Pointers on field management, please

[charlyan]

Hi all- a friend and I have found a 6-7 acre field to rent for our two horses next door to my house, and are trying to put together a proposal on how we intend to manage the grazing. The following points are what we have come up with but any advice for additions and/ or glaring omissions and errors will be greatly appreciated. This would be our first independent outing from livery and want to do it properly.

• Erect electric fencing around the perimeter to protect the boundary fences and neighbouring gardens from the horses. Electric fencing will also be used to divide and rotate the grazing.

• Take on any required maintenance of the boundary fencing and gates as part of the tenancy. In addition, we will rest and re-seed any areas as required. All at our cost.

• Lay limestone or quarry stone in gateways and around the shelter to prevent poaching. Any areas with poor drainage will be fenced off in wet weather/ winter to prevent poaching.

• Divide up the grazing into 3-4 paddocks and use in rotation, allowing the different areas to rest. ? Possibility of grazing sheep in rotation to reduce areas of rough.

• Inspect the park daily and all droppings will be removed. We will manage a muckheap away from any neighbouring dwellings and this will periodically be removed.

• If harrowing or fertilising is required in spring, we will arrange this and cover costs.

• The best, drained areas of grazing will be rested over the summer months to allow wetter areas to rest over winter to prevent poaching.

• Aim to use the driest, least valuable areas for turn out over the winter months.

• Erect a non- permanent shelter/ stable so that horses can be stabled at night to further reduce poaching in winter.

 

[sarah67]

wow u have thot of every thing! if using electric fencing ul have to go rould your field (particularly in the summer) and cut any grass,hadges ect that are touching the fence as this will drain the power from the fence.You have a huge space there so might take you a while to go round the whole lot

 

[charlyan]

Thanks, Yeah, the electric fencing will be extensive! As its alongside the house, we should be able to use a mains energiser for it. The other option is to use smaller energisers and move them around the individual paddocks as they are used- if the fencing is isolated.
The reason we're going into such detail is the land owner did allow horses on there a couple of years ago but it was left in a bit of a mess by their owner so we want to show him that we are going to be responsible about it!

 

[ThomasTank]

A 6-7 acre field is plenty big enough for 2 horses.
Have you thought about putting up post and rail electric fencing so it is more permanent and you can get the electric gate thingies.
It will look much tidier and nicer imo.
I would divide it into 3 or 4 bits and rotate often. Dont let them poach it. If you move them off 2 or 3 weeks before you think you need to then the grass will recover quicly.
Going on your own is great fun, I am on my own in a similar situation to you with a frien and 3 horses.
Enjoy !!

 

[RachelB]

Sounds to me like you've thought of pretty much everything! I just have one tip about the electric fencing - don't whatever you do get those spring wire gates (like a coil of wire that stretches across the gateway), they are horrible dangerous things. Oh and don't twist your electric tape! I've done a fair bit of electric fencing in my time, lol! At the yard I'm at we have isolated bits of permanent electric fencing, so we move the energiser to wherever it's needed and this saves battery power. At work we have the fencing (also permanent) attached to a mains energiser, although there we use all the fields daily so they all need to be electrified permanently. I'd suggest doing it by paddock if you're using a battery, or all of it if you're using the mains.
Have fun, it's lovely to be able to have the freedom to manage your own place!

 

[charlyan]

Thanks for the tips. The post and rail electric fencing is a good idea- that would look so much better.
Agree about the spring coil gates- don't like them!
It will be good to get our own place- I'm fairly lucky where I am at the moment as YO is farmer and keeps out of the horsey stuff (only one other livery) but it is nearly 4 miles away and they can get snowed in in winter. My friend however, is having lots of hassle where she is- horse is crap and too big (16.3hh), she doesn't ride enough (only every night- more than I do!), she couldn't manage without them, etc, etc. She needs out!

 

[catembi]

I spray my nettles in the Spring with Grazon 90 using a backpack sprayer. Last year I had loads of nettles before I sprayed. Sprayed them again this year & now I've got virtually none. You need to keep the horses off the bit you've done for a week or two (can't rem what the label says).

I've got 2 1/2 acres in 2 paddocks & it only takes about 30-45 mins to do each as you only have to spray where the nettles/docs etc are growing.

Also, rem to pounce on any ragwort & pull it up. I'm sure you knew that anyway.