Anyone managed to go stubble fielding?!

[poiuytrewq]

Having moved to an arable farm 7 years ago I should have done my fair share!
Unfortunately I’ve had several horses over that time and they have all been lame or broken over summer ?
Well, I think I’ve had one summer maybe.
So this year, great horse who’s sound and plenty fit enough to make good use of them but the ground may as well be concrete with the added risk of being quite rutted.
After my luck of the past years there’s no way I’m risking this one’s legs so stubble fields are reserved for dog walking ?…. Again

On the plus side and I know I’m lucky here we are having an over winter huge stubble field fairly close by so I’ll use that if it kills me.

Anyone been able to make the most of them?

 

[HappyHollyDays]

Cutting round us has begun so we have stubble fields but the ground is like concrete and the cracks are just to large to be even trotting on. As tempting as it is like you I’m not risking their legs.

 

[poiuytrewq]

It’s mind blowingly unfair, to really top things off today they turned the field over (being a farmers wife I really should know the terminology here ? it’s not ploughed but all mixed up today, and it’s just starting to rain!

 

[cauda equina]

I think cultivated is the word you're looking for!

 

[poiuytrewq]

It is! I just asked ?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I find when the ground is hard the wheat fields are the best as they have a covering of straw but I would imagine this year even with that it's still gonna be too hard, my main hacking horse has been off his just started work now so I haven't really been out to see how the ground is.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I find when the ground is hard the wheat fields are the best as they have a covering of straw but I would imagine this year even with that it's still gonna be too hard, my main hacking horse has been off his just started work now so I haven't really been out to see how the ground is.

We haven’t started wheat yet, they have only done rape. The way the fields are laid out this year means rape was the most convenient for me. I ride with a neighbour who doesn’t appear to want to go off roading so I liked the idea of being able to pop in one at home when I got back.
I think peas are next.

 

[Peglo]

We’ve been having fun on cut silage fields. We’ve had plenty of rain so ground is really good. Won’t get on the stubble fields until maybe September up here as everything is cut much later.

 

[BSL2]

This is a friendly reminder for newbies and stubble fields. Always walk your line first. Stick to tram lines. Trying to share pic of drainage pipe hidden in ground. This is on a farm where my daughter and I have exclusive permission to ride. So many hazards. Concrete ground flints, ruts. Not the pretty picture painted that you see driving by in a car. Not meant to be preachy. But if it saves one from an accident ....

 

[spacefaer]

I love the idea of stubble fielding better than the reality - round here, they're always too hard, and by the time it's rained, they've been ploughed and re-seeded.....

 

[sport horse]

We had a lot of trouble with swollen legs, especially white legs, whch turned out to be mites from the sharp stubble penetrating the leg.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Well I’m glad it’s not just me!

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Love the stubble but with cracks that a hoof could go down I'm not risking it. I my ride on one if I can clearly see where I'm going but only in walk so seems a bit pointless!!

 

[poiuytrewq]

We’ve been having fun on cut silage fields. We’ve had plenty of rain so ground is really good. Won’t get on the stubble fields until maybe September up here as everything is cut much later.

Where are you?
I do have my hay fields but they are that much further away sadly. Also a long straight line so would involve going and turning back which isn’t great for my control!!

 

[poiuytrewq]

We actually don’t have the massive cracks of previous years, some years have looked like an earth quake

 

[SEL]

We actually don’t have the massive cracks of previous years, some years have looked like an earth quake

We have the earthquake cracks

 

[poiuytrewq]

Our rain came to nothing. The yards wet but under vehicles is still bone dry.
Harvest wise we are past the point of rain being helpful so it’s selfish of me to want it.

 

[scats]

We’ve got beans this year so we’ve got a bit longer to wait. I love stubble season!

 

[claracanter]

Love being stubble ready. I thought we were but hubbys horse was an emergency admission to horspital yesterday. Hopefully he is on the road to recovery and it’ll be a long one. Poor hubby said “ Oh no, no stubble this year” Such a shame but the ground is too hard and cracked. Anyone else noticed how ‘white’ the straw bales are this year?

 

[PapaverFollis]

Our oats are still completely green!

 

[poiuytrewq]

Our oats are still completely green!

If we had oats I’d happy wait! Oat straw here is scarce.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Love being stubble ready. I thought we were but hubbys horse was an emergency admission to horspital yesterday. Hopefully he is on the road to recovery and it’ll be a long one. Poor hubby said “ Oh no, no stubble this year” Such a shame but the ground is too hard and cracked. Anyone else noticed how ‘white’ the straw bales are this year?

Oh no! I know that feeling, is he ok?

 

[poiuytrewq]

We’ve got beans this year so we’ve got a bit longer to wait. I love stubble season!

We have beans too. I’m biding my time, maybe by then the ground will be perfect?!

 

[HashRouge]

I fell off last time I did this so I haven't even looked at our local fields! A pheasant flew up out of the hedge and my share horse levitated several metres sideways. I can normally sit even his most dramatic spooks, but this one had me out the side door and then the little toad legged it up the field, all the way down the bridleway and onto the road, where he caused an enormous traffic jam and then thankfully was caught by a rather surprised passerby. I had to run almost two miles to the road so was quite a long way behind and they thought they were going to have to send out a search party for an injured rider. Anyway, that's rather put me off and I haven't dared do it again since (it was over two years ago!).

 

[smolmaus]

Grass stubble field available, was too slow backing my pony for that be to safe at the moment ? maybe if they get a second cut in the autumn ?

 

[poiuytrewq]

I fell off last time I did this so I haven't even looked at our local fields! A pheasant flew up out of the hedge and my share horse levitated several metres sideways. I can normally sit even his most dramatic spooks, but this one had me out the side door and then the little toad legged it up the field, all the way down the bridleway and onto the road, where he caused an enormous traffic jam and then thankfully was caught by a rather surprised passerby. I had to run almost two miles to the road so was quite a long way behind and they thought they were going to have to send out a search party for an injured rider. Anyway, that's rather put me off and I haven't dared do it again since (it was over two years ago!).

Ouch! I stay well away from hedges having taking a flyer at some pigeons a few years back!

 

[rara007]

Our ground is terrible

 

[Peglo]

Where are you?
I do have my hay fields but they are that much further away sadly. Also a long straight line so would involve going and turning back which isn’t great for my control!!

up in Orkney off the top of Scotland.

hopefully you get some rain to get on the stubble ?? It is so much fun.

 

[catembi]

My grandfather had two farms so I used to gallop about on stubble like mad when I was a LOT younger. But now...I simply don't see the appeal. Not just because I'm old and cautious - the ground doesn't look safe for going at that sort of speed. Uneven, ruts, stones, scratchy stubble... I would rather hire a gallops if I fancy a good blast!

 

[Flowerofthefen]

For me it's not so much about having a blast but more about getting off the road and having the opportunity for a rew different hacks