Grazing on paddock just cut for Hay... Advice please

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millimoo

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Our farmer has cut paddock #1 for hay.... No horses in there since last winter and allowed to grow for hay making.
However he then went and cut the long areas in paddock #2 (which he'll also bale for his sheep). We now have a problem as we are currently turning our horses out in paddock #2.
There are large areas of short grazed grass in paddock #2, but now large patches of cut grass up to 2ft in stalk length. This has obviously left a problem of turnout. I refuse to let my Shetland out so he is grazing on our small yard eating the verges, but my mum has turned her warmblood out for a couple of hours in a muzzle (I've seen him eating the cut grass).
Therefore how risky is colic, poisoning or laminitis if grazing grass cut for hay.... I'm not prepared to take the risk, but to be honest, the more googling I do the more confused I get
 
Well its just something I learnt from a very early age that you don't give horses grass cuttings which in effect this is, or let them graze a field that has just been cut for hay. I'm not sure of all the reasons lol just know its wrong and they can get colic
 
I know grass clippings are a big no no, but I've read a real mixture of threads on the internet... I don't think it's worth the risk, hence shettie staying on the yard.
Bloody farmer, he knows not to do the two paddocks at the same time - we were out, and he's been derailed by his father dying a few weeks ago so can't say too much.
 
Mown hay is not the same as grass cuttings (which ferment very quickly). Depends on how long it has been cut to whether there is a risk or not. Either very fresh or a couple of days to dry off and it should be fine. Our YO often threw newly cut hay into the field with the ponies, it is only the same as when you pull long grass for them. We also often turned ours out onto the newly cut fields too and never had a problem. Having said that I wouldn't have wanted to put any of the lami prone ones on after it had greened up a bit.
 
And this is why I'm so confused.
Both paddocks were cut Monday evening.
He will be bobbing down to turn it a couple of times before he bails it ... Mind you it all got rained in this afternoon.
My shettie will be off it, period as he is a Cushings lami (he doesn't have it I hasten to add).
I'm going to suggest turnout in the Arena with haynets - that way they can also graze the edges.

Any further opinions are most welcome :-)
 
millimoo said:
And this is why I'm so confused.
Both paddocks were cut Monday evening.
He will be bobbing down to turn it a couple of times before he bails it ... Mind you it all got rained in this afternoon.
My shettie will be off it, period as he is a Cushings lami (he doesn't have it I hasten to add).
I'm going to suggest turnout in the Arena with haynets - that way they can also graze the edges.

Any further opinions are most welcome :-)
Click to expand...

I initially thought you just meant the leftover cuttings, but if you mean that the cut hasnt been bailed, and its just piled loose over the field, I would keep them off.
 
He's taking a risk if they dung on it as it will make horrible hay!
Once it's baled it's fine to graze, any left over grass will soon get eaten and we have done this for over 40 years without any problems.
Fresh cut grass doesn't seem to be a problem, years ago when we were hard up all my riding school helpers and me hand picked grass daily for the ponies. Long grass/short grass we just filled sacks, and nothing ever got colic. Your YO should keep everything off it however until baled..I wouldn't feed hay made like that it could end up with botulism in it.
 
Thanks for all your replies. The land is our own facility at home.
We've had a mutually beneficial arrangement the last 10 years in that he provides and removes a trailer for our muck heap, and we allow him to bale the 4 acre paddock for his sheep (it's an old lay, very herby and fine meadow hay). He normally cuts it, then we move the horses across, and then he tops the other paddock. His father recently died and he's a bit behind on his own farm, and although we reminded him to do the two separately he came down and did the lot when we were out and the horse and pony were stabled for the night.
We're keeping them off and if he's not baled it by Friday I'll be out with a rake and electric fence. Theyve had turnout on the yard and arena in the meantime ..... Bit of a nightmare though
Thanks again for all your replies :-)
The land is our own,
 
Sorry for repeating myself.... On the iPhone and couldn't read what I'd written.
In reference to what happens to the hay. He feeds it to his cows and sheep. We dont have the storage for that many bales.... Plus he's started making big bale hay & hayledge which is not sold on... Ie if his animals get a dodgy bit, it will just be left
 
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