Harrows!

[Luna Equine]

Hi, I am new to the H&H forums and would love some help regarding harrows! What is the best harrow to use for equestrian pasture that is poached and rutted after the very wet winter we had? Chain harrow, grass harrow, spring tine harrow.... the list goes on, who knew there were so many?! Thank you in advance for any help x

 

[Tiddlypom]

Spring tine harrows are best, especially when levelling rutted ground, but are more spendy and they do need a beefier vehicle to tow them. Simple chain harrows (can be towed behind a quad, car or 4x4) are very much better than nothing and are a lot cheaper.

I upgraded from chain harrows to spring tines .

 

[Luna Equine]

Spring tine harrows are best, especially when levelling rutted ground, but are more spendy and they do need a beefier vehicle to tow them. Simple chain harrows (can be towed behind a quad, car or 4x4) are very much better than nothing and are a lot cheaper.

I upgraded from chain harrows to spring tines .

Thank you ?

 

[captainmark]

we found it wasn't easy finding reliable or consistent information on harrowing/rolling (as with many things!) - spent a lot of time researching to find it seems a lot of opinions are based on what people think they must do because that's what everyone does and always has done! Hope following helps you and others going through same process: Our conclusion was in end to aim at just harrowing and bought a good quality heavy 3-way chain harrow 8ft x 5ft to tow behind car. We bought as 2 mats and separate drag bar to ensure we can manually move the thing. Clipped together as a single mat when being used. 1/2" chains/tines, manufacturer William Hackett (paid £444 inc delivery). There are numerous websites/companies/products as you have found - often claiming to be manufacturers when they are not - we did buy from once of these in end (they trade under 3 names from memory!) once we had established what we were buying! Wider than car to take out wheel marks and so you can see in mirrors.; and keeping fingers crossed it would level severe poaching in addition to doing what it's designed to do! Also possible to add more mats later if desired to make it 8ft x 10ft. (Didn't even look at spring tines due to budget/towing vehicle). Decided to avoid second hand as likely to be worn out, not many about, and seem to go for silly money - and chances were it would be in one piece and a nightmare to move it. Other option of course using local agri contractor / farmer - but trying to get them at right time (limited window with clay) and constantly paying out made sense to buy something and to do it ourselves. Winter paddock was badly poached - about a third very heavily rutted (big horses!) - and was concerned this was going to prove a real problem even with a roller. Made worse as we are on clay. Top dried out quickly - but was still too wet underneath to get on there initially. However when we did finally get to it multiple passes (walking speed) over the worst levelled the ruts (didn't think initially it would work but kept going), and ok the surface not like a billiard table but more than happy will be absolutely fine. We added a railway sleeper to the back of the harrow (just 6" nails and rope) - dragging along about 2ft behind which helped stop harrow jumping around keeping tines in contact - and also helped it seemed with the levelling. I've heard of tyres etc also being used for this and you can buy weights from harrow companies too. Left this on for normal harrowing over other paddocks - worked well. So far happy we made the right decision. Rain finally due tonight (can't believe we want rain again after this winter!) so planning to scatter grass seed tomorrow and run over again with harrow - hoping when top wet will take out remaining minor lumps & bumps, break up compaction and bury the seeds........ update to follow. Aim will be to rest through to winter - maybe a hay crop too?

To share further if it helps anyone we hadn't realised rollers were so expensive - and also concerned this wasn't right if avoidable as compacts soil. 2 links below interesting reading which confirmed my logic!! Rolling now IMHO often vanity vs sanity!

good luck..........

https://www.agriland.ie/farming-new...s-of-rolling-fields-youll-feel-good-about-it/
https://acc-contracting.com/2016/04/10/annual-paddock-maintenance-2/amp/

 

[Luna Equine]

Captain Mark, thank you very much for sharing your experience. Really informative. Good luck with the remaining minor lumps and bumps!

 

[captainmark]