Anyone else haying their fields yet?

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spotty_pony

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I've just started these past couple of days. My two good doers have managed fine in their paddock of just over an acre all summer but it is pretty bare now and I don't want my hunter to loose weight and would rather he was looking a little on the fat side at the start of the season. I have gone for it and bought a big bale and took all of the plastic off so hopefully it keeps! Am giving them a bit in the stable and a bit in the field each day. :) anyone else started doing this yet?
 
My big horse still looks like he could have a foal and is coming in to ignore straw for 5/6 hours a day. Grass started to look a bit low in all the hot weather but now with some good rain it's growing again like mad in Lincs
 
yes me, im so annoyed, I've never hayed this early! I have 3 acres, I kept it halved all summer and moved the fence back a few metres at a time, and half the field still has loads of grass but its all dry like hay and they aren't really eating, they are just killing the sort side, so I've put a few slices out and they've gobbled it all up!! the farmer is topping the long bit on Monday but think its too late, its all dead!!
 
yes started this week. I have 7 small paddocks which we rotate regularly and they have held up well until now. The worst one is like a dessert , the others still green but no growth at all, so hay it is, and they are eating it all.
 
I did last week for 3 days but moved them into new field yesterday. Just hope the bludy grass starts growing soon or I'll be fooked for winter :-(
 
Ive not stopped since last winter!!!! Grass just never recovered from the long wet winter - despite two lots of fertiliser and calcified seaweed, ive tried resting it, that did nothing, so they've had hay all summer :( its cost a small fortune! Normally they are all looking like barrels this time of year and im thinking the will be huge till after christmas, not this year - thankfully ive got plenty of hay, and beatifull stuff, that will last me but its worrying as the grass has only just started to pick up - think they are having v small turnout paddocks this winter to rest the rest for next spring
 
Yes but I am happily haying. I much prefer it when I can control what he is consuming. I still have a fenced off bit with loads of grass but won't let him on that until winter now as worried about lami.
 
Not yet but the grass has not really grown all year. Last year for the first time in a few years we topped the paddocks but this year despite fertilising during the damp weather, nothing much has grown at all. I've two 15-15.3's and two mini's on just under five acres and it looks just awful.
 
Not in our field, no, because we managed it well and have oodles of grass . . . we are having two thirds topped this morning (the other third doesn't need it) and there is lovely, fresh, young grass underneath.

However, ours is the only field on the yard that is this flush . . . one field have been haying for a good month or more - but they've had their three out 24/7 so have killed their grass - and one other has been haying for most of the summer in a bid to conserve grass for the winter.

P
 
Yes, the littleTB is still well covered but she's an exception but my ID/WB is dropping and lurking around like a shark at the gate waiting to come in for his bucket!
 
Mine look the best they have in years we have had to top it as getting too long so currently my 2 are halfway through one 2 acre field with the other 2 acres growing up fast. Hoping not to have to hay for a few months but if it starts to rain badly they will be in at night on hay to save the ground.
 
I've not stopped feeding hay since winter. We have acres of incredible grass but for 2 little good doers they are only allowed a strip morning and evening so need the hay to add a bit of extra fiber. Plus we had a case of grass sickness down the road this year and hay is a recommendation to reduce the likelihood.
 
No, there is still loads of grass and they all look well and ready to go into winter, when they come in for riding and sorting they don't touch the hay in their stables so not expecting to hay at all.
 
No, have strip grazed all summer. Horses are in great condition & will remain in paddock until end of September. They will then be moved to winter grazing & if all goes well hopefully I won't hay the paddock until February/March if at all?

These horses are not out 24/7 though, out in the morning & in the stable in the evening. :)
 
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