Anyone else running out of grass?

[criso]

It is scary. Looking at our fields you'd think you were in some kind of mediteranean country with the browny, burnt tinge to the short, eaten down grass.

That's what ours is like - mine comes in during the day anyway and gets haylage so not too worried at the moment.

Bit of a side questions but curious, how does the browny dried grass compare for laminitis risk.

There is one school of thought that short stressed grass can be an issue as it tends to be higher in fructans.

When the grass dries out (short or long) does this affect the composition of it for good or bad?

 

[almrc]

same - I have been strip grazing on the track system and although the rested grass has grown, it hasnt grown anywhere near the amout of last years. Its a bit of a worry really. Usually I dont move them to the winter field until october, but I am wondering if they will last that long in the top field!

 

[chestnut cob]

We have 7 horses and 2 shetlands who have 12 acres between them. Their paddocks are well maintained and regularily rotated/rested but nothing is growing back! I moved 3 onto a paddock today that has been rested for nearly 6 weeks, and was shocked to see how little grass growth there was - I know we have not had significant rain in our area for the last few months, but am starting to worry what we will have for winter at this rate!
I do not want to fertilize, as our grazing is normally so productive - who else is in the same boat?

Which bit of Shropshire are you in?? We have had nothing but rain for about 5 weeks where I am! I am sick to death of the sight of it.. our gateways are muddy, everywhere is covered in puddles, some horses out in their waterproofs and my horse is getting his winter coat! My supposed starvation patch is growing back at a rate of knots and most of our fields look like dairy pasture! When it isn't torrential rain with thunder and lightening, it's constant drizzle, or it's windy, cold and cloudy. I rode in my long coat the day before yesterday as it was raining so much. Some of our grass is up to my horse's knees, and he's a 17hh IDx!!

I know it probably sounds like heaven to those who've had no rain but I can't keep my boy's weight under control on this sort of grazing. The field is sectioned in to tiny bits and his friend and he are strip grazing it. He's coming in during the day from 9am to 8pm and only getting overnight soaked hay, plus 3 x walker sessions per week as well as being worked 6-7 days.

 

[spookypony]

I wish we were running out of grass! Anybody know any good pony liposuction vets?

 

[kezimac]

yes but the stupid bloody horse has got a separate summer field with some grass on it - She just wont settle in there and so i am having to keep her on my winter field - so it wont get rested and i will have nothing at all this winter. grrrrr.

 

[Rollin]

We had a whole 20 mins of thunderstorm this week, our first rain since beginning of June with temps in upper 20's - 30's. Yes we have no grass, not green anyway, and they all look fab.

 

[marinitagsd]

Yes me!! I have three acres for my two girls and the grass just isn't growing, they are fed twice a day and have a constant supply of haylage! Whats going on with this weather???
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