sheep and horses

debsflo

debsflo

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been advised that sheep would eat creeping buttercup and weeds horses dont like. any one had experience only got a couple of acres and 2 horses so would only want a couple and obviously have to improve fencing. do they go well together and what would i have to think of. our neighbours have sheep that dont need shearing but what about feet thanks
 
I have heard they are ok but may eat the horses tails, lol! My friend has got two goats as companions, she may have more info.
 
I *think* sheep eat the worms that horses can get and effectively get rid of them and horses do the same with sheep worms so they are good as grazing partners.

We used to have sheep in with our horses and the pasture always looked really good and we had far less weeds than we do now.
 
My horse is out with a few sheep. He chases them when bored (poor things - they then sneak under the fence into the neighbouring paddock). Other than these occasions it is a harmonious relationship. I have always been told sheep are good for horse pasture because they eat the stuff horses don't eat.
 
My horse has a major issue with sheep. They are the world's scariest things and are probably fatal to horse!
 
Lol my horse thinks the same about cows!! He is CONVINCED they eat horses.
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We have two and a half acres and keep two horses and five sheep. The field never has any weeds cos the sheep eat all the rough patches the horses wont eat. The sheep also eat any ragwort if it appears, which i hasten to add it hardly ever does in our field! The sheep soon learn which horse will chase them and which one wont and they always graze in the paddo ck with the nice one! One of our sheep was best friends with my coloured horse but saddly she died of a lung infection.Our sheep are shorn once a year and we trim their feet as and when they need doing. They really are not a lot of trouble and keep the pasture brilliant
 
Sheep do tidy up the paddocks but what people forget is that 3 sheep will eat as much grass as a big horse, we had sheep that used to break into our field, but one of the livery horses didn't like them and killed one by using her front feet on its head
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Lol my horse thinks the same about cows!! He is CONVINCED they eat horses.
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My old guy is like that!!
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I've been carted before hand when we met a herd of cows coming through the woods
 
I know some sheep that were bought as pets to keep a paddock grazed and they are now elderly teenagers, about 15 years old.

A neighbouring farmer worms them when necessary (wormers come in packs for large numbers of sheep, it is hard to buy for one or two) and shears them and generally helps look after them, so you would need to find a friendly sheep knowledgeable farmer to help.

But they can be very good horse companions and do keep the fields tidy, so long as the horses don't annoy or hurt them.
 
I'm a sheep farmer and i can tell you that they are fab for keeping the grass in tip top condition. They help with worms considerably, they stop ragwort growing and stop the grass becoming horse sick and full of weeds. Only once have i had one of my ponies tails eaten, but that was from lambs and shes just stupid
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Most of my horses don't let the sheep that near.

They really will improve your grazing!
 
We have two Ryeland ewes in with our four horses and they all get on very well. The sheep are particularly fond of the elderly coloured mare and call foe her if she leaves the field! They do need shearing every year, but if you only have a couple you can manage that yourself. They do wonders for the grass and we make sure that the sheep can get out of the way if they want and have shelter for the worst of the weather.
 
My highland not only chases sheep but tries to pick them up by their wool. He does the same with small grey ponies who insist on wearing rugs. He will actually lift their back legs off the ground and suspend them by their surcingles!!!
 
at my old yard they had sheep to eat the stuff the horses didn't seens as there was not alot of grass the sheep ate all the good stuff lol
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but she had 2 boys and thought they were "done" but turned out they were entire and "DAVE THE SHEEP" as he was called used to chace us round the yard and we hid in the stables to save our selves while he tried to jumpover and get in very scary sheep!!!!! she didn'thave a clue though they were never sheared(sp) and looked very uncomfotable in the summer! poor ickle sheep.

oh and to the cows my mare also thinks they are going to eat her the welsh cob i had on loan however used to lickthere heads over the fence much tothe amazement of my horrified mare!! haha
 
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