Alternatives to poo picking everyday?

TheMule said:
I'm not fooling myself, I manage my land VERY carefully and walk it daily, if you harrow correctly at a very slow speed you do not spread the droppings widely. I also have a veterinary related degree, have studied equine worming at degree level, do my own egg counts and hatch my own eggs. I know this system works.
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Well each to their own but the neighbouring fields which are harrowed, the poo is spread equally over the land and does spread over a distance, and he drives at what I would say is the correct speed. Also when the farmer harrows our fields while the horses are still out, any poo they have done is spread a fair way and I have to rake it up again.

I hate the thought of poo spread everywhere like I hate the chicken poo spread over it too as the stench is awful.



Ok If i had bigger fields and barrow/ tractor and trailer was not an option, then I would invest in a field poo machine, but I would never use a harrow but would always poo pick my fields regardless of size. What I find, surprising, is people make the stable bed so nice, free of the minuteness poo pellet and even beds all straight banks and level top, but they are happy top leave the field in a mess.
 
ILuvCowparsely said:
What I find, surprising, is people make the stable bed so nice, free of the minuteness poo pellet and even beds all straight banks and level top, but they are happy top leave the field in a mess.
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Beds don't need fertilising. I have a friend who came from a farming family, she stopped poo picking when she realised her grass was getting yellow and not growing well. It needs organic matter and bacteria as well as chemicals to be healthy.
 
JillA said:
Beds don't need fertilising. I have a friend who came from a farming family, she stopped poo picking when she realised her grass was getting yellow and not growing well. It needs organic matter and bacteria as well as chemicals to be healthy.
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When I was on the yard that had resistant worm issues the advice they got (but the farmer wouldn't follow) was to remove poo and rot it down on the muck heap. Spread that on the fields once rotted and rest before turn out. The heat in the centre of a muck heap should kill off parasites.

To be fair it was 40 acres and the arguments between liveries over poo picking just the bits fenced off meant it was never going to happen! Now they just have a chemical worming programme.

I think if you've got clean horses the risk must be reduced. In the case of this yard one mare came into the herd with a serious issue and caused problems for a long time after she'd met her end.
 
Hmm interesting I have the same problem 3 IDS & a pony = 4 barrel loads a day. I have summer & winter fields & I poo pick daily 17 years later starting to feel the strain especially in winter as fields are on a bank and about 5 acres in total. Summer fields total about 4 acres. I worm twice a year varying brands but maybe should try worm count tests. I don't think there's an easy answer as I do like to see clean fields as I often strip graze & wouldn't like to leave all the poo where they are grazing.
 
JillA said:
Beds don't need fertilising. I have a friend who came from a farming family, she stopped poo picking when she realised her grass was getting yellow and not growing well. It needs organic matter and bacteria as well as chemicals to be healthy.
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Well we have never spread poo and our land (we have hear on grape vine and from livery comments) have one of the best grazing in the area. We have been here 22 years and i have poo picked mostly on my own for that whole time except the last 5 when a livery helps me, I can honestly say I have no aches or pains or injury due to poo picking, all my injuries are from riding or from slipping on the yard when wet.

I would rather fertilize bespoke chemical for our land than spread poo all over it. As I said each to their own, but I find poo picking a chore that has to be done to make the grazing more appealing to potential liveries and the horses.

It is also a time to check fencing, look for rubbish / weeds lost shoes and fly hoods
 
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My old yard had a brilliant solution to the barrow part of poo picking - big dumpy bags were down at the field and either the wheelbarrow or the poo hoover could be emptied directly into them and then once a week or so the tractor comes and empties them into the quarry where muck goes (obv tractor needed for this)
 
I didn't think we were talking poo picking acquired injuries, more aggravation! It screws my back up more than it already is and sets mums sciatica off, Dad seems to enjoy doing it since his retirement though so :D

I will say I long for the day our field needs fertiliser, it's not had any in at least 35 years, grazed by horses in 14 and it's still frustratingly chucking out grass like nobody's business!
 
blodwyn1 said:
The best thing we ever invested in is a paddock sweeper. It lifts muck from short or long grass into the hopper and we tow it with a dumper. It is a smaller unit than the commercial ones. It is called an equine powered brush by sch.
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Hiya. I’m currently looking at these and desperate to buy one, is it still effective and does it work on uneven ground? How does it do in the wet? Thanks
 
yes it works on wet and dry ground and our land is uneven. . You can lower or raise the brushes,which will wear quicker on hard ground. We have had ours several years and have replaced the brushes at least tw
You need to clean the air filter every time and it is usefil to have sspaare wheels asas ours gets punctures . The company aar vg for sa.res
 
I pick some up each day in summer but the birds have spread most of it about anyway, my horses are worm counted and have been clear in 7 years, I don't do it at all in winter the wheelbarrow in mud just does my back in.
 
I poo pick with a metal shavings fork which you use lifting the poo up once, really easy iif your grass is fairly short. I think poo scoops are the spawn of the devil. they encourage you to lean over more and place more stress on you wrists.
If I am short of time I do all the poos out in the flat areas and leave poo corner patches where they are never going to eat any way. Some of my larger paddocks are harrowed and rested.
 
I quite like that most of mine (some entire, and some cut late) poo all in the same place in a big pile.

Not 100% obviously, but it really does cut down the amount in the rest of the field :D
 
I often struggle to find the time to poo pick but prefer to keep my paddocks clear if I can. I sometimes book a freelancer helper to spend an hour or two with me if I get too behind but it gets expensive to get help too often and I have given up asking the family to help!

A few things I have found which help: I bought 5 of the big trug tubs which I put near the worst poo corners and fork the poo into those rather than the wheelbarrow through the week, then drag them into the field shelter to keep them dry. I then collect them in the car as a batch when I have more time at the weekend (estate car with boot open and a plastic liner, lazy I know but its so much quicker than 5 long hilly walks to the muck heap and back)

I use a plastic fork with aluminium handle, so much lighter than the metal / wooden handle ones although you do have to be a bit more careful with them or they can snap

I pick up later in the day on dry days so the poo is drier and lighter and takes less toll on my back
 
we have one of the poo pickers that goes on the back of the quad and to be honest, it was a waste of money. the idea is great but like aengusog says, it is so weather dependant plus it depends upon the length of the grass and i had also heard about soil disturbance and grass sickness. i'd subdivide the field and continue to manually pooh pick - gives great compost in about a year.
 
My ankles are knackered after being on a yard where I had to poo pick on an very uneven field and getting recurring sprains. Not having to do my own poo picking is a big advantage to me of my current yard.
 
I would not Harrow small paddocks you will spread the worms around and sour the lawns the horses graze .
I do Harrow at times my big fields but it’s something I seek to avoid as much as possible .
I think you need to pay someone to poo pick in a small area like yours it’s the only way .
I do understand your pain we poo pick our small areas where we manage the fat horses and turn out injured horses or those who are waiting to be ridden my wrists and elbows hurt when I do that .
It’s rotten wearing out so you can’t do stuff .
 
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