Grassland management advice please! :)

[a kind of magic]

We have recently decided to move from our 12 acre meadow field (for various reasons) and have taken on 6 acres of paddocks. We have one large horse (a 16hh shire x draft horse), 3 quarter horses all between 14.2hh and 15hh and a new forest pony who is 13.1hh and is currently away for training, and will probably be away for a good 6 months!

The 12 acres was totally unmanaged (due to us not being allowed to do anything!) so was full of weeds, not poo picked so had sour patches, and it would be trashed in winter but it would recover in summer due to stocking levels being reasonable. The weeds and poo picking situation were one of the reasons we moved, the flies were terrible.

Of course having 5 on 6 acres will require some management which of course I am prepared to put in but I would like some advice as we've been at the meadow for 6 years, it's been a long time since I have had to manage grassland!

I have put our paddock situation as 'field A, field B, field C, and also field D' so that it makes it easier to advise!

Field A-2 acres, with a permanent 12x18 field shelter. Has had no 'looking after' for 4 years, we had to graze it with 3 horses since February due to unforseen circumstances so the grass is a little short! Has been harrowed, and recently rolled, but could probably do with overseeding and fertilising but I have no idea when/how! Also has 3 large muckheaps which are being removed and I would ideally like to overseed these patches? Rented all year round.

Field B-directly next to field A, 1 and a bit acres, split into two paddocks. Again no looking after for several years, was grazed the year before last and mown last summer. Grass is a fair length here. Only available begining of April to end of September, maybe October if it is dry enough.

Field C-3 acres, up the road and around the corner from the other two fields, although walking distance (not something for every day though!). Has not been looked after for a long time and was grazed the winter before last, last tenant never had it rolled so it is like the surface of the moon! It is a bit hard so would rolling improve this at all? Good grass but it is long and will need grazing down as it's folding in places. Already split into 3 paddocks, with a little lean-to in each paddock, and hard-core by the entrance gate.

Field D-2 1/2 acres, for cutting hay. Owners said they usually get just under 100 bales from it but could do with some advice on how to optimise grass growth etc!

My plan is to use field A and B for summer grazing and field C for winter grazing, with supplemental hay from field D. I think field A could do with resting so was going to move 3 up to field C for a few weeks to munch it down (quarter horse broody and foal, and probably the stallion too but in another paddock) but am unsure how to optimise the recovery of field A whilst there is no stock. :S

Also....as I'm hoping to use field C for winter grazing I was going to ask the owners if it would be OK to extend the hardcore a bit further (at our cost) and create at least one 'shut in' with a field shelter in it, although preferable another one, so that we can bring them in overnight to help rest the ground. It will also be helpful as a tacking up area and for farrier and vet etc.

I rather stupidly find it all a bit exciting but it will be nice to be responsible for the state of the fields once again!

 

[fitzaud2]

Well, have just put fertilizer on my 6 acres, seemingly, you fertilize first, then put grass seeds out 2 weeks later. now is the time to fertilize, then, 2 or 3 weeks later, put out grass seed when fertilizer has had time to get a grip on the land, all this explained to me by neighbour farmer, who has kindly spread fertilizer for me and coming back to shake grass seeds. hope this makes sense!!!!
Also, roll everything, it's good for it, do it now, seeminglt now is the time!!! Only learning, neighbour farmers are great!!!!

 

[ofcourseyoucan]

fert now. harrow and roll when nearly dry but not too dry. top seed before rolling but after harrowing! use your furthest field in summer and your nearest field in winter. dont need or want to be leading up and down a lane in poor daylight! spray when weeds are visable. (need to rest fields for 2 to 3 weeks after fert and spraying. need good rain to wash in fert. dry days after spraying but rain before putting stock back on) if you have an abundance of buttercups and weeds soil test as ph may not be right. dig ragwort up when spotted in rossette stage. good luck. sadly good quality grass doesnt grow by itself.