Drat, lost some of my grazing- when's winter at its worst?

P

poiuytrewq

Well-Known Member
Joined
3 April 2008
Messages
21,705
Location
Cotswolds
Visit site
Is this "proper winter" yet?! I'm thinking not and that my current paddocks are not going to cope. Other half says they are looking ok for winter and we will be fine...
I had and last night lost 2/3 acres that I intended to winter out retired horse and companion on. Retired boy gets a bit stressy in and a bit stiff so being out suits. His friend is a Shetland so obviously he's good out!
Across the lane I have another 3.5 acres split into 3 and a little yard. My horse and daughters pony live here. Living out isn't really a good idea as it's incredibly wet and heavy clay.
So far I've just been using the one paddock here. So the other two are looking good but they are the wettest and I'd hoped to leave them til spring ideally.
When do we consider to be the " this is the worst it gets point!" I'm now in bit of a panic...
 
Sorry I can't give you much good news sadly, I don't move mine into their winter field until Christmas, then it holds up just until March when spring grass starts coming through in spring field and they move.

For me on heavy clay the worst isn't until the last week in Feb when they really need to move but there isn't the warmth to make it grow yet.
 
If you are lucky and it is a cold winter so the ground freezes you will be ok as its the wet that makes a mess of the ground. is it wet now or is there any way you could get a hardstanding type yard area done quickly so they are encouraged to stay on there and eat instead of going through the mud? it is easier to keep clear of poo and if they have their hay and feed on it the field would stay a lot better
 
Our field tends to cope well until Christmas - Jan and Feb are the hardest months, especially if it is wet as there is little grass cover to protect it.

Ours are turned out until 4pm aprox up until christmas, the through the rest of the winter come in at 2pm. If we feed hay in the field they tend to bicker over it which just trashes the field more.

If I was in your position, I think I would be looking for grass livery for the oldie and its companion - if you have them all out on the 3.5 acres it may well affect your grazing for the following spring and summer. Othewise try to build a hard standing area so they can be removed from the grazing for a portion of each day, but that is easier said than done!

Hope things work out ok and do feel for you.
 
I have a similar issue in that my lad was on a rented field of 2.5 acres so I strip grazed him onto it over the entire winter. Always had enough, never got churned up and worked great right through until he had to be restricted again when the spring grass appeared.
I have now moved him to opposite my house on our own land and he has about half that amount of grazing available. It is churning up a bit because it is wet, I cannot give him as much strip grass as I used to and he charges about if he 'thinks' he does not have enough to eat.
I think I have enough to strip graze him to the end of the year but Jan and Feb are going to be tricky indeed unless it is very dry.
I have had to take the opinion that it will grow back up to my knees in the spring and summer and with a harrow and roll and grit my teeth and bare it through the winter!
I will also not be having it cut late in the year like I did this year, so it has a firmer base and length of grass to protect it from hooves a bot more.
 
Its not nearly spring yet then! ;)
Aww god, this couldn't have happened at a worse possible time. I have the use of it until December 1st. There is a place close that does grass livery but my horse is a complete prat with other people and can cause problems for them getting their own horses, one of the reasons I liked having this field so much, I knew for a fact no one else would have to handle or even get too close!
Ideally a home for him grazing with youngsters or something would be perfect. I could probably cope with moving the Shetland over to ours.
The other thing is I only paid £10 a week for both!
Will start asking round...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top