6 Best Granular Fertilizer Spreaders For Horse Pastures For Even Growth
Achieve a lush, healthy horse pasture with even fertilizer distribution. We review the 6 best granular spreaders for uniform coverage and optimal growth.
You’ve done the soil test and bought the right fertilizer, but the real work of building a healthy pasture is in the application. Spreading fertilizer by hand over an acre or two isn’t just back-breaking; it’s a recipe for uneven growth. The right spreader turns a chore into a precise task, ensuring every square foot of your pasture gets what it needs for strong, consistent forage.
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Why Even Spreading Matters for Pasture Health
Uneven fertilizer application creates a pasture of extremes. You end up with "hot spots" of lush, dark green grass where too much fertilizer landed, and weak, pale patches where it was missed. These over-fertilized areas grow fast and are high in sugar, while the neglected spots become prime real estate for weeds.
This isn’t just an aesthetic problem; it’s a horse health issue. The sugary, fast-growing grass in hot spots can increase the risk of laminitis, especially for sensitive horses. Meanwhile, horses will often overgraze the less-fertilized, shorter grass, stressing the plants and compacting the soil until you’re left with bare dirt.
The goal is a uniform stand of resilient grass. Even spreading encourages deep roots and consistent growth across the entire field, creating a durable turf that can withstand grazing pressure. A healthy, dense pasture outcompetes weeds, reduces mud, and provides better nutrition, ultimately saving you money on hay and vet bills.
Agri-Fab 45-0463: A Reliable Tow-Behind Choice
For the hobby farmer with a few acres and a lawn tractor or ATV, the Agri-Fab 45-0463 is a dependable workhorse. Its 130-pound capacity is enough to cover a decent-sized area without constant refilling. It’s a straightforward, no-frills machine that prioritizes function.
What sets it apart at its price point are the details that matter in a real-world pasture. The large pneumatic tires handle bumpy, uneven ground far better than the plastic wheels found on cheaper models, reducing bouncing and ensuring the spinner stays level. More importantly, the gearbox is fully enclosed, protecting the moving parts from corrosive fertilizer dust and moisture that would otherwise seize it up after a season.
This isn’t the heaviest-duty spreader on the market, but it represents a perfect balance of cost, durability, and capacity for most small-scale operations. It attaches easily, the flow control is reachable from the driver’s seat, and it delivers a consistent spread pattern when operated at a steady speed. It’s a tool built to be used, not just admired.
Brinly BS36BH: Heavy-Duty Tow-Behind Spreader
If your pastures are particularly rough or you need a machine that can withstand season after season of heavy use, the Brinly BS36BH is a significant step up in durability. With a 175-pound capacity, it’s built for efficiency on properties of five acres or more. This spreader is designed with longevity as its primary feature.
The key difference is in the construction. The Brinly features a heavy-duty frame and, critically, a glass-filled nylon gearbox with stainless steel components. This level of corrosion resistance is what separates a multi-season tool from a disposable one. It also includes a patented feature called Autoflow, which automatically stops the material flow when you stop your tractor. This simple innovation prevents the ugly, wasteful piles of fertilizer that kill the grass underneath every time you pause.
Of course, this robust build comes at a higher price and weight. But the investment pays off in reliability and reduced waste. For someone who sees fertilizing as a core part of their annual pasture management, the Brinly’s professional-grade features provide peace of mind and consistent performance that cheaper models simply can’t match.
Earthway 2150: Pro-Grade Push Spreader Model
Don’t underestimate the utility of a high-quality push spreader. For properties of one or two acres, or for getting into tight spots around barns, fences, and water troughs, a tow-behind is often overkill. The Earthway 2150 is a commercial-grade push model that brings precision and durability to smaller-scale jobs.
This is not the flimsy spreader you find at a big-box hardware store. The Earthway 2150 features a sturdy frame, a 50-pound capacity hopper, and large pneumatic tires that glide over ruts and clumps in the pasture. Its high-quality gearbox is designed for years of service, and the solid linkage for the flow control gives you a level of accuracy that’s impossible with cable-operated systems that stretch and bind.
A push spreader gives you total control. You can make tight turns, carefully edge along a fence line, or apply seed to a small, repaired patch of ground with pinpoint accuracy. For managing a sacrifice paddock or a small grazing area, the Earthway 2150 is often a more practical and effective tool than a larger, vehicle-pulled implement.
