New paddock advice

[Mymymymatilda]

I have just taken on a new paddock. It's about an acre. However it's really over grown - about knee height with dandelions and thistles. I've not been responsible for my own paddock before so just need some advice on what I need to do to it to get it ready for a horse to graze on? I know I need to split it for summer/winter. I'm assuming I should strip graze it when I first put the horse on there. But is it suitable grazing, do I need to mow it or anything first?

Tried to upload photos but they're too big.

 

[meleeka]

Check for poisonous plants first of all. The rest depends on what type of horses/ponies you are putting on it, how many, are they they going to be on it 24/7 etc

 

[Mymymymatilda]

Checked for ragwort and Buttercups. There is some dock but mine ignore it. 2 x ponies - 11.2 and 12.2. 24/7 while the weather is good.

 

[Polos Mum]

If no ragwort and sensible fencing chuck them out (assuming horses not overweight)

The will start to clear it and you can assess it better.

Plan to spray in May 2021 - no point in doing it now weeds have set

If there are really bad bits - once they have eaten around I would strim to give the grass chance.

Once you've seen them in it for a few weeks (where wind comes, where mud comes, where they choose to shelter from flies etc.) then you can make a summer / winter plan. If you rest your 'winter' area from end Aug to as close to xmas as you can the grass will grow nicely in Sept.

 

[Mymymymatilda]

That's really helpful, thank you!!

If no ragwort and sensible fencing chuck them out (assuming horses not overweight)

The will start to clear it and you can assess it better.

Plan to spray in May 2021 - no point in doing it now weeds have set

If there are really bad bits - once they have eaten around I would strim to give the grass chance.

Once you've seen them in it for a few weeks (where wind comes, where mud comes, where they choose to shelter from flies etc.) then you can make a summer / winter plan. If you rest your 'winter' area from end Aug to as close to xmas as you can the grass will grow nicely in Sept.

 

[KittenInTheTree]

Given that they are small ponies and that the grass sounds rich, I would allow them access to no more than a quarter of it to begin with, and then either rotate them around it a quarter at a time, or else strip graze it. My ponies love dandelions and thistles, although they tend to leave the latter until the flower has begun to dry out before they eat them.

 

[SusieT]

If there is nothing poisonous I would let horses out onto it to graze it down and then see what you've got- make sure no wire etc. there - depending on what horses are like will tell you whether you will need to strip it or not ie if they are fat or thin.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

The problem with letting the ponies onto all of it immediately is that they will flatten the long grass rather than eating it, which will waste a lot of it and you still won't be able to see what you have got. I would let them have a small section at first and gradually enlarge that. You could close off the eaten down part as they move along, which will allow it to grow behind them.

Then, next spring I would split the paddock by making a track round the edge, so that they can have the middle over the winter, in future.

 

[Mymymymatilda]

I've quartered it off, (width ways as its not square) to see what they do and will go from there, using all these really helpful tips!

Re a track for next Spring - I really like the sound of that! Thanks everyone - feeling a lot more confident now.

The problem with letting the ponies onto all of it immediately is that they will flatten the long grass rather than eating it, which will waste a lot of it and you still won't be able to see what you have got. I would let them have a small section at first and gradually enlarge that. You could close off the eaten down part as they move along, which will allow it to grow behind them.

Then, next spring I would split the paddock by making a track round the edge, so that they can have the middle over the winter, in future.