Dirty tails and young grass?

Dry Rot

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I reseeded a couple of acres in the spring with a cocksfoot/fescue mixture. Due to a cock up it was not grazed down by sheep as planned, so I am now strip grazing foot high grass with my Highland ponies on the assumption that most of the feeding value will have gone by this time of the year. But I have several ponies with soiled tails. It is not bad enough to have me worried and I have had a look under the microscope to check for worms but can't see anything obvious. Are the dirty tails likely to be caused by the grass? The ponies all look to be healthy otherwise but it is impractical to poo pick and I'd like to graze off the field and worm when it gets frosty. Does that all sound right? Just need some reassurance, really!
 
Most likely, what state are the droppings you're finding? If of cow pat consistency then yes the grass is the cause. Try adding some hay to their diet to firm them up again

The poo is reasonably solid. Yes, I could give them hay. Haven't so far as I am desperate to graze off the grass, hard harrow the field, then close it up for hay!

Thanks for the reassurance. I'm afraid I am a worrier!
 
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