Hollyberry
Well-Known Member
Makes me feel better, mine are just as bad but its nice to know I am not alone.
Anyone have fields that look like this??
- Thread starter Holly831
- Start date
CastleMouse
Well-Known Member
Blimey!
Not quite as bad as that over here...
Not quite as bad as that over here...
Vizslak
Well-Known Member
I'm going to show this post to my lot tomorrow...they should be a little more bloody greatful that so many paddocks look like this and they can still see some grass in theirs, they may stop breaking out in disgust at their paddocks! I actually feel guilty to say it but my fields don't have so much as a puddle and the only mud is a bit around the gateway between the two main fields
TarantuLove
Well-Known Member
My field isn't even on clay field, but the gateway and where they stand in the corner is dreadful. My horse just wants to come in all the time..!
nijinsky
Well-Known Member
Yep - my winter fields are as bad if not worse, mud soup, have been for ages now. I keep looking at the spring fields & think how nice it would be to put them in there but it will be trashed in no time, it's still so wet out there. I figure my winter fields can't get any more trashed than they already are.
Holly831
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Yep,
winter paddock today
ETA The horses stayed in today, I think they were greatful
[/ QUOTE ]
Nic85 you have made me feel so much better about mine!!
We are on heavy clay and only moved here 20 months ago, spent a fortune on land drains last year, thing is they are draining at full bore (6" pipes) so I dread to think what it would be like without them. I had every intention of wintering some of mine out, good job we built extra stables!!
Yep,
winter paddock today
ETA The horses stayed in today, I think they were greatful
[/ QUOTE ]
Nic85 you have made me feel so much better about mine!!
We are on heavy clay and only moved here 20 months ago, spent a fortune on land drains last year, thing is they are draining at full bore (6" pipes) so I dread to think what it would be like without them. I had every intention of wintering some of mine out, good job we built extra stables!!
palomino698
Well-Known Member
I'd love to have that little mud in mine
The ducks love it. I can't get the wheelbarrow through it, can't balance when leading neds through the gate, slip and slide all over the field and end up on my knees several times a week. Clay, glorious clay. I'd NEVER live on clay again, moved here in summer and didn't know...
Little guy has Cushings and costs a fortune in bedding so he has to go out, and he HATES mud. The others stay in if I think I can afford the smaller amount of extra bedding for them, but one won't roll in the stable - she'd happily go and roll on the lawn, then come back in.
The ducks love it. I can't get the wheelbarrow through it, can't balance when leading neds through the gate, slip and slide all over the field and end up on my knees several times a week. Clay, glorious clay. I'd NEVER live on clay again, moved here in summer and didn't know...
Little guy has Cushings and costs a fortune in bedding so he has to go out, and he HATES mud. The others stay in if I think I can afford the smaller amount of extra bedding for them, but one won't roll in the stable - she'd happily go and roll on the lawn, then come back in.
Prince33Sp4rkle
Well-Known Member
good lord!!!!
i really really feel for those of you on low lying clay......im on sandy soil half way up a hill and i forget how damn lucky i am until i see this, ok we have an area of damp soil about 2 foot by 3 foot just inside the gate, and one corner is a bit churned up but its not mud, just bare sandy soil area, and ok grass is a bit yellow now after the snow but at least the entire field has got a covering.
christ.....
i really really feel for those of you on low lying clay......im on sandy soil half way up a hill and i forget how damn lucky i am until i see this, ok we have an area of damp soil about 2 foot by 3 foot just inside the gate, and one corner is a bit churned up but its not mud, just bare sandy soil area, and ok grass is a bit yellow now after the snow but at least the entire field has got a covering.
christ.....
Fantasy_World
Well-Known Member
QR all I can say is holy cr*p about the state of some of the fields on this thread
Blooming weather. When it is not raining, it is snowing and when it is neither it is frosty or frozen everywhere. It is little wonder that the fields are not coping. We get the frost, snow and ice so the water is holding in the ground and at ground level. Then we get the thaw and the water cannot drain away quick enough because the ice only thaws so much and then freezes again, trapping the water. Or else we get the rain, sleet or further snow that just adds to the problem as the residual water whether in its liquid state or frozen state has nowhere to go in a short space of time as we are not having enough warmth from the sun to evaporate it from the surface.
