Field Maintenance - what would you do?

[Neptune]

What would you do in this situation? I guess others would be in similar at the moment, so what have you done?

I have around 2 ½ acres which I keep 2 horses on. Although with the bad winter we have had the paddock is looking a little bare and tired (for a better word!) I was hoping the grass would pick up but over the past month but it really hasn’t. I have no choice but to continuously use this field so there is no chance of it being rested and let it recuperate by itself.

I sectioned it in half at the beginning of March to hope the weather would do its job but the weather never came and the horses trashed the front section even further. The front section has since been harrowed and where there were sprigs of grass left, they are growing but I am not going to be able to rest it long enough to allow the grass to get going again on the bare patches.

The horses are currently in the back section where there is just enough grass for them currently, but not for long! Although it still does look a little non existent compared to others.

The horses currently come in to their stables at night so it gets rested overnight but not sure how much this really helps. Although I would really like them out in the field 24/7 as they normally are over the summer months, but unable to do this at the moment due to the lack of grass.

I am just worried that as the field is so bad now that it wont pick up again for next winter, especially if we have another as bad as the last.

People have mentioned re-seeding and fertilizing etc. But not sure how feasible that is as I Am on a big livery yard, although they do harrow the fields but nothing further. Also a little worried about fertilizing as will that not make the grass to rich for the horses to graze? And re-seeding not sure how long they would need to be off the field for, as already mentioned I can not take them off of it completely.

I just need the grass to grow! Maybe it will in time? But guess with the horses on it all the time they are eating the grass as soon as it is growing

 

[AmyMay]

The only way for it to recover is to remove the horses. If you're on a large livery yard, surely there's space elsewhere for them?

 

[Neptune]

Unfortunatley not. Large livery yard with not a lot of grazing fields. You have your alotted field and thats that. Just others seemed to have faired better than mine as the horses normally get turned out later and bought in earlier than mine. As I work full time mine go out early and come in late, either that or stay in their stables all day, not ideal! So rather have them out all day but the field has paid the price with the bad winter.

 

[L&M]

Tbh if you are on a livery yard I would discuss it with your yard owner. It sounds like your field has been damaged to the extent it is offering 'turnout' only rather than grazing.

It sounds like it needs a lot of tlc and that will mean either taking the horses off completely, with overseeding the worst areas which you could do by hand. Have they got any alternative grazing you could use? If not use electric fence to tape off the areas you are treating?

Harrowing regularily will also help but would avoid rolling as could compact the soil more, which can stunt any grass growth. I would be reluctant to fertilise, but seaweed or lime could give it a boost, which could again be done by hand.

Once the 2 1/2 acres are looking healtheir, it should be enough to support 2 horses if carefully managed. If that was my land I would be:

For the summer:

Dividing it into more sections, probably 4.

Rotating them weekly

Keeping in during the day/turn out overnight for the summer mnths until the grass improves.


Come winter I would then divide it into 2 - rest one half so you have grass for this time next year, and limit their turnout for a few hours each day over the winter.

Hope that helps!

 

[paulineh]

I would rest if you can. Harrow, fertilise (with a special pony paddock one ) I did my fields a couple of weeks ago and have seen some good grass growth.

You can use Calcified Seaweed that will help the grass. I only needed to keep the horses off the fields for 7 days.

 

[Rebels]

Keeping mine in by day has noticeably improved our land. I've over seeded by hand any patches but weather hasn't allowed it to germinate yet, its rock hard here.

 

[L&M]

Have you anyone you can get to bring them in earlier next winter?

I rented out some land to a lovely lady last winter but because of her working hours the land was really starting to suffer so I grabbed them in for her - otherwise my field would have been trashed and the rent paid not enough to pay for the damage/recovery needing to be done......

 

[Neptune]

Thanks for the advice Sidney Unfortunately I will struggle with getting other grazing to use. Only able to section where they already are. Maybe an idea to section the field into x4 now and rotate weekly even though the grass is still yet to establish? Or is that not worth it without the grass already being there?

As others have mentioned will put them onto night turnout also.