Buyers Products ATVS100 for ATV/UTV Spreading
For those who rely on an ATV or UTV for all their pasture chores, a rear-mounted spreader is an excellent, space-saving option. The Buyers Products ATVS100 is a popular choice, offering a 100-pound capacity in a compact unit that attaches directly to your vehicle’s utility rack. This design keeps the spreader high off the ground, making it ideal for navigating wet terrain or tall grass.
The main advantage of an electric-powered, mounted spreader is control. The spread width is determined by a 12V motor, not by your ground speed. This means you can slow down for tight corners or rough patches without changing your application rate, a common problem with ground-driven tow-behinds. The controls are typically mounted near the handlebars, allowing you to turn the spreader on and off without stopping.
The tradeoff is in convenience and setup. You have to wire it to your ATV’s battery and securely mount the unit on the rack, which takes more effort than simply hooking up a tow hitch. However, for navigating steep hills, wooded pastures, or complex layouts, the maneuverability of a mounted spreader is unmatched.
FIMCO ATV-DMS-12V: Electric-Powered Spreader
The FIMCO ATV-DMS-12V is another top-tier contender in the electric-mounted spreader category, known for its simplicity and wide spread pattern. With a hopper capacity of around 2.2 cubic feet (which holds about 145 pounds of granular fertilizer), it allows you to cover more ground between refills. It’s a robustly built unit designed for practical farm use.
Its standout feature is the adjustable spread width, controlled by a variable-speed 12V motor. You can dial the spread from a narrow 5-foot path for strips and pathways all the way up to a massive 45-foot swath for open fields. This incredible flexibility allows you to adapt to different parts of your property on the fly, making it one of the most versatile options available.
Like other mounted units, the FIMCO requires a 12V power source and a sturdy ATV rack. It’s built for function, with straightforward controls and a design that’s easy to clean and maintain. For the hobby farmer who needs to cover varied terrain efficiently, the FIMCO’s power and adjustability make it a formidable tool for pasture management.
Field Tuff AS-80ATV12: 80-Pound ATV Spreader
Not every ATV user needs a massive 150-pound spreader. The Field Tuff AS-80ATV12 offers a more compact and often more affordable solution for smaller pastures. Its 80-pound capacity is more than enough for a 2-5 acre property, and its lighter weight puts less strain on your ATV’s suspension and rack.
This model includes all the essential features of a good electric spreader: a rust-proof poly hopper, a 12V motor with controls you can reach from the seat, and an adjustable flow gate. It also comes with a rain cover—a small but incredibly useful addition that protects your material from an unexpected shower. The smaller footprint makes it easier to mount, remove, and store.
The Field Tuff is the perfect choice for someone who wants the maneuverability of an ATV-mounted system without the bulk or cost of the larger commercial-grade units. It strikes an excellent balance between capacity and convenience, providing a reliable way to fertilize, seed, or even spread ice melt in the winter.
Calibrating Your Spreader for Accurate Results
Owning the best spreader in the world is pointless if you don’t calibrate it. The settings printed on a fertilizer bag are just a starting point; your walking or driving speed, the humidity, and the specific material all affect the actual application rate. Calibration is the single most important step for even growth.
The process is simple. Lay a tarp on the ground—a 10×10 foot tarp gives you a 100-square-foot test area. Set your spreader to the recommended setting, fill it with a small amount of fertilizer, and run it over the tarp at your normal operating speed, starting before you reach the tarp and stopping after you’ve passed it completely.
Carefully collect and weigh the material that landed on the tarp. If you collected half a pound on your 100 sq ft tarp, your application rate is 5 pounds per 1,000 square feet. Compare this to the rate recommended by your soil test and adjust the spreader’s setting up or down as needed. Repeat the test until you hit the correct rate.
This five-minute process prevents you from wasting hundreds of dollars in fertilizer or, worse, damaging your pasture and endangering your horses. It ensures the investment you made in a quality spreader actually pays off with a healthy, productive field. Calibrate it every season and for every new product you use.
Choosing the right spreader comes down to your acreage, terrain, and the vehicle you’ll use to pull or carry it. Whether it’s a heavy-duty tow-behind or a nimble ATV-mounted unit, the goal remains the same: consistent, uniform application. Ultimately, it is the combination of a quality machine and careful calibration that will give you the lush, resilient pasture your horses deserve.
