How to keep horses out as much as possible over the winter without damaging the field

Eriskayowner

Eriskayowner

Well-Known Member
Joined
5 May 2008
Messages
1,977
Location
Wellington, Somerset, England
Visit site
I have a 3 acre field for my three boys. At the moment, they have the run of about 2 and a half acres which is holding up ok - some cutting up if jazzy decides to have a playful episode!

I want to keep all three out as much as possible over the winter without damaging the field too much. Last winter I had a trash paddock (which is the bit I've taped off at the moment) which I can use again, or is it better to give them the whole field and get it harrowed and rolled in the spring?
 
When I rented 4 acres my horses trashed most of it the first winter we were there and I had to have it reseeded the next spring. I would use a trash paddock and feed lots of hay if you think they will cut up the grazing. I think you need more land to keep them out 24/7.
 
Leaving them out 24-7 will be less damaging to the land as they'll run about less. We put big bales out as they're needed in the winter and they tend not to move too far away from it
 
Letting the grass grow to a nice thick base helps as well.

I would have been tempted to do it the other way and keep them on a small bit from say July to Oct and let the big bit grow on but a bit late now probably.
 
Crugeran Celt said:
Good drainage! I have four horses (soon to be five) on ten acres out 24/7 all year round.
Click to expand...

Second this! There's really no other way; but if its not your own land you'd need the landowner to do it.

We did our 3-acre paddock a few years ago. Not cheap, but the best investment we've ever made; plus put hardcore down on all the gateways.
 
I have a winter trash paddock and out 24/7 with large bale of haylage. We roll it if we can get on it at all in the winter and then sort it out in the spring. Seems to work really well although horses do get very muddy!
 
I find it is far better to have a larger area for them to wander in. Also removing shoes if you aren't riding much helps. I try to feed in different areas and vary feed times if possible to aoid them hanging about in one place.

Even if land does become poached it is surprising how well it can recover if rested in the Spring.
 
We have four ponies out 24/7 on 2.5 acres and always use a trash paddock in winter. The first year we only had two ponies and just left them to the whole field in the hope the damage would be limited by them being more spread out. Unfortunately we are on clay soil and they just trashed the lot. Now we have a hardstanding which links to the trash paddock so they get the choice of standing in mud or not. Hay goes on the hardstanding along with water. Come the better weather they can be kept off the trash paddock while it recovers.
 
Brilliant :)

Thanks everyone. I know there's no easy answer. I think I might do the same as last year and have a small ish trash paddock so that they can stretch their legs with access to haylage.

I think bringing them in at night should help save the ground a bit. It only got really bad around the gateways last year so might just have to be resigned to the fact that this will happen, especially on clay :(
 
wood chippings are great if you can lay them in gateways and feed areas. They rot down so you won't have it there permanently, and it'll also help with grip in the ice. A field shelter or two with hardcore inside will also help prevent poaching. Shoes off, and to be honest, I'd leave them out 24/7 so there's no hooly-ing around.
 
My lad is on the same half acre patch from April through to September and this sustains him fine when out during the day for 15 hours per day.
In the winter he is out for the same period on the same patch and I strip graze him each day when the grass slows in growing. So by the end of the winter he is probably on about 1.5 - 2 acres in total. I am on pure clay and mine holds out fine as he does not charge about because he always has enough to nibble on when out. My winter area is cut in July and I then leave it to grow through until I strip graze him from October. This protects the ground a bit too as the grass is a good length and sward is thick.
If you feed hay in the field you will need to constantly move it around or you will end up with poached areas.
 
ours is flat and quite wet (somerset levels but not quite ;) ) we find it is much much better if we start the winter with really good grass cover so after the hay cut (approx 4 weeks ago now) we let the grass grow up until end sept/october when they go onto it.

Over winter 2 horses have 3 acres in 1 acreish sections
 
My winter ground has improved hugely by topping it frequently when rested (rested July to Dec) but also at first sign of wet get them off ground for couple days, I shut mine on arena with field shelter then they don't run round when let back out which they would do if stabled.
 
Imr - that's the best idea so far! ;)

There's a fair amount of grass on the rested section which should hold up if it stays reasonably dry (not likely to happen :'( ).

My two ponies desperately need some weight off them so a trash/starvation paddock should help :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top