You can use Calcified Seaweed that will help the grass. I only needed to keep the horses off the fields for 7 days.

Sorry, what is calcified Seaweed? Is it sprayed on like normal fertilizer?

Keeping mine in by day has noticeably improved our land. I've over seeded by hand any patches but weather hasn't allowed it to germinate yet, its rock hard here.

Yes, clay soil here and it is like rock. It dampend a little with the rain last week, but quickly dried up. But my field has taken the longest to dry out as it was so poached. What seed did you use? How long did you keep the horses off of the parts you re-seeded?

Have you anyone you can get to bring them in earlier next winter?

Yes, have definately learnt from the past winter that they can not be out all day. Will definately be looking into getting others help for turnout and bringing in next winter

 

[TwoStroke]

You could make a track around the outside and feed hay in the field. Then the majority of the grazing can be reseeded etc.

Also in bad weather you could turn out for a couple of hours AM and PM instead of all day - this would really help preserve the ground.

 

[L&M]

Definitely rest and rotate from now - if the patch they are on has little grass just supplement with hay, but still allows you to work on/rest the other sections.

Calcified seaweed comes as a powder and you can just sprinkle by hand - time consuming but easy, but do need some rain to wash it in.

Sounds like you are going to have a fun summer!!!!

 

[paulineh]

Calcified Seaweed is an organic fertiliser that come in a gravel like substance that you can put in a bucket and just spread by hand.

Go to somewhere like Scats or Mole Valley Farmers.

 

[Clodagh]

I have a simlar set up to you, I have 3 horses on about 3 to 4 acres. My 'home' paddock is thin, short and tired. I have harrowed it but that is it. I don't fertilize at all, too many lami prone ponies in my past to risk it. I don't poo pick in winter and harrowing has spread that around which I hope will help.
Every year I look at other peoples paddocks (who mainly fertilize) and their grass is way past mine. Natural grass growth doesn't ever really happen before May so you should start to see an improvement, if it rains!
There is also probably more grass than you think, mine are out 24/7 and have ad lib big bale haylage, they aren't touching the bale they have got now and are putting on weight (no hard feed) so are getting enough.
The bringing in during the day is a good idea, as that is when they do most of their eating, IMO.

 

[Polos Mum]

As others have said rest really is the only way, if you can;t get alternative grazing and major works (re-seeding/ fertilising etc. ) aren't practical then I'd make a small pen maybe 1/4 - 1/3 of the field and feed them hay all summer. So use the field as turnout rather than grazing.
Depending on where you are in the county - It's been very dry which doesn't help the grass and still cold/ frosty at night, to grow properly the soil tempertature needs to be 6/7 degrees which it won't be until it warms up over night. So nothing strange going on wiht your paddock in not growing much.

If it warms up quite a bit and we get some good rain then you may get some grass growth and you can then extend your pen and cut back on some hay - but I'd want to see grass recovery before I did that.

Sorry if this sounds like an expensive option but I'm not sure you have much choice if the YO won't help manage the land.

 

[Neptune]

Definitely rest and rotate from now - if the patch they are on has little grass just supplement with hay, but still allows you to work on/rest the other sections.

Calcified seaweed comes as a powder and you can just sprinkle by hand - time consuming but easy, but do need some rain to wash it in.

Sounds like you are going to have a fun summer!!!!

Thanks Sidney. Definately going to be a fun summer! No rest bite for me this year with 24/7 grazing

Go to somewhere like Scats or Mole Valley Farmers.

Thanks for the recommendations will go check their websites.

There is also probably more grass than you think, mine are out 24/7 and have ad lib big bale haylage, they aren't touching the bale they have got now and are putting on weight (no hard feed) so are getting enough.
The bringing in during the day is a good idea, as that is when they do most of their eating, IMO.

Yes, think there is more grass in the back section then I think. As neither of them are coming in 'hungry' although still eating their hay. One of them is happy to carry on grazing when I go to bring them in the other still comes over to the gate, but he is a greedy so and so at the best of times! He could be in a field of grass up to his nose and he would probably still be complaining for more!

