Land Management

[edgedem]

I'm moving shortly to a 3 acre paddock with my 13.2 Heavy cob, a standard Shetland & a mini Shetland. The fields are currently split into 2 1.5 acre paddock and the grass is very very very long. Not been grazed for 2 years long! This is great as my cob has dropped a lot of weight and our current field is badly flood damaged so very little grazing. I just wondered what anyone would do to separate the fields? obviously the shetlands need restricted grazing and I don't want my cob to get too sprightly on the spring grass while also gaining some weight. Im a bit confused as to what's best! :/

 

[Cocorules]

When you first put them on I would be confining them to a small area and gradually open it up. I would have the cob going onto fresh areas first. Longer term I would work out what size I need for the shetlands and make 2 small fields for them. They could rotate between the 2 but with the cob going in first so they never get fresh grass. I would then have 2 larger areas for the cob to rotate between.

I would also try to work out wet and dry areas and keep the dry for winter.

It is better to use the field for a bit before putting in permanent fencing as it lets you work out how best to divide it.

 

[JillA]

If you get a good electric fencer you could strip graze the cob, and set up a track round the edge for the shetlands. Then you can widen or marrow the strip according to what they need once the cob is up to a decent weight.