Advice - Topped Field

[BFG]

Can horses be turned out on a field that has had nettles (and a little grass) topped and not collected?

If not straight away then how long before they can be turned out?

 

[trotonsir]

We turn ours out once a field has been topped, always make sure ragwort etc has been dug up before topping though.

 

[miss_c]

I've always been taught not to let horses eat freshly cut grass as it can potentially lead to colic as the grass ferments... It'd be fine once the grass has dried out though I would imagine.

 

[jbord]

I always leave cut nettles in the field, once they have wilted the horses will eat them and they are an excellent sorce of vits and minerals also high in Iron and are good for detoxing and cleansing the blood. (Cut nettles are also a good treat for sick horses on box rest.)

You have to be carefull with fresh cut grass though untill it has dried

 

[BFG]

Thank you i will wait for a few days (if the weather is good) for the small amount of grass to dry out before putting the horses on the field.

There is no ragwort so that isn’t a problem and I will happily leave the nettles for them to munch on.

Thanks again.

 

[kellyeaton]

i was told buy the vets that it is ok for horses to go on topped grass coz you are only taking of the leafy bit off but if you are topping it really short like lawn mowing then no coz you are cutting all the sugars etc from the stem thats the bit that causes the colic!

 

[merlinsquest]

Ours stay in the field as it is topped...... no problems reported yet