Sorry if this sounds like an expensive option but I'm not sure you have much choice if the YO won't help manage the land.

It does sound like an expensive option! But can see it makes sense. Only way the rest of the field is going to get rested for a resonable amount of time.

Hmmmmm....

 

[Rebels]

I bought the Scats pony padock mix which states its suitable for patching equine fields, hoping it will seed and spread itself. We bought enough to get a free hand spreader which is great. Ran a rake over the patch, couple of turns on spreader then ran rake over again. Took surprisingly little time. 2 acres down, 18 to go ...

 

[Bertolie]

I am also on a livery yard which allots you your grazing and thats it, up to you how you manage it.

I have 1.75 acres for a 14.2 and a 14.3 - both good doers. The grazing is split into 1 x 0.75 acre paddock which is used primarily during the winter and 2 x 0.5 acre paddocks used the rest of the time.

The 'winter' paddock is a former orchard and the grass growth is sporadic at best but does offer lots of natural shelter during the winter months. At the end of winter it resembles a ploughed field although the grass is starting to come through a bit. My horses are currently out 24/7 in the other two paddocks which are rotated on a weekly basis and at the moment are still having hay in the field as the grass growth is a little slow. These paddocks are not used at all from end of October to beginning of April so are rested over winter.

It is a lot of work to maintain them and get the best out of the grazing but it can be done!

 

[castella]

I have the same set up with 2.5 acres split into 3 paddocks, I use the two 0.5 acres through summer rotating so one growing/one being used and save the 1.5 acres for winter. I find using the biggest field for winter it never gets totally destroyed and recovers well and only needs reseeding around gateways. I also will only ever have 2 ponies maximum on it, the land cannot support anymore.

I've also decided after last winter to get the area in front of my stables hardcored so if we get weather like last year I can yard them on the wettest days and save the fields as my ponies have to live out due to my work.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

In your situation, I'd be talking to the YO. It certainly isn't your responsibility to be reseeding/fertilising their land. That is what you pay your livery bill for. I'm afraid that if they are not prepared to provide 'grazing' as opposed to 'turnout', I'd be looking for a different yard. They are obviously overstocked.

 

[Irishbabygirl]

I looked for alternate grazing for two months last year when on livery. I discussed with YO and she agreed it was a good idea and harrowed and fertilised whilst I was gone.
Could you do something similar?
Agree it's not your place to fork out for paddock maintenance but I would still pay for your place whilst you are grazing elsewhere. That's what I did and YO was more than happy with that!

 

[Oscar]

I'd look for grass livery on a temp basis elsewhere while your field recovers. Discuss with your yo and negotiate a holding fee rather than paying two lots of livery. If you rest it for say May & June, it should have a chance to recover, a field damaged badly will struggle with horses grazing on it - the nettles, docks & ragwort will thrive but not the grass!

 

[indie999]

I would section off and feed hay(harrow and just chuck some grass seed on and roll if possible I really wouldnt fertislise too small an area and they dont need rich grass). It will probably do them good. Get some hay in and feed that to top them up. Shame the owner doesnt take more care for their fields etc. Perhaps put out at night and in during day.

 

[OWLIE185]

The problem you have is because the field is being overgrazed by too many horses. It may even need some drainage put in to it to keep it in better condition in wet weather.
Your ideal situation would be to remove the horses from the field, harrow it with a spline harrow, over-seed with good quality horse paddock grass seed, roll it and let the grass establish itself. Cut and collect the grass about 3 times between now and Autumn and this will densen it up and get the roots established. Ideally you should allow the field to rest for a full year for the grass to establish itself... (even better two years without horses on it)!
Sadly if you don't give the field a rest it will never recover and your field will eventually become full of weeds in the growing season.

 

[Neptune]

I have the same set up with 2.5 acres split into 3 paddocks, I use the two 0.5 acres through summer rotating so one growing/one being used and save the 1.5 acres for winter. I find using the biggest field for winter it never gets totally destroyed and recovers well and only needs reseeding around gateways. I also will only ever have 2 ponies maximum on it, the land cannot support anymore.

