Field planning - what would you do with...

[LadyGascoyne]

This mess of thistles and weeds, about waist high and on sloped ground.

I want to rest the paddocks they are on at the moment as they will be the best for .... winter... there, I said it ? you can all curse me!

So I’d like to clear this mess and let them have this space for the next 3 months. What would you be doing to clear it?

I don’t mind the slopes and ‘natural’ state, and don’t want to completely destroy the diversity in the field. Both horses are hardy, sound, sensible types and seem to really enjoy being on such mixed pasture. I do need to take out a lot of thistle though.

How would you tackle clearing it?

 

[doodle]

If a thistle grows in robins field he loves eating them!

 

[LadyGascoyne]

If a thistle grows in robins field he loves eating them!

Mim loves eating them too, but this is a forest. If they got into the center of it, I don’t think I could fetch them!

 

[doodle]

Fair enough.

 

[sport horse]

I would let them graze as much as you can. Then in due course top the whole paddock - if you do it now there will be too much left lying on he ground. Otherwise can you find some cattle to grase it for a week or two and clear it?

 

[Lots of Gift Bags]

I'd get it topped off, the thistles are already a forest and if you don't get them cut down now before they go to seed they will be even worse next year. If you get it gone over 2 or 3 times it will mulch them up, and if you can rake them off that will help too.

 

[milliepops]

I'd get it topped off, the thistles are already a forest and if you don't get them cut down now before they go to seed they will be even worse next year. If you get it gone over 2 or 3 times it will mulch them up, and if you can rake them off that will help too.

this, are they all quite contained in one area? OH sprayed off my thistle forest this year but topping or flailing them off would at least give them a big headache!

 

[rabatsa]

I would strip graze it so what is not eaten gets trampled down then it can be topped at a later date.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I would strip graze it so what is not eaten gets trampled down then it can be topped at a later date.

that is what i would do and then cross graze if possible, preferably with sheep but cattle would do if necessary

 

[The Xmas Furry]

I'd run a topper right around the boundary fences and also a strip across the middle so fencing can be checked easily and you could put a line of tape easily down the centre. Then pop them in half of it to mow it hard, then open it right up in a month or 2.
They will eat a lot of the thistles etc, but once they have eaten one side down, then I'd run a topper over it to level it off on that side.
Happy plotting!

 

[Errin Paddywack]

In my experience once thistles are in flower if cut they will go to seed anyway. I would do as the Fuzzy Furry suggested.

 

[Polos Mum]

If your horses aren't too fat and assuming boundary is secure then just pop them out on it, they will likely eat the heads off the thistles (mine love the purple bits) then seed issue is gone. You can then tackle areas of the field bit by bit depending on what equipment you have. strimming sections then spray in May.

Once they've trampled / eaten bits you'll have more idea what you're dealing with.

 

[LadyGascoyne]

I'd run a topper right around the boundary fences and also a strip across the middle so fencing can be checked easily and you could put a line of tape easily down the centre. Then pop them in half of it to mow it hard, then open it right up in a month or 2.
They will eat a lot of the thistles etc, but once they have eaten one side down, then I'd run a topper over it to level it off on that side.
Happy plotting!

Thanks! This sounds really sensible.

I’ll do that but maybe divide into smaller sections, and then go around the edges and the middle of each paddock. They can browse on the thistles in between.

 

[IngramsRoughDiamond]

No help but just wanted to ask how the horse with the dental problems is? Not sure if I missed anything