An Acre per horse... or two?

I

Imogen Rose

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 January 2012
Messages
266
Location
South Downs
Visit site
Hi everyone, im having a conundrum about a local diy yard and need some advice.
they offer 1 acre of grazing for £12.50 a week. its sectioned off and you can do what you want with it.
now, my issue is, do i rent two acres and alternate between the two to rest the ground and give the rass an oppertunity...
or just rent the one and suppliment hay in the winter...
trying to decide which would be cheaper, plus im thinking that unrested land will become ruined over winter and be useless for the following summer?
any advice appreciated :) and its for a warmblood type mare
 
Whichever you do you'll need to feed hay or an alternative in the winter. Two paddocks would allow resting time but what is the soil type and drainage?
 
I think a lot would depend on the quality of grazing, and whether it is for 24/7 turnout?

I have 2 horses that have 2 x 1acre paddocks between them, but are stabled overnight in the winter, and during the day in the summer. The grass is always plentiful and rotate as needed and works well. However if they were out 24/7 365 the quality and abundance of grass would be compromised, and would definitely need to provide additional forage in the winter.

If your mare is to be stabled you may get away with a 1 acre paddock but would split it in two with electric fencing to allow rotation in the summer, then would allow her the whole acre in winter, plus hay.
 
Well, I have 8 acres with four horses and I wish that I had more land...

Will your horse have other horses that she can see in the next door 'sections'.
 
Depends on the set up, drainage, how likely is your mare to churn it up in the winter and how long out for etc I would always go for more unless u restricting turnout in winter to save grazing. I take it there is not an option to rent another acre just for the winter?
 
Thanks for the replies! Thats helped me get a bit of a better idea.
the grazing is good but the soil is chalky clay and will churn up something lovely in the winter as she will be out 24/7.
I was going to do adlib hay in winter with feed top ups if needed.
so i think i will try and persuade him to let me rent another acre at a discount, or move the acre square to a 'fresh' patch.
and she would be surrounded by 20 other horses in single acres too so she would have neighbours.
Just trying to weigh up a slightly cheaper and less hassle option if there was one :D
 
If you are wintering out on your 'square', I would strongly advise you get a 'square' with a good thick hedge on one or more sides, unless there is a field shelter available for the horse.

I realise a native would fair better than most, but I do think it is unfair to winter horses out on a patch of ground with 4 sides of wire or rails, every horse needs to be able to put his backside under a hedge to break the weather beating down on him.
 
thanks for the replies. the square has 3 sides of hedge and the farmer said he will build me a shelter, plus there are stables avaliable if needed.
Sorry for the numpty question but iv never had to concider managing a horse in this way before! previous to this i was very lucky and had 300acres of pasture to play with:D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top