James Manning is improving soil health on the Darley and Godolphin horse operations

A thoroughbred manager in Victoria is proving that regenerative agriculture isn’t just for sheep and cattle grazing systems.

James Manning is stud manager of Darley and Godolphin at Northwood Park. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Managing a horse as a grazing animal is different to sheep or cattle.

But the principles of good soil health and good animal health are the same.

And James Manning is implementing regenerative agricultural practices onto the thoroughbred farm he manages to improve soil health and animal health.

James is the stud manager of Darley and Godolphin thoroughbred breeding operations at Northwood Park and also runs his own 20ha property near Euroa with wife Lisa.

James Manning is stud manager of Darley and Godolphin at Northwood Park. Picture: Zoe Phillips

While he has been learning about regenerative agriculture and ways he could improve the country the thoroughbreds are run on for about six years, this year James was the first Victorian to be awarded a Lachlan Hughes Foundation Scholarship, which aims to grow leaders in regenerative agricultural practices and to support them to lead change in their industry and communities.

The program is based at the Hughes family property, Dulacca Downs in Queensland and scholarships for 2025 open on October 1.

“I like this scholarship because as well as the knowledge and learning, it is about the community aspect and being part of a greater alumni that we can learn from and build ideas with,” James said.

While James said he isn’t the only one implementing regenerative agriculture practices into the horse world, it wasn’t common.

“Horses are different to manage than sheep or cattle, but we can make changes even if we are managing horses.”

James Manning has been implementing regenerative agriculture. Picture: Zoe Phillips

James said they ran an average of 160 horses year-round, while they also ran up to 140 cattle.

Some of the practices James has implemented on-farm include rotating paddocks with different multi-species crops and developing an equine multi-species mix with Grant Sims which has 17 different plant varieties.

“We are really focusing on soil health and bringing biology and diversity back into the system,” he said.

“We’ve slightly intensified our grazing system, with more horses per paddock and co-grazing with cattle is a good rotational tool.”

Animal health was also a big factor.

James Manning in a multi-species crop. Picture: Zoe Phillips

“I had seen a deterioration previously in the health of animals, and the benefits I have seen so far of the multi-species crops is the animals look healthier and their coats are gleaming.

“I think we will see an improvement in fertility as well.”

The Lachlan Hughes Foundation Scholarship was started in 2019, in memory of Lachlan Hughes who tragically died in an on-farm accident in 2018.

“The scholarship is really about bringing community together and bringing awareness to regenerative agriculture. I am really passionate about how good this program is,” James said.