What we need is some sun and plenty of it.
It wouldn't surprise me though having that what has been a really cold and wet winter if we have a baking hot summer and then have problems getting the grass to grow due a lack of rainfall. How ironic would that be if it happened?
We just can't win as horse owners can we. We either get too much rain, snow or ice or virtually none at all when we do need it. Just cannot win
Blooming weather. When it is not raining, it is snowing and when it is neither it is frosty or frozen everywhere. It is little wonder that the fields are not coping. We get the frost, snow and ice so the water is holding in the ground and at ground level. Then we get the thaw and the water cannot drain away quick enough because the ice only thaws so much and then freezes again, trapping the water. Or else we get the rain, sleet or further snow that just adds to the problem as the residual water whether in its liquid state or frozen state has nowhere to go in a short space of time as we are not having enough warmth from the sun to evaporate it from the surface.
What we need is some sun and plenty of it.
It wouldn't surprise me though having that what has been a really cold and wet winter if we have a baking hot summer and then have problems getting the grass to grow due a lack of rainfall. How ironic would that be if it happened?
We just can't win as horse owners can we. We either get too much rain, snow or ice or virtually none at all when we do need it. Just cannot win
Weezy
Well-Known Member
*DISCLAIMER* I am absolutely NOT passing judgement on anyone with my following musings
To those with fields that look like those posted - i.e. mud and water, why do you continue to turn out? I don't come from here, so turn out isn't the be all and end all like it is to a lot of Brits. My field is my field, for winter and summer, so it has to be looked after. We are wet and soggy, but nowhere near as bad as what has been posted, yet we are not turning out. The horses walk and literally leave mud where they touch, so they stay in (they are in big pens and go on the walker and are exercised).
So, if you have a mud field, do you still turn out and why
To those with fields that look like those posted - i.e. mud and water, why do you continue to turn out? I don't come from here, so turn out isn't the be all and end all like it is to a lot of Brits. My field is my field, for winter and summer, so it has to be looked after. We are wet and soggy, but nowhere near as bad as what has been posted, yet we are not turning out. The horses walk and literally leave mud where they touch, so they stay in (they are in big pens and go on the walker and are exercised).
So, if you have a mud field, do you still turn out and why
Prince33Sp4rkle
Well-Known Member
this is from last Jan/Feb but its looking about the same this winter....if you squint hard you can just about see the *mud* in the bottom right corner!
Holly831
Well-Known Member
I still turn out as my youngsters like to have a run about and my old boy gets stiff if he is in too long.
I didn't turn out today though as you can see the state of the winter field. The top end is soft on top but not boggy mud like the end in the pictures!! Provided mine have haylage they are happier out during the day than in. They stand by the gate when they want to come in.
I am lucky enough to have 5 large paddocks so I can rotate and rest them in turn and I know that although a real mess now, the land will recover.
I didn't turn out today though as you can see the state of the winter field. The top end is soft on top but not boggy mud like the end in the pictures!! Provided mine have haylage they are happier out during the day than in. They stand by the gate when they want to come in.
I am lucky enough to have 5 large paddocks so I can rotate and rest them in turn and I know that although a real mess now, the land will recover.
blingmypony
New User
March the 1st on Monday - isn't that the start of Spring?
Looks like the spring's already sprung in some of the lakes pictured here!!! I don't envy any of you - I just hope we have a mild spring that'll dry you all out!
Looks like the spring's already sprung in some of the lakes pictured here!!! I don't envy any of you - I just hope we have a mild spring that'll dry you all out!
foo
Well-Known Member
Our gateways are bad but the fields pretty dry. I personally think (especially youngsters )should have daily turnout, however small. The odd day here and there in are not a problem. I would never shut mine up all winter with no turnout.
I do feel for you all with horrendous water etc.
I do feel for you all with horrendous water etc.
smac
Well-Known Member
Since mid dec ours have been out less than a dozen times each and even then just 1hr stints.
Horse walker, alot of hay, and a neck strap!! the arena has had alot of harrowing recently as lots of fresh horses being lunged!!
