1-1.5 acre paddock managmebt

[Lauren90]

Hi all

I have my horse at a livery yard and have a designated 1 to 1.5 acre paddock that is for year round grazing (stabled at night in winter).
With the recent bad weather, snow, floods etc the paddock is less than perfect, patchy and muddy at the front.
I currently have a small section at the back fenced off that has grown long but will probably need cutting down and checking. As it is currently split horizontally would you recommend splitting it vertically and then chain harrowing all and fertilising each side in turn for summer so it can then be rotated?

Thanks,

 

[Polos Mum]

Why will you need to cut it? and what does it need checking for? Given the lack of grass generally I wouldn't be cutting any - if you cut it you'll need to collect it or rest that area for a long time to let the cuttings rot down/ blow away.

If you can (if it's more like 1.5) I'd try and split it into 3 sections - if gateways and water make this possible. Have one to move onto in spring when the weather turns say mid March, with spring grass growing (and dry - hopefully) that will last right through til Sept. Then use an autumn section from 1 Oct to Christmas then a winter paddock Christmas til spring (this one will have been rested since mid March so will have a nice covering of grass).

As each section is rested depending on what it looks like you may well need to roll, harrow reseed etc. but judge that on what it actually looks like at the time you take your boy off.

I use this routine (broadly as I split into 5 and move more often) and it works really well. Nothing nicer than turing them out at Christmas onto a grass filled no mud field. Makes the winter much less of a pain.

 

[Lauren90]

It appears to have grown to long almost hay like rather than grass. Plus I understand that cutting it down to around 4-7cm can help rejuvenate and encourage fresh growth? The paddock only has one gate right in the middle and currently one water trough so i'l have to split down the middle and get a second trough for both halves. Having a third would make each section to narrow as it's longer rather than wider and we wouldn't be able to have an automatic water trough at the back of the field if it was split horizontally. Hope that makes sense!

 

[Polos Mum]

Cutting does encourage root growth - but horses 'cut' the grass when they eat it - so why not let him eat it. My winter field could easily be cut for hay but I leave it (as the old fashioned of us call is 'standing hay') they eat it happily.

If you can only split it into halves, I'd still go for swapping sides at the same time as above but you'll need more hay in the field as it won't get as much chance to rest inbetween usage.