents erosion, and consistently provides usable roughage.
Naturally without upheaval – harnessing the power of the soil
Remarkably, the conversion was successful without sowing or tilling. Through the continuous application of KALKMEISTER Lime via the manure and KALKMEISTER Lime as bedding in the stable, the meadow grass developed spontaneously – a wild type similar to Italian ryegrass. Fast-growing, robust, and high-yielding – ideal for horse-friendly grazing.
White clover also found its place: it grew luxuriantly in the gaps and naturally supplemented the grass stands with protein and nutrients – a harmonious coexistence of grasses and legumes, as desired in organic horse farming.
Better soil structure – better for water, roots and nutrients
Liming with KALKMEISTER created stable soil crumbs. These ensure good aeration, promote root growth, and improve water absorption. Especially with increasingly extreme weather—long dry periods alternating with heavy rainfall—a stable soil structure is invaluable. It protects against erosion, helps retain water, and makes the pasture more resilient.
Benefit: What horse owners get out of it
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Fewer weeds in the pasture – in a completely natural way
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More and denser forage grass – robust, hard-wearing and tasty
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A healthy turf – less erosion and trampling damage
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Better feed quality – low in energy enough for horses, but rich in structure
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Sustainable soil improvement – without tillage, without chemical additives
Conclusion: A strong pasture begins in the soil
The Konradsheim case impressively demonstrates: When we give the soil what it needs, it gives us back healthy, natural pasture forage. Especially in horse husbandry, where quality is often more important than sheer quantity, support from KALKMEISTER is a simple, effective, and sustainable way to improve pasture management – for the benefit of animals, soil, and people.
