Fields / grazing help needed

[Lauren1993]

Hi all.
After some advice, as I’m getting a new horse & more grazing.

My current set up -
I currently have 2 small ponies kept on half an acre split into 4 paddocks.
A shet & a Welsh A.
Half of this (2 small fields out of the 4) was grazed bare over the winter , had been seeded etc. & is now rested & getting VERY full of grass.
The other half (the other 2 out of the 4) are currently in use, rotating between the 2 sections every few weeks.
We currently have plenty of grass
They are in throughout the day 9-5 & out at night.

In a few weeks my new horse will be joining us, she’s a 16.1hh ID x but the section A is moving to a new home too.
So I’ll have my new horse & my Shetland.
So obviously I need more grazing.

I have secured the neighbouring 1.4 acre field for next to nothing rent however; it is hideously overgrown, full of brambles etc. 2 of the sides are secure fencing as it neighbours my current fields, but the other 2 need to be secured.

I have someone coming to give me a price to clear the new field so I’m able to fence it.

My question is how should I set this up now ?
Obviously my new overgrown field is going to be a mess once it has been all cut down.
(My current field was in this state last year too so I know in a years time it will be perfect!)

Should I put my new horse in my very full rested paddock & muzzle the Shetland whilst resting the new cut down paddock for winter ?
Should I put them onto the new cut down field & save all others for winter ?

Basically trying to figure out how I can save some for winter baring in mind the new field will need some tlc.

Thank you !

 

[YourValentine]

How over grown is the new field? If you cleared a strip round the edge to put in the new fence where needed could you just graze it as is for now around the brambles etc? The horse will probably enjoy grazing on the brambles and blackberries, and other stuff. Mine loves a good hedge munch.

Just thinking that a field that is long, gone to seed grass will have bulk but low nutritional value so might be ok for the Shetland (in a grazing mask/muzzle/what are they called?) And still provide enough for your IDx, especially if they are in during the day with a bit of hay.

You could then completely rest the front field for this winter. The bit that got grazed bare really needs a full summer ungrazed to let the ground recover from the compaction of the winter. By Sept you might then have a front field of standing hay, which you can start to graze a bit while the back field is mown/topped and rested while the autumn flush comes though.
This then could be grazed lightly in winter if the front field needs a rest or just left till spring.

It all depends on soil type, how over grown the new field is, and weight concerns of your horses, but that's how I'd probably do it.

 

[Lauren1993]

Thank you for your reply !
This does sound like a good plan.

My friend just thinks to get the overgrown all cut down & see why it’s like but surely there is plenty in there to eat for them rather than waste it.

It is VERY over grown. I have photos of it from last November … attached but none from this year as yet.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

I would do as suggested, clear just enough to do the fencing and graze the rest. My friend took on some similar land some years ago now and that is what she did, in fact she overgrazed it to start with just to get it cleared, came back lovely. Total waste to just cut it and having been overgrown for so long the grass won't have any bottom in it. When I moved into my bungalow it had been empty for 2 yrs and the back lawn had just been left. Took quite a long time before I had a decent lawn again.
The horses will do a great job of clearing it.

 

[Patterdale]

Good fencers will give you a price to clear the fence line and fence, you don’t need two people.

Then strim the brambles and put the horses in who will quite effectively clear it.
Then deal with whatever is left in 6 weeks or so.

 

[YourValentine]

Thank you for your reply !
This does sound like a good plan.

My friend just thinks to get the overgrown all cut down & see why it’s like but surely there is plenty in there to eat for them rather than waste it.

It is VERY over grown. I have photos of it from last November … attached but none from this year as yet.

That's not as bad as I thought, I thought it might be more scrubby.

Once fenced I would definitely chuck them in and let them eat it down. What they don't eat you can then mow/top later.
If you mow or top now, not much will grow as we're entering the summer slow down for grass growth.

Don't know how well you know the field but worth walking it first to check for hidden obstacles (apologies if stating the obvious).

 

[Lauren1993]

Thank you for your advice!
My friend is just saying to get it all cut but I think it’s a waste.
there is a tree down in the middle I know of so definitely needs a good look around !
Thank you.