katherine1975
Well-Known Member
Hi. Have been reading another thread and some people have mentioned that you shouldn't fertilise horse grazing fields, what are your opinions/views/experiences please.
Do you fertilise?
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Dubsie
Well-Known Member
We fertilise as we have quite poor thin layer of well drained soil sat on top of gravel, but we do rotate, so we don't put the horses out on the fertilised fields till months later, after the hay has been cut.
Cyberchick
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't fertilise for the sake of it but I have this year. I moved to a new yard on my own and even though there was no mud the fields had been grazed to the bare minimum, which might be good for the pony but my horse needs grass and turnout. I fertilised what is my summer paddock now so they had something to go out on this summer and I changed them over the other week and then we have fertilised the winter paddock so I have something for the end of the year. I am hoping that if I can now look after them I won't have to do them again but something had to be done this year. I haven't heard that you shouldn't do the grazing fields. Why would this be? We used 20-10-10 fertiliser.
touchstone
Well-Known Member
I don't fertilise as I try to restrict the amount of sugars in my horse's diet and fertilised grass is far too rich imho.
That being said if the grass is really struggling then I'd probably use something like calcified seaweed to provide a slow release fertiliser and added minerals.
The cons with nitrogern fertiliser are that it raises the levels of potentially toxic nitrates, nitrites and amines in the plant. It also raises sugar and reduces the fibre content so necessary for horses. Magnesium is reduced and potassium increased and trace minerals are lowered, eventually impoverishing the soil and grass.
Artificial nitrogen also increases the nitrogen in drainage water causing algal overgrowth in rivers and streams and raises the nitrogen in drinking water.
Soil microflora is also damaged and plant diversity is also affected so affecting habitat. So your grass crop may look thick and green, but is actually lower value nutritionally for horses that well maintained old unfertilised pasture.
Edited to add that I have not fertilised my paddocks for over eight years now and they look great, but do get rested and grazed with sheep.
That being said if the grass is really struggling then I'd probably use something like calcified seaweed to provide a slow release fertiliser and added minerals.
The cons with nitrogern fertiliser are that it raises the levels of potentially toxic nitrates, nitrites and amines in the plant. It also raises sugar and reduces the fibre content so necessary for horses. Magnesium is reduced and potassium increased and trace minerals are lowered, eventually impoverishing the soil and grass.
Artificial nitrogen also increases the nitrogen in drainage water causing algal overgrowth in rivers and streams and raises the nitrogen in drinking water.
Soil microflora is also damaged and plant diversity is also affected so affecting habitat. So your grass crop may look thick and green, but is actually lower value nutritionally for horses that well maintained old unfertilised pasture.
Edited to add that I have not fertilised my paddocks for over eight years now and they look great, but do get rested and grazed with sheep.
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Stinkbomb
Well-Known Member
I have the choice whether mine get fertilised or not. I choose not too as i like my paddocks like bowling greens 