We are using two large bales hay and 1/2 large bale haylage a day!! You dont want to know what it is costing to bed, feed and entertain 14horses!! Has rained all week and although fields arnt near those pictured we have few puddles.
Argh please hurry up spring- and those "april showers" can bog off to Spain
Horse walker, alot of hay, and a neck strap!! the arena has had alot of harrowing recently as lots of fresh horses being lunged!!
We are using two large bales hay and 1/2 large bale haylage a day!! You dont want to know what it is costing to bed, feed and entertain 14horses!! Has rained all week and although fields arnt near those pictured we have few puddles.
Argh please hurry up spring- and those "april showers" can bog off to Spain
lilly1
Well-Known Member
My god some of those pics are horrific.
I'm going to rub it in now and show you ours (pic taken last week)
They live out without food and are still fat. So much so we have since cornered off a part of the field for them.
Admittedly you have to hold on to your wellies at the gate. We have clay soil and it really is like a bog!
I'm going to rub it in now and show you ours (pic taken last week)
They live out without food and are still fat. So much so we have since cornered off a part of the field for them.
Admittedly you have to hold on to your wellies at the gate. We have clay soil and it really is like a bog!
lachlanandmarcus
Well-Known Member
Horses are not designed to live in a cage (stable) although most get used to having to, and they generally enjoy an hour or two outside even when the weather is awful. Mine only dont go out if the snow is thigh high like it has been the last two days, and then only cos its impossible physically to do it. Its better for their mental and physical health to be free to walk around, get the dust out of their nostrils, pick at whatever stalks they can find or even just roll in the mud and get filthy.
So I guess we do it because although its more work for us its more natural for them.
So I guess we do it because although its more work for us its more natural for them.
smac
Well-Known Member
I do agree haffieliesel and I would prefer to put them out, but then what do they eat in the summer?! we have 60 acres but once you have the fields with the hay, the cows have small field (mud bath) with their barn, and part is woodland.
we only have 2 that are difficult and they do go out in a little paddock for 30min 3 times a week, regardless of weather but if we did that for all it would be too dangerous. One just looks at bit of mud and he has lost a shoe. and they are out as long as they want in summer.
we only have 2 that are difficult and they do go out in a little paddock for 30min 3 times a week, regardless of weather but if we did that for all it would be too dangerous. One just looks at bit of mud and he has lost a shoe. and they are out as long as they want in summer.
nijinsky
Well-Known Member
If I don't turn out my option is they stay in. The mud is bad but my opinion is they are still better off out in that than couped up in a small stable 24/7. I don't have a horsewalker, my horses are at home & I am at work all day so I can't even tend to them if they are in all day. They are not standing by the gate waiting to come in so I figure they are happy enough out. They are well rugged & have huge round bales of hay so to me they are "more free" being out. Keeping a horse stabled for most of the day & night would worry me a lot more than keeping them out in the mud. This is my opinion for my horses though.
mymare
Well-Known Member
Nope, mine is covered in flipping snow!! Couldn't open the gate yesterday as the drifts were so high. My shetland pony had to leap through the snow, it was half-way up his sides.
Vizslak
Well-Known Member
I'm very jeaous of that pic lilly1! I have grass that length covering my fields...but its dead, from 3 weeks of snow lying on top of it
not a pretty green like yours, the paddock I have them in most of the time now is a lot more sparse but still green and not muddy at least!
I cant wait for spring!
I cant wait for spring!
Holly831
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
My god some of those pics are horrific.
I'm going to rub it in now and show you ours (pic taken last week)
They live out without food and are still fat. So much so we have since cornered off a part of the field for them.
Admittedly you have to hold on to your wellies at the gate. We have clay soil and it really is like a bog!
[/ QUOTE ]
Whats that green stuff called?? So long since I have seen any I have forgotton
Very Jelouse (sp) ......
My god some of those pics are horrific.
I'm going to rub it in now and show you ours (pic taken last week)
They live out without food and are still fat. So much so we have since cornered off a part of the field for them.
Admittedly you have to hold on to your wellies at the gate. We have clay soil and it really is like a bog!
