cut grass

[ellis9905]

so now the grass is growing quicker than we can keep up with! hubby is going to come and mow some of the small paddocks so we can safely turn the fatties out without them ballooning!

my question is if hubby cuts the grass on tuesday when would be ok to turn the ponies onto the cut area ( am concerned as i know horses shouldnt eat mown grass, and although the mower will collect 90% of the cuttings im just a little concerned)

any thoughts gratefully recieved

 

[Flame_]

I don't know for sure, though I expect you'd be fine if the mower picks up most of the cuttings. I just thought I'd bump this for you and I'm sure someone will give you a more definite answer.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

I am with you Flame if the mower picks up most of it any lasting bits will dry and be a bit like hay so wont ferment and cause problems. Just keep an eye out for and lumps that might drop out the mower when you raise the cutter etc these could cause problems as they are damp and could cause choke etc . best you do a final walk round after its cut and before ponies move onto it.

 

[hayinamanger]

Grass cuttings are fine when they are fresh, they become dangerous when left to ferment.

So the small amount your mower leaves behind will do no harm.

 

[Housemouse]

My previous livery yard owner used to 'top' the fields every so often, leaving the mowings on the field and my horses never had a problem. I don't know if they ate them, but they were fine.

 

[PeterNatt]

It depends on the way the type of blade which is used to cut the grass.

If the blade repeatedly hits the grass several times such as a conventional old fashioned type lawn mower with rotating blades then the cut grass will become poisonous to horses.

If the blade just cuts the grass once then there is less chance of it becoming poionous.

The repeated cutting of the blades of grass triggers of an enzyme which causes the grass to ferment in such a way that the grass is poisonous to horses.