Field has been topped...when can horse return? HELP!!!

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Sharonr

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My field was topped this evening as had a lot of thistles growing so needed to get rid.

However, topped grass mixed in with this so have had to reduce the size of my horses field so that he is not eating cut grass.

How quickly can he get back on the rest of the field or is he ok to go on it now? I was picking up as much of the loose stuff as possible and he was eating it out of the wheelbarrow!!!

Is topped grass ok but actual short cut grass not??? ARGH!!! HELP!!!
 
topped grass is ok
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We have always topped our fields with the horses in them without any problems.

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same here,with no probs.
 
topped grass is fine for horses - its long enough to make them chew
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its the cut grass from lawnmower that is problem as horses can gorge on it without chewing = colic!
 
If its been topped then its fine to eat. Its mown grass thats a problem as its stalk gets cut many times (grass clippings as opposed to hay if that makes sense). This multicutting of the stalk sets up a strange fermentation reaction in the grass and is what causes colic and other unpleasant problems when its fed to horses.

Theres no need to remove thistles or long stalks of grass before putting your horse on it. Just have a quick scout round for any odd ragworts you may have not noticed and get rid of those.
 
it all depeneds on how fine the topper has cut the grass if it is long mature grass it will be fine if it is short grass and looks like grass cuttings leave of until it has gone brown and daed!
 
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