Seriously, where is the grass?

All of you who DON'T have good grass...have your paddocks been fertilised this year? When were they last rested?

We have knee-high grass here too; our fields were fertilised about 2-3 months ago, and have been growing like crazy. My horse is in a small field that was rested for maybe 4 weeks, he's a big boy and out 24/7 and about half of it is still knee-high.
 
Another in Shropshire...

We definitely don't have as much grass as last year, but that is fine by me as haven't got to get it topped.

Our fields have not been over grazed, harrowed/rolled in spring, and are regularily rotated - they look lovely and green but certainly not lush.

We do not fertilise as don't agree with fertilising horse pasture.

The farmers around here have only just got the first cut of silage due to the cold and late spring. We were feeding haylage up until May, whereby we usually only have for feed it until April.

I just hope we get the month back at the end of summer, but somehow I doubt it!
 
Because I don't want knee high lush grazing, and the problems that can go with it!!!

I would rather have less nutritious grass and supplement as necessary, than have to be using muzzles and worrying about lami and overweight horses.

The only time I would possibly consider fertilising is if I wanted to make my own hay.
 
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My girl has been in a pen for weeks! We had none for the whole of may when usually we would have had loads, then it suddenly went mad and the rested fields are now waist high and my 16hh ish and the 12hh nf were put in a pen to limit the preggie belly look!

We do not have our fields fertilised thank goodness!
 
HaffiesRock said:
Does anybody else have zero grass?

My poor Haffy is on ad lib hay, graze on and a conditioning feed to keep him looking the better side of thin! At this time of year I should be muzzling and working him into the ground!

Our entire yard are still feeding the same quantity of hay as we did over winter (me more so as my pony had a lot of weight to lose over winter)

I know some will say that there is grass coming through, they are just eating it before we see it but I don't agree. We are in the process of redoing our garden. We mowed the lawns on the 25th May in preparation, and they still look freshly cut!

Is the grass just late this year or is it gone forever...
Click to expand...

Same. Our Shetland is on hard feed in a 2 1/2 acre field, with just one other pony.
 
Mine has just started to make an appearance, but still feeding hay. Have reduced the area the welsh cob has as especially after today's rain, am worried grass will fly thorough and with it, the increased risk of laminitis.
I have never fed hay at this point in the year, always had too much grass. Been a long, extended, expensive winter.
Hopefully we may get a respite from the hay now, for a few months!
 
I have so much I don't know what to do with it all, well, actually I do! Some will be saved for winter, I am having to stripgraze hard this year as all of mine are putting on weight. My mare is muzzled and my welsh will be too if he gets any bigger...
 
I am jealous of the people with less grass. This is first year I've had hordes living out 24/7 and the constant worry of laminitis and them getting fat is doing me in. I'm creating pens, tracks and have bought muzzles. I'd much rather still be feeding hay and not worrying constantly.
 
its quite interesting to see how much horses can eat and the difference in the length of grass on areas or grazing and no grazed.

I sectioned my field off only a week ago into 3 x 1.5 acres paddocks and the non grazed sections are about 3 inches taller than the grazed section. just goes to show how much they can munch through!!
 
We have loads just in the last month the grass has grown like mad and my pony has put on more weight than he ever has and became huge in a short period of time and now is muzzled 24/7 which I have never had to do before.

It is not just the quantity of the grass but it seems to be more fattening and possibly higher in sugar this year as well.
 
We have loads of grass and it is never fertilised not artificial anyway just horse sh..
hay is ready to cut, up around my waist hight, just waiting for the buttercup to die back a bit more first!! One pony paddock was topped, next one needs doing now!
 
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