Harrowing and rolling advice

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Little bit old-fashioned

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Hi everyone I know there have been threads on this before but hopefully no-one minds me getting a bit more specific and asking for some advice.

This is my first year managing my own land and I'm not exactly sure what I should be doing and when I should be doing it.

As we have had the wettest start to the year on record pretty much the winter side of the field (3.5 acres ish) is pretty trashed. Top looks green(ish) still but bottom half mostly looking churned up now and hoof holes everywhere so most definitely not flat.

I was hoping to school in this field throughout summer but that won't happen unless I do something serious to flatten ground and get rid of worst of the holes in it but not sure what to do.

Being on a gentle slope down to hard standing with some flatter areas (the potential schooling zones) I dont really want to roll the top as think all the water will then just stream down to the yard area at the bottom of slope rather than be absorbed by the ground, but not sure a harrow is going to cut it or sort out the mess.

Any advice? Should I go for a deeper harrow perhaps? Am I right in thinking there are 3 types that each serve a different purpose? Any knowledge on the differences would be greatly appreciated.

If I do a deeper harrow what's the average time the grass would take to start growing again or should it not make too much difference if resting for a few weeks?

The summer paddock would be the best paddock for schooling as totally flat but this hasnt been rolled, harrowed or maintained for years so very uneven. Okay for grazing but you wouldnt want to school on it. Any suggestions for that? I am thinking I'll have to sacrifice using this area for schooling until next year as I don't want to butcher my spring grass that I want to move them onto in a few weeks time. Could I harrow this paddock in autumn before the ground gets too wet so its then ready flat and waiting for grazing and schooling after being rested all winter?

Any advice would be much appreciated. We are still a couple of weeks (at least) off being dry enough to drive into the field to do any of it but I want to be prepared and organised as I can be.

Also - is anyone doing things differently this year based on the absolute deluge on contstant rain over the last 6 weeks? I am South West so this may apply more to me than others.

Thanks in advance!
 
You could join the Land Management group on Facebook, there’s great advice on there. Generally they don’t advocate rolling as it compacts the land where ideally you want to aerate it by harrowing as it’s much better for the grass. I tow a set of chain harrows behind a 4x4. If it’s particularly rutted, I tie a pallet and a couple of tyres on top. Not only is it good for grass growth it spreads the poo around to rot into the ground. Leave the field to rest as long as possible or if you need to put horses back on, until all the poo has rotted down. I don’t have an arena so I often school in my fields and I find if you give it enough time the land recovers.
 
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myheartinahoofbeat said:
You could join the Land Management group on Facebook, there’s great advice on there. Generally they don’t advocate rolling as it compacts the land where ideally you want to aerate it by harrowing as it’s much better for the grass. I tow a set of chain harrows behind a 4x4. If it’s particularly rutted, I tie a pallet and a couple of tyres on top. Not only is it good for grass growth it spreads the poo around to rot into the ground. Leave the field to rest as long as possible or if you need to put horses back on, until all the poo has rotted down. I don’t have an arena so I often school in my fields and I find if you give it enough time the land recovers.
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this is exactly what I do. Week or so before moving from one side to the other I don't poo pick (only main area's) and then harrow. My harrows are little quad ones and go 2 ways, so one way up digs in and lifts the moss etc and the other side is gentler and just knocks the tops of the ruts and spreads much about.

My fields are sandy and because of this had become very mossy and sour. A farmer recommended not poo picking and just harrowing for a while, I did it fortnightly. I have worked I have tubby ponies now so obviously have enough grass. (I also added some sheep to cross graze which has also helped.) some people will tell you not to grass for a period of time after harrowing and other will say it doesn't matter.
 
Thank you both. Got the 4x4 and the towbar - was thinking to pay someone to come do it but now thinking probably not worth it and should do it myself and buy a harrow as it will be a long term investment and gives me freedom to do fields as often or whenever I please.

Any suggestions on brand? They have 4ft chain harrows on Ebay - that sounds like yours myheartinahoofbeat or any suggestions on where you got a double sided dorsetteladette? Not seen these pop up from a quick Google search. Or could just not know what I'm looking at!
 
If you are only buying one type of harrow go for chain. They can be used three ways, flat side down is good for spreading poo as is with the little tunes facing away from your tow vehicle, times facing towards tow vehicle make it more aggressive so good for creating a bed for sowing seeds if over seeding needed. I do roll occasionally as get massive ankle breaking ruts, I also may roll lightly (one pass over whole field rather than repeated) after reseeding hopefully March/April time depending on the weather and the seed bed I've managed to create.
 
middlewichmachinery.co.uk

Oxdale Trailed Chain Harrows

Ideal for smallholdings and gardens, the Oxdale Trailed Chain Harrows are compact and easy to maneuver. Tow behind a tractor or ATV for effective harrowing. Available with pin or 50mm standard ball hitch.
middlewichmachinery.co.uk middlewichmachinery.co.uk

Sorry they are 3 way harrows like ESW says.

Mine are similar to the above, but my OH has added a sleeper to the back of it to help hold it down and flatten the lumpy bits better. Hence why ours is now a 2 way 😜 We found ours for about £200 on FB marketplace.
 
dorsetladette said:
middlewichmachinery.co.uk

Oxdale Trailed Chain Harrows

Ideal for smallholdings and gardens, the Oxdale Trailed Chain Harrows are compact and easy to maneuver. Tow behind a tractor or ATV for effective harrowing. Available with pin or 50mm standard ball hitch.
middlewichmachinery.co.uk middlewichmachinery.co.uk

Sorry they are 3 way harrows like ESW says.

Mine are similar to the above, but my OH has added a sleeper to the back of it to help hold it down and flatten the lumpy bits better. Hence why ours is now a 2 way 😜 We found ours for about £200 on FB marketplace.
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Thank you! I'll go second hand hunting on Ebay and FB marketplace
 
If the pennies will stretch that far I thoroughly recommend getting a set of grass harrows over chain harrows - they are much more effective and even out the ground better without compacting it like a roller does.

Used to use chain harrows until we upgraded to grass harrows. All towed behind a SORNed 4x4.

Mine are from Arenamate.
 
I use a chain harrow for ‘normal’ harrowing I.e spreading poo after they come off a field and to pull up the thatch.

I found a very old but cheap fixed tyne harrow which I use on my winter field. I’m on clay and it gets wet with deep ruts, but a couple of hours wizzing about with that thing on the right day completely gets rid of the ruts.

I don’t roll for reasons stated, but I did the first year as the land had been overgrazed and abandoned for many years and it was ridiculously lumpy in places, I had to roll to get back to ground 0.
 
Little bit old-fashioned said:
Great tip thanks we have a very bad gateway!

And thanks to everyone else for their tips too loads to take from this and feel like it is totally achievable and not a mountain to climb!
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Before using car etc, try doing the 'space invader' stamping down 1st by foot, if water squelching up its too wet for vehicle. Sometimes just foot tamping down will sort a very small patch, keeping you fit lol.
 
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