How to get a field horse ready - looking for advice

[pelena]

Hello! My house has a long lease on the two adjoining fields (one 4 acre one 2.5 acre), which are divided by a river. The 4.5 acre one has been looked after but floods every spring and is pretty wet. The smaller one, which is right next to the stable block we’re building, is on a slope and has a couple of wet areas (nothing dramatic). I want to make this suitable for two horses (one is an overgrown Shetland so happy with grazing that’s not too rich). I am having drainage put in (herringbone drain and then a ditch along the fence line). It has had horses on it in the past but now has lots of rabbits and some blackthorn. We are also going to deal with the rabbits and fill in the holes and dig out the blackthorn.
What should be my next steps? There have been no horses or other stock on it for about 7 years, fencing is decent post and rail but the grass is overgrown and lumpy. Do I mow the grass and then roll it?

 

[Exasperated]

Hello! My house has a long lease on the two adjoining fields (one 4 acre one 2.5 acre), which are divided by a river. The 4.5 acre one has been looked after but floods every spring and is pretty wet. The smaller one, which is right next to the stable block we’re building, is on a slope and has a couple of wet areas (nothing dramatic). I want to make this suitable for two horses (one is an overgrown Shetland so happy with grazing that’s not too rich). I am having drainage put in (herringbone drain and then a ditch along the fence line). It has had horses on it in the past but now has lots of rabbits and some blackthorn. We are also going to deal with the rabbits and fill in the holes and dig out the blackthorn.
What should be my next steps? There have been no horses or other stock on it for about 7 years, fencing is decent post and rail but the grass is overgrown and lumpy. Do I mow the grass and then roll it?

Definitely don’t roll before getting rid of all the old, dead grass.
Topping or grazing with sheep, even your ride-on if you can bear it, and a thorough harrowing - first.
Might be worth soil testing - benefit from lime, fertiliser, minerals, etc? Any bare patches for over sowing?
Any noxious weeds to tackle? Eg. ragwort rosettes, there’s no point fertilising or rolling or generally harbouring them.
Might be better speaking to a long-dog or ferret fiend about the rabbits!
Good shout to rip out the blackthorn, lethal stuff, just check DEFRA nesting calendar, and good luck.

 

[YourValentine]

If the fencing is sound, I would focus on removing and noxious weeds and the blackthorn (nesting season starts March 1st and you should remove scrub after that really), and controlling rabbits.

I would let you horses graze down the long grass rather than getting it mown.
When you say "uneven" is it just a bit poached? Got anthills?

 

[pelena]

If the fencing is sound, I would focus on removing and noxious weeds and the blackthorn (nesting season starts March 1st and you should remove scrub after that really), and controlling rabbits.

I would let you horses graze down the long grass rather than getting it mown.
When you say "uneven" is it just a bit poached? Got anthills?

Old anthills, molehills and years of just sitting there. Drainage will help massively- was thinking of getting some of the grass down to see what exactly we’re dealing with. Can’t have horses on it for a while yet as drainage work needs doing first, so thought it was a good time to get it sorted.
Rabbit control and blackthorn are getting sorted in the next week so was first on my list.
Was wondering really whether we work with what we’ve got or just totally reseed.

 

[YourValentine]

Do you have anthills like this:


Big old anthills like this have massive biodiversity value so if you can preserve them please do.

Their presence is often an indicator of a traditional meadow that has had minimal/no inputs (seeding & fertilising) and no cultivation, and should have a good grass and heb mix for grazing horses (not too fattening/energy rich).

Blackthorn will grow from seed & suckers and once you have removed what you can see now you will probably have to mow / strim back fresh suckers annually for the next few years.