Digging out a section of the field and grass sickness?

[Montyforever]

I've heard disturbing the soil can increase the chances of grass sickness?
Ive had to start digging out mystis pen by hand so I can lay the woodchip down but obviously it won't be done in a day. I've penned it off with electric fencing so the ponies can't get to it but have had to leave what we've dug out in a corner of the field so we can use it to make a bank around the edge of the pen. It's probably going to take a good few weeks to finish and the ponies are only out for a few hours a day but I'm still a bit worried. It's not over grazed at the mo as they are only out for a few hours and the grass is good but that didn't stop her being nosey today

 

[Kaylum]

I've heard disturbing the soil can increase the chances of grass sickness?
Ive had to start digging out mystis pen by hand so I can lay the woodchip down but obviously it won't be done in a day. I've penned it off with electric fencing so the ponies can't get to it but have had to leave what we've dug out in a corner of the field so we can use it to make a bank around the edge of the pen. It's probably going to take a good few weeks to finish and the ponies are only out for a few hours a day but I'm still a bit worried. It's not over grazed at the mo as they are only out for a few hours and the grass is good but that didn't stop her being nosey today

Yes it can, but I don't know what the chances are and ours had drainage put in as well and out of all of them in the field only one got it. Whether he had a problem brewing already we will never know.

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

Yes it does increase the risk to expose areas of soil , but if the ponies cant get to the dug out bit, only the pile of soil removed, then that will help I think, as they are unlikely to graze the pile of soil (whereas they might graze the edges of the dug out part and get soil particles ingested), and less likely hence ingest whatever botulism/toxin can be released when the soil is disturbed. But you are right to be cautious.

Do you have the other risk factors, young horses, acid soil etc? and watch weather forecast, GS website has info on the risky combinations of temperature/rainfall.

You are doing what you can to minimise the risk, that's all you can do, so try not to worry.

 

[Montyforever]

Nope no young horses, not sure if the soil is acidic wouldn't know how to tell to be honest! It's clay soil and is a bit like dairy pasture and grows very thick and lush and we haven't fertilised/rolled/topped so guess that helps