Thats not a bad idea to split it into three. I could split the back section into two and rotate every couple of weeks and leave the worst bare front section all summer and use it for next winter, It should recover by then shouldn't it, if no horses are on it? Although not sure how long the back section will really last even if it is rotated between two smaller sections.

Would two weeks be a sufficent rest and re-usuage period? Baring in mind there is just enough grass. Or am I still going to run out of grass by the end of the month?

In your situation, I'd be talking to the YO. It certainly isn't your responsibility to be reseeding/fertilising their land. That is what you pay your livery bill for. I'm afraid that if they are not prepared to provide 'grazing' as opposed to 'turnout', I'd be looking for a different yard. They are obviously overstocked.

I have been considering moving to another yard. Could do with one closer to my home as well! But there just isn't much around my area, many yards seem to be in the same boat in regards to their grazing. I am constantly keeping my ears and eyes open though for somewhere that may come up with spaces. Just the good yards seem to rarely have spaces, tend to see the same yards advertised over and over again, kind of tells you something!

I looked for alternate grazing for two months last year when on livery. I discussed with YO and she agreed it was a good idea and harrowed and fertilised whilst I was gone.
Could you do something similar?
Agree it's not your place to fork out for paddock maintenance but I would still pay for your place whilst you are grazing elsewhere. That's what I did and YO was more than happy with that!

I'd look for grass livery on a temp basis elsewhere while your field recovers. Discuss with your yo and negotiate a holding fee rather than paying two lots of livery. If you rest it for say May & June, it should have a chance to recover, a field damaged badly will struggle with horses grazing on it - the nettles, docks & ragwort will thrive but not the grass!

Have been considering moving them to a rented field for a few months to get them off the grass. As you both say discussing about keeping my places open at my current yard. But i seem to be meeting a dead end with that as i do finding a whole new yard, not a lot about.

I would section off and feed hay(harrow and just chuck some grass seed on and roll if possible I really wouldnt fertislise too small an area and they dont need rich grass). It will probably do them good. Get some hay in and feed that to top them up. Shame the owner doesnt take more care for their fields etc. Perhaps put out at night and in during day.

Think this is basically what I will end up doing and hope the sectioned off area recovers in time for winter. Normally summer is a break from mucking out and the money side of things as they go out 24/7. But not this year, next winter better not be harsh

The problem you have is because the field is being overgrazed by too many horses..

We had 3 horses in the field at the beg. of the winter! Hence why it ended up so bad by the end of it. Had others still telling me it was a 4 horse field! I wouldn't have liked to have seen that

It may even need some drainage put in to it to keep it in better condition in wet weather.
Your ideal situation would be to remove the horses from the field, harrow it with a spline harrow, over-seed with good quality horse paddock grass seed, roll it and let the grass establish itself. Cut and collect the grass about 3 times between now and Autumn and this will densen it up and get the roots established. Ideally you should allow the field to rest for a full year for the grass to establish itself... (even better two years without horses on it)!
Sadly if you don't give the field a rest it will never recover and your field will eventually become full of weeds in the growing season.

Would love to do all of that! If it was my own land it probaly would have been started by now. But unfortunately it isn't. Not sure how it is going to totally rest unless I move my horses to another yard, which I am struggling to find at the moment.

I know resting it is the best (and pretty much only option) But at this moment in time it is just not feasible. I can rest half of it (the worst half) but the horses will still be on the other half. As this is the current set up.

Alternative grazing and or new yard search continues...

 

[Dawng]

I have kept 2 horses on 2 acres for many years now - but at the moment mine are still on the winter grazing bit as its much too cold and the grass hasn't started growing yet so still feeding hay. I have it divided into summer and winter and each of those parts are then subdivided into 3 smaller parts. The winter grazing always seems to recover and I fertilize with my own well rotted manure made from poo picking daily summer and winter and put into 3 manure heaps which are rotated on a 6 monthly basis with the local gardners taking their share

 

[Neptune]

I have it divided into summer and winter and each of those parts are then subdivided into 3 smaller parts.

Dawn - how long do you graze each smaller section for before rotating?