[/ QUOTE ]
Whats that green stuff called?? So long since I have seen any I have forgotton
Very Jelouse (sp) ......
Theresa_F
Well-Known Member
Our winter fields look very similar to yours, though mine is not as bad as the other field as my two don't run around that much and I do put out hay so the have not grazed down as much.
Summer field is looking nice and roll on the start of May and 24 hour t/o again.
Ours go out 4 days a week to give the field a bit of a chance to survive winter with a bit of grass left. Other days they go in the school for some horse time so it is not too bad.
Longest time without field turnout as been this year - ten days but this was because the lane to the field was so icy it would have been too dangerous to lead them on it, when they could go out of the stable and straight into the school without stepping on ice. Better this than the risk of a clydesdale going down on sheet ice, heavy horses shoud they go down, go down very hard, plus anyone in the way could easily be killed due to their size.
Summer field is looking nice and roll on the start of May and 24 hour t/o again.
Ours go out 4 days a week to give the field a bit of a chance to survive winter with a bit of grass left. Other days they go in the school for some horse time so it is not too bad.
Longest time without field turnout as been this year - ten days but this was because the lane to the field was so icy it would have been too dangerous to lead them on it, when they could go out of the stable and straight into the school without stepping on ice. Better this than the risk of a clydesdale going down on sheet ice, heavy horses shoud they go down, go down very hard, plus anyone in the way could easily be killed due to their size.
Achinghips
Well-Known Member
ooh,I love Clydesdales, can you put some pics up on a separate thread, pretty please
?
Holly831
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
ooh,I love Clydesdales, can you put some pics up on a separate thread, pretty please
?
[/ QUOTE ]
Me too but how much do they eat??
ooh,I love Clydesdales, can you put some pics up on a separate thread, pretty please
[/ QUOTE ]
Me too but how much do they eat??
mrdarcy
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
I do agree haffieliesel and I would prefer to put them out, but then what do they eat in the summer?! we have 60 acres but once you have the fields with the hay, the cows have small field (mud bath) with their barn, and part is woodland.
we only have 2 that are difficult and they do go out in a little paddock for 30min 3 times a week, regardless of weather but if we did that for all it would be too dangerous. One just looks at bit of mud and he has lost a shoe. and they are out as long as they want in summer.
[/ QUOTE ]
60 acres?! I dream of having that much land and I'd love some woodland - why don't you turn out into the woodland area?
I rent 3 acres of what is at the moment mud - zero grass - but my five all live out 24/7. I hate the mud but I'd rather they trashed the fields than were stuck inside. I'll probably have to supplement with hay/haylage all year round but TBH I'd rather do that than them eat grass because they're barefoot and grass isn't great for feet.
I do agree haffieliesel and I would prefer to put them out, but then what do they eat in the summer?! we have 60 acres but once you have the fields with the hay, the cows have small field (mud bath) with their barn, and part is woodland.
we only have 2 that are difficult and they do go out in a little paddock for 30min 3 times a week, regardless of weather but if we did that for all it would be too dangerous. One just looks at bit of mud and he has lost a shoe. and they are out as long as they want in summer.
[/ QUOTE ]
60 acres?! I dream of having that much land and I'd love some woodland - why don't you turn out into the woodland area?
I rent 3 acres of what is at the moment mud - zero grass - but my five all live out 24/7. I hate the mud but I'd rather they trashed the fields than were stuck inside. I'll probably have to supplement with hay/haylage all year round but TBH I'd rather do that than them eat grass because they're barefoot and grass isn't great for feet.
Haniki
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
If I don't turn out my option is they stay in. The mud is bad but my opinion is they are still better off out in that than couped up in a small stable 24/7. I don't have a horsewalker, my horses are at home & I am at work all day so I can't even tend to them if they are in all day. They are not standing by the gate waiting to come in so I figure they are happy enough out. They are well rugged & have huge round bales of hay so to me they are "more free" being out. Keeping a horse stabled for most of the day & night would worry me a lot more than keeping them out in the mud. This is my opinion for my horses though.
