How best to manage small acreage

Scot123 said:
Sorry, just another thought. Would you think that would be enough in summer if they were off it for more than 2 months in the winter? What would you reckon?
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a lot depends on how its left. Although the grazing in this part of the country is fab for ponies because its so poor, it is fragile and can take a long time to recover. Thats the reason stock is kept off it, and stock is generally kept on land that is fertilised, muck spread and limed regularly.
This spring/summer for example, was so cold it took until june before we saw the sort of growth spurt in the grass that we get in May usually-its pretty good at the moment but will slow right down in September when the frosts start.
So an acre with plenty of grass cover and good conditions might last you a month or two with two littlies but if I've learned anything here its to get them off the ground if the weather dictates. So options are good! good luck.

Are you new to the area?
 
Thanks. I've kept ponies here for about the last 4/5 years. But that was 2 ponies on about 4 acres which worked really well. Sadly I lost that land (at about the same time I lost my bigger pony) but had the chance to take on this fragmented acre just next to it. So although I know about the land and weather here, I've never had to cope with it in a confined area!
 
Don't know it it helps but I keep a 13.2 on 2 acres of heavy clay but never use it all. in spring/summer he has a track round the outside, in winter he has about 1/2 acre of middle bit. I have a 12' stable to which he has free access and an area of hard standing 3m x 10m outside this which is fenced. In summer he is shut onto his yard/stable by day with hay and in winter he is on yard overnight again with hay. Our area is notorious for horrendous winter fields due to wet deep clay and my field has coped well in this regime for 3 years. I do however harrow and roll in spring ( towed behind my small 4x4 ) I would think 2x unshod smallish ponies could do ok on a similar set up ? Mine has ponies on 3 sides of his field and he has non equine company in the field.
 
I find that really helpful, thanks. I have felt (hoped?) that it can be done but obviously (as your setup shows) it takes rather a lot of ingenuity and more hard work than if you have acres of land to play with. Can I ask - what sort of width is his track and if you have an idea of it, what sort of length? Does the middle 1/2 acre just get trashed in winter but recover well enough with rolling etc and leaving all summer? I realised you still have more land than me and one pony instead of two, but same sort of principal.
 
Hello , sorry slow to respond to.last post - forgot where this thread was ! My pony's track is the full circuit of his 2 acre field and about 8' wide. The half acre he is on over winter gets trashed but recovers really well by this time of year the only noticeable difference to the rest of the middle bit is that it's not vigorously trying to grow thistles and nettles. I think a larger or shod pony would do more irreparable damage but after 3 winters like this (, 1 of which was so wet I had pond weed growing on my field - impressive on a hill ! ) I think mine is sustainable long term.
 
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