How much grass have your horses got ATM?

Eriskayowner

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My landlord keeps commenting on how "churned up" the field is. It is pretty churned up and muddy but the field was made huge by jazz's owner and I've been making it smaller do they're trashing less of the 3 acre field. They've probably got 2/3 acre between 1 17.2hh and 2 13hh ponies.

I put lots of haylage out for them but it's essentially just so they get fresh air and a stretch of legs during the day. They're in at night.

How muddy are your fields? Make me feel better!!!
 
Dire, really bare.

But they always come back green (we rest for part of the year), and tbh I have to avoid grass with mine so its no bad thing. They are getting hay out whilst it is frozen and ad lib over night when stabled.
 
Thanks thatsmygirl :)

I really hope that the trash paddock does come back to life ok. I'm happy to pay for it to be rolled etc so it's not rutted. The bits we've taken the horses off are already looking greener (after a week or so) but fingers crossed for the temperatures to improve and the grass to come up!!!
 
Loads. It's all really long... and dried and baled! ;)

Ah... you mean the GREEN stuff... hmmm... well..... most of the ground is still green but any shoots have been nibbled off. To be honest though, as others have said, mine are all a good weight still so they can afford to lose a little now with spring just around the corner....
 
Yeah I hope the end of winter is in sight babymare!!

Lawns at home are also looking good here MiM but there aren't any horses on them :( fingers crossed paddock will survive.

The grass always comes back, its sturdy stuff and I think some land owners worry a bit too much. Fortunately at my current yard, they know it can look a state and they know it will come back, and they will treat it or re-seed it if needed.
Its tough when some stress out when in winter it does and will look muddy no matter how hard you try. I had a YO who used to panic and it was hard work. Hopefully spring will work its magic for you soon
 
too much! they just moved onto an acre paddock that has been empty since haymaking in July. nov to now paddock is looking pretty rough and they def needed to come off it, sept to nov section greened up really well I think helped by it being so mild after they came off, it is also strip grazed so we don't get so much long dead grass as the other two, although that def helps to protect the ground.
 
lol, perhaps we could swap them over as Frank really doesn't need the grub, but cal needs company! Although having had 3 months off he has done quite well not expanding.. 2 days on the grass and a surcingle lengthening was needed.

I think its just because we have a low stock density (2 on 4.5 acres split into 4) and as it is ours can control it how we like, what they are on now will be left from marchish when they go out 24/7 and be left for hay. It is also a bit drier than the surrounding fields (useful as we are on the levels!) I think because it has had so many houses built around it it acquired some extra soil.

We do have plenty of mud in places though.. most important for rolling in!
 
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