grass growing season...

[L&M]

In shropshire we have had 50% less average rain fall over the summer and despite strict rotation and maintenance, the grazing has really suffered.

The winter fields have been resting for over a month but due to the hot, dry weather up until now, have had little growth. I was relying on the autumn flush to give them a boost, however now the rain has finally arrived, so have the colder temperatures.

Should I start to bring them in now to conserve what we have left or is it likely the grass will continue to grow for a bit? The rested fields shouldn't be grazed until the clocks change, but the summer grazing is so poor I doubt it will sustain the horses until then.

Please no replies saying they have too much grass as will only depresss me more...!!!

 

[Crazydancer]

We are in a similar area, Shrops/South Staffs/Weds Mids border, and have the same problem.
Ours live out 24/7/365, and we have started to give a small bucket feed, just chaff, to keep fibre going through them. We feed haylage ad-lib through the winter, so the worry isn't so much about the grass in terms of feed value, but we are worried that it will cut up badly, as it is only recently established grazing.
I was told that grass will continue to grow at temperatures over 6 deg C, so we are hoping to get a little more recovery before we turn them onto winter fields. *crosses fingers and toes*

 

[M_G]

I have the same problem & mine are now in at night & the grass seems to be picking up (it's still mostly dust and rocks) am also giving hay in the field shelter through the day

 

[Alphamare]

Our horses are rotated through the grazing so each section gets a chance to grow back. I have just recently noticed upon moving them back that there is no where near as much growth as there has been. The horses are also dropping some condition (which is actually good since a couple were getting porky) but the grass definitely isnt growing as much as it was even a month ago. Whether or not this will pick up or just carry on growing slowly i dont know.