[/ QUOTE ]
I'm the same as nijinky, I don't have an outdoor school either and work so until the clocks are altered can't really ride during the week One of mine is 27 years old and retired so needs to go out for exercise. The gateway is hardcored so they have somewhere dry to stand. Roll on Spring!
If I don't turn out my option is they stay in. The mud is bad but my opinion is they are still better off out in that than couped up in a small stable 24/7. I don't have a horsewalker, my horses are at home & I am at work all day so I can't even tend to them if they are in all day. They are not standing by the gate waiting to come in so I figure they are happy enough out. They are well rugged & have huge round bales of hay so to me they are "more free" being out. Keeping a horse stabled for most of the day & night would worry me a lot more than keeping them out in the mud. This is my opinion for my horses though.
[/ QUOTE ]
I'm the same as nijinky, I don't have an outdoor school either and work so until the clocks are altered can't really ride during the week One of mine is 27 years old and retired so needs to go out for exercise. The gateway is hardcored so they have somewhere dry to stand. Roll on Spring!
Chico Mio
Antedeluvian
[ QUOTE ]
*DISCLAIMER* I am absolutely NOT passing judgement on anyone with my following musings
To those with fields that look like those posted - i.e. mud and water, why do you continue to turn out? I don't come from here, so turn out isn't the be all and end all like it is to a lot of Brits. My field is my field, for winter and summer, so it has to be looked after. We are wet and soggy, but nowhere near as bad as what has been posted, yet we are not turning out. The horses walk and literally leave mud where they touch, so they stay in (they are in big pens and go on the walker and are exercised).
So, if you have a mud field, do you still turn out and why
[/ QUOTE ]
It's the old story Wheezy, we know there are other ways to keep horses - because that's the way we've kept them and they are still alive, healthy and as sane as any equine can be
We feed hay all year round as I am used to hving no grazing and if we move South again, we will certainly have no grazing, so they might as well get used to it.
My paddock is a thin layer of topsoil over rock and it slopes gently from top to bottom. This means the corner where they stand (at the bottom) resembles a tank training ground that has been abandoned for being too difficult for tracked vehicles. Ari likes to lie in it
Yesterday they were out from 10am until 7pm, today they are being kept in because we are forecast abominable wether for the next 48 hours.
*DISCLAIMER* I am absolutely NOT passing judgement on anyone with my following musings
To those with fields that look like those posted - i.e. mud and water, why do you continue to turn out? I don't come from here, so turn out isn't the be all and end all like it is to a lot of Brits. My field is my field, for winter and summer, so it has to be looked after. We are wet and soggy, but nowhere near as bad as what has been posted, yet we are not turning out. The horses walk and literally leave mud where they touch, so they stay in (they are in big pens and go on the walker and are exercised).
So, if you have a mud field, do you still turn out and why
[/ QUOTE ]
It's the old story Wheezy, we know there are other ways to keep horses - because that's the way we've kept them and they are still alive, healthy and as sane as any equine can be
We feed hay all year round as I am used to hving no grazing and if we move South again, we will certainly have no grazing, so they might as well get used to it.
My paddock is a thin layer of topsoil over rock and it slopes gently from top to bottom. This means the corner where they stand (at the bottom) resembles a tank training ground that has been abandoned for being too difficult for tracked vehicles. Ari likes to lie in it
Yesterday they were out from 10am until 7pm, today they are being kept in because we are forecast abominable wether for the next 48 hours.
Prince33Sp4rkle
Well-Known Member
this is my lot today...
Scheherezade
Well-Known Member
Our winter field is trashed. Yard has hundreds of acres, but far be it for me to question the use of the fields (or lack of - a lot of the land is just left!).
Most the liveries are just in 24/7, but I have to turn mine out, as he has OCD and needs movement in the joints to help it heal. Being kept in is very bad for his joints, plus the other liveries are complaining about windgalls now.
Personally I just don't feel an hour of exercise makes up for 6/7 hours turnout.
Most the liveries are just in 24/7, but I have to turn mine out, as he has OCD and needs movement in the joints to help it heal. Being kept in is very bad for his joints, plus the other liveries are complaining about windgalls now.
Personally I just don't feel an hour of exercise makes up for 6/7 hours turnout.