Field management

[Pinkponyclub]

Looking for advice on best way to manage fields. Approx 4 acres for 4 horses. Split up into small(ish) paddocks (as otherwise they trash whole field messing around and one is coming back from injury so needs somewhat restricted space), horses go out in pairs, approx 6-8 hours during day at moment, ideally out overnight in warmer weather.

Field has been wet and on clay, lots of natural water sources near land so even after dry weather is still fairly wet and getting churned up now.

Field was not used over winter at all so plenty of grass but last years grass so not very good quality ? I am currently rotating and letting them graze off each section to then allow regrowth of quality grass over spring.

Sorry for rambling but my question is what is the best way to maintain grass growth throughout spring and summer, harrow/roll and keep rotating regularly? In which order do you harrow/roll - read a lot of posts saying not to roll ? We tend to pick worst of poo and spread rest.

Fertilising or expensive land maintenance not really ideal as not our own and yard to be sold later in year but we do have own quad and roller/chain harrow so regular maintenance is possible and at no cost. Paddocks they have been on get churned up and rutty very easily…

Answers on a postcard thanks for reading

 

[Midlifecrisis]

If it were me I’d keep poo picking…harrow if like when they move on from that paddock. If it’s wet and clay don’t roll the harrowing ought to bruise and stimulate grass growth. Regular rotation around paddocks is my preferred management plan…grass doesn’t grow too long or “lush” but provides enough to hunt for.

 

[Pinkponyclub]

If it were me I’d keep poo picking…harrow if like when they move on from that paddock. If it’s wet and clay don’t roll the harrowing ought to bruise and stimulate grass growth. Regular rotation around paddocks is my preferred management plan…grass doesn’t grow too long or “lush” but provides enough to hunt for.

Thank you, appreciate the advice

 

[PurBee]

The best way to maintain grass growth (and thus healthy root growth to maintain strong pasture footing to prevent churning-up and poaching) is to not over-graze when you rotate fields.
When grass is nibbled down to the ‘nub’, the grass has minimal leaf surface to photosynthesise growth. So instead, the grass uses the energy in its roots to help the leaves grow. This causes short roots, which creates a less stable footing of the grass for heavy animals like horses/cows, so it’s more prone to being churned-up.
Short roots also cannot mine deeper soil minerals, so the nutrition of the grass is a lot less than the grass with longer roots.

I’ll attach some pics to show moreso the level of root loss due to over-grazing.

With 4 horses on 4 acres, you’re pushing its capacity to grow good grass and risking over-grazing if they were to be out majority of grow season time. A dry turn-out area is a lifessver for good quality grassland for heavy animals, rather than them be stabled. But appreciate not all yards have that option.

I know 1 acre per horse was the mantra for years, but in reality with recent years seasonal weather changes to account for aswell as maintaining good quality grass growth and grass root growth, it’s more like 1 horse per 3 acres is the actual reality, if we want them turned out for long hours over the grass growing seasons.
This is beyond what most have of course, so hence why a ‘dry’ hardstanding turnout space (with hay fed) is the solution to keep the horses moving and socialising/eating (moreso than just stabled) and the health of grazing optimum, if we’re limited to 1 horse per acre.
But appreciate you’re leaving your land soon so development of dry-lot isnt in your view!

The shorter the grass gets, the shorter the roots get, the less value as food the grass has, the more quality food we have to buy to bridge the nutritional shortfall.

 

[Pinkponyclub]

The best way to maintain grass growth (and thus healthy root growth to maintain strong pasture footing to prevent churning-up and poaching) is to not over-graze when you rotate fields.
When grass is nibbled down to the ‘nub’, the grass has minimal leaf surface to photosynthesise growth. So instead, the grass uses the energy in its roots to help the leaves grow. This causes short roots, which creates a less stable footing of the grass for heavy animals like horses/cows, so it’s more prone to being churned-up.
Short roots also cannot mine deeper soil minerals, so the nutrition of the grass is a lot less than the grass with longer roots.

I’ll attach some pics to show moreso the level of root loss due to over-grazing.

With 4 horses on 4 acres, you’re pushing its capacity to grow good grass and risking over-grazing if they were to be out majority of grow season time. A dry turn-out area is a lifessver for good quality grassland for heavy animals, rather than them be stabled. But appreciate not all yards have that option.

I know 1 acre per horse was the mantra for years, but in reality with recent years seasonal weather changes to account for aswell as maintaining good quality grass growth and grass root growth, it’s more like 1 horse per 3 acres is the actual reality, if we want them turned out for long hours over the grass growing seasons.
This is beyond what most have of course, so hence why a ‘dry’ hardstanding turnout space (with hay fed) is the solution to keep the horses moving and socialising/eating (moreso than just stabled) and the health of grazing optimum, if we’re limited to 1 horse per acre.
But appreciate you’re leaving your land soon so development of dry-lot isnt in your view!

The shorter the grass gets, the shorter the roots get, the less value as food the grass has, the more quality food we have to buy to bridge the nutritional shortfall.

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Interesting read and photos to back up evidence thank you so, will try more frequent rotation to stop each section being overgrazed and hopefully have better grass growth!

Yes, definitely agree the acreage is not ideal but as I say it’s not long term and we are hoping to find somewhere with a larger plot (and better soil!) for the winter and beyond so hopefully this is just short term management to maximise what we have for the summer!