Poo Picking Dilemma!

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tina60

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I bought a pony, back in the summer, from an elderly gentleman, I decided to keep him where he was as the riding is wonderful and there are always people to ride out with. The only problem is the man who owns the fields and also keeps his two ponies there does not poo pick, and does not see the need to. I couldn't not do it, so have been picking up for all three of them since I have been here - he now tells me that he is going to spread the dung on the fields and there is no need to pick it up at this time of year anyway! I do feel that I am wasting my time in trying to keep this up, what do people think?
 
How much land is there?

It may well be the case that there is no need to pick it up. If there is enough land and particularly if there is cross-grazing on the fields, it can do more harm than good to remove the muck and take the nutrients with it. Of course if you don't have enough land, you may need to remove it.
 
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I've only ever been on 2 yards where I've had to poo pick, other 3 (4?) have left it, rotated grazing, chain harrowed and spread the muck heap. I don't know much about it, but if there is plenty of grazing then wahey you've just free'd up a few hours a week for riding! :D
 
If there is enough space for the horses and the herd is stable, you don't need to poo pick at this time of year. It can seem strange when you're used to manicured paddocks, but as long as the field is harrowed in the spring, it will cause no problems and will put some nutrients back in the soil. A much safer way of fertilising paddocks.
 
It's all down to acreage and what the worm counts tell you .
I never poo pick here apart from fatties skinny strips and the tiny turnout squares .we also spread the muck heap on the land when it's well rotted .
 
I poo pick all summer, but as soon as their primary forage source is hay, and the mud comes up to my ankles, I stop. I have the fields rolled, harrowed and treated (if necessary) as it starts to dry up in spring, then start poo picking again. All the horses on my land are wormed appropriately, so I'm not particularly worried about leaving it during the winter. The seagulls are doing a very good job of spreading it for me at the moment - fields look clean!
 
Ah thank you for your replies - that's really interesting I have been so obsessed with it, where I was before it was done religiously and I was always under the impression that it had to be done - looks like I might have a bit more spare time on my hands!!
 
Auslander said:
I poo pick all summer, but as soon as their primary forage source is hay, and the mud comes up to my ankles, I stop. I have the fields rolled, harrowed and treated (if necessary) as it starts to dry up in spring, then start poo picking again. All the horses on my land are wormed appropriately, so I'm not particularly worried about leaving it during the winter. The seagulls are doing a very good job of spreading it for me at the moment - fields look clean!
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I am exactly the same, but the pheasants are my spreaders!
 
I'm obsessed with poo picking. I have 3 on 7 acres out 24/7. It's a right pain to keep on top of in the winter. Is it ok to leave it and then just roll and harrow in the spring? They are all mine and are wormed etc. The field had never been grazed before I moved onto in August. Had always been used for hay.
 
Copperpot said:
I'm obsessed with poo picking. I have 3 on 7 acres out 24/7. It's a right pain to keep on top of in the winter. Is it ok to leave it and then just roll and harrow in the spring? They are all mine and are wormed etc. The field had never been grazed before I moved onto in August. Had always been used for hay.
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Works for me! I've never had a worm problem with any of my horses
 
Auslander said:
I have no idea where the seagulls came from! There are hundreds of them.
We are about as far from the sea as it's possible to be!
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They will probably be based at the nearest landfill or waste dump, we get a few visitors when a nearby farmer is ploughing but mainly have crows picking through the droppings plus my latest daily visitor a young buzzard who seems to be doing his bit towards spreading the piles about.
 
be positive said:
They will probably be based at the nearest landfill or waste dump, we get a few visitors when a nearby farmer is ploughing but mainly have crows picking through the droppings plus my latest daily visitor a young buzzard who seems to be doing his bit towards spreading the piles about.
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Makes sense! I have crows too, but it's always either black or white out there. They don't mingle!
One of the mares chases the seagulls, but not the crows!
 
If I poo picked I would never have time to ride. Years ago we never did it. I do worm regularly. The fields get harrowed in the spring. It it easy to get carried away and end up doing more stuff and less riding.
 
I have never poo picked, ever, the ATV and harrow are my friends, I do not have wormy horses.
I have some paddocks that are only 1/3 acre and I still don't poo pick, mind, I have a flock of 70 turkeys that do an excellent job for me ;)
In winter it is futile, muck is either buried in snow or welded like concrete to the ground, in Spring we scrape the smaller paddocks.
 
tina60 said:
Ah thank you for your replies - that's really interesting I have been so obsessed with it, where I was before it was done religiously and I was always under the impression that it had to be done - looks like I might have a bit more spare time on my hands!!
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It's a modern phenomenon, which has arisen because many horses are kept at livery on too small an acreage i.e. overstocked.
 
Ive always been under the impression horse manure is not the best to spread on fields.


I also agree it is down to space and the amount horses.
In a smaller are horse will be forced to eat nearer their much and potentially cause more worm issues.
Cross grazing is best but also good rotating and resting of the fields.
 
smellsofhorse said:
Ive always been under the impression horse manure is not the best to spread on fields.


I also agree it is down to space and the amount horses.
In a smaller are horse will be forced to eat nearer their much and potentially cause more worm issues.
Cross grazing is best but also good rotating and resting of the fields.
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Well rotted horse manure is some of the best manure you can get of course the field is rested after you put it on until it disappears .
 
I poo pick because otherwise, toilet areas appear where the horses don't graze..

We have three horses on 6 acres and strip graze so poo is normally easy to spot..

Fiona
 
I don't poo pick - I once tried it for a bit & it took *forever* & really ate into my evenings. Been here 10 years; worm counts have always been zero, there are only mine here (at home) & I worm count any newbies before they're allowed to mix, so now I don't feel guilty about it.

T x
 
tina60 said:
I bought a pony, back in the summer, from an elderly gentleman, I decided to keep him where he was as the riding is wonderful and there are always people to ride out with. The only problem is the man who owns the fields and also keeps his two ponies there does not poo pick, and does not see the need to. I couldn't not do it, so have been picking up for all three of them since I have been here - he now tells me that he is going to spread the dung on the fields and there is no need to pick it up at this time of year anyway! I do feel that I am wasting my time in trying to keep this up, what do people think?
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The age old debate

I am like you and always pooh pick daily as I hate the look of soiled fields and don't want my horses or the livery ones having to eat round all the pooh. I pooh pick after 12 equines every day!!!!! It's not a big issue IMO it takes less time to do the field than you think. I give a reduced rent to one of my diy liveries and we do it together once all the horses are in for the evening.

I also would never harrow to spread the worms round the place - I would ask this person if you could fence off an area if it is feasible and you can pooh pick at your leisure.

How about you gather all the info to show him the cons about harrowing and the pro's on pooh picking and say for a slight decrease in your rent you will pooh pick all. If you present him with the facts he may listen, you have nothing to loose.

This list is not finished yet and I add to it when presented with more info but you can use what I have if you like.http://horse-care-and-advice.weebly.com/land-management.html
 
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