Correct maintenance of the land

[Nbuuifx]

We've had our field for 2 years with the horses on now. Previous to us purchasing the field it had been unoccupied for 2 years, prior to that it had goats on it, prior to that it had a single horse on it, prior to that it had a pair of ponies on it, prior to that (approx 10 years ago) it was just used for making hay.

We have 3 horses on it. The field is about 3.2 acres.

We supplement with about 20-30 big round bales of hay per year.

When we purchased the grass was already long, so we baled (24 bales) then step grazed the field until early spring, at that point we made a track system around the edge, showing the middle to grow, it didn't grow great but we got 7 bales off it. We then repeated. This year we got 4 bales off it

We've had quite a few docks coming through, so have been spraying these to get them under control.

I know the weather hasn't been great (too dry) but it just doesn't seem to grow very well, the grass is also very different in different patches.

We partition parts off and spread manure to help fertalise (and to reduce the muck pile!)

Should we be doing more?

Any advice?

We've had the horses for about 18 years but where they were before the land was managed for us and shared / swapped with cows.

 

[BurntontheoutsideTurkey]

Are you on well-draining/base-poor soils?

Unless you're never grazing the middle, the horses will be compacting the ground, which reduces root growth. Grazing to ground level does the same (in fact it can kill roots if it goes on for too long).

3 acres for 3 horses (unless they are small ponies) is not enough land to expect to get a reliable hay crop off as well unless you are tracking, feeding hay all year and never (or rarely) allowing them to graze the area you want to cut.

Your additions (muck) may also not be adding what your particular soil needs, although it will add some organic matter - have you had a soil test done?

 

[AdorableAlice]

You may have got to a point where it needs a re seed. One of our fields ended up like yours after a lot of abuse in the wet winter of 22/23, it was just a mess of dock and weed and despite spraying it never recovered. It was re seeded and left to rest for 2 years and is now good clean grazing.

 

[SEL]

I have 3 on 6 acres - badly over grazed when I bought it 4 years ago. Soil testing, spreading well rotted muck and seaweed plus letting it go to seed for 2 years (I then strip graze through standing hay) has all helped.

 

[HaplessHorse]

I’m lucky because my horses are good doers so the grazing never needs to be perfect. They will eat young, fresh dock and they seem to actively seek out the fresh shoots of thistles. I don’t mind a bit of dock and thistle (as long as not excessive) because it is good for the wildlife.

The winter turnout always goes to seed and gets strip grazed, after a wet winter it was a bit more weedy than I’d like. I do have a (small) specifically overgrazed area in order to diet them while allowing movement, but if it’s left alone in fair weather for a bit it does immediately start to come back. It’s been more overgrazed than usual this year as dieting has been a bit harsh due to cob’s weight, so I’ll see how it is next year. If it’s looking bad then we can chuck the conservation seed hay stuff on it.