Sheep - good idea for good doers & laminitics ?

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Lorrie66

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Hi

quick question as I am about to take the plunge and get two pet sheep to help keep the paddocks in order..

anyone else find this overall a great benefit?

Yes i know there is a bit of work involved to keep them but we really need help with way too much grass. We strip graze but it grows faster than we can allow our horses to eat and is also very rich ( we are going to renovate also with a less sugary grass variety but this will take time)


they will be kept at home so we can check them each day. And of course the fencing will be triple checked and we have a farm vet nearby. Plus the breeder of the sheep is nearby for advice too...like shearing !

I don't know any horsey people personally who also have sheep so wanted some horsey opinions.... I do spot quite a few fields with sheep and horses and the vet put the idea into my head!

cheers
 
We have sheep but not so much to eat the grass but to keep the weeds down so that we have more grass. They are also brilliant at breaking up dung (think they just walk through it regardless) and breaking the worm life-cycle. As you say, they do take some work but not that much, especially if you have expert help at hand.
 
I have sheep, they are very good for keeping the grass down, depending on the size of paddock/number of sheep ratio. I don't put them in with the horses as some horses will chase and play with them, some horses will kill them. Mine eat the fields down before I let the horses in and thus help with internal parasite control, too.
 
Um, before you take the plunge and get two sheep of your own, I'd be inclined to ask around to see if there's any farmers or smallholders in the area who can put THEIR sheep in the field instead of yours.

The reason being that it will be far less hassle for you basically. Sheep, bless 'em, are creatures born to die:) and aren't exactly maintenance-free, you have to trim their feet, shear them, watch them for fly-strike/maggots etc etc. They really can be a nightmare, and so that's why I say let someone else put theirs in your field as believe me it will make for a far easier life.

I don't know what your acreage is OP??? Because, TBH, whilst two sheep will be a help, you might need say half a dozen plus before you really notice a difference.

But sheep (preferably other people's!!!) are THE best thing you can have on horse-pasture. They'll do it no end of good and clear it up beautifully for you. We've got a friendly farmer who puts his flock in our 10 acre field (and pays us for it!!!) and we're very glad of them.
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
Um, before you take the plunge and get two sheep of your own, I'd be inclined to ask around to see if there's any farmers or smallholders in the area who can put THEIR sheep in the field instead of yours.

The reason being that it will be far less hassle for you basically. Sheep, bless 'em, are creatures born to die:) and aren't exactly maintenance-free, you have to trim their feet, shear them, watch them for fly-strike/maggots etc etc. They really can be a nightmare, and so that's why I say let someone else put theirs in your field as believe me it will make for a far easier life.

I don't know what your acreage is OP??? Because, TBH, whilst two sheep will be a help, you might need say half a dozen plus before you really notice a difference.

But sheep (preferably other people's!!!) are THE best thing you can have on horse-pasture. They'll do it no end of good and clear it up beautifully for you. We've got a friendly farmer who puts his flock in our 10 acre field (and pays us for it!!!) and we're very glad of them.
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This, especially the born to die. They just love to drop dead for no reason. And then there's the awkward matter of disposal. But they do help with keeping worms down
 
MotherOfChickens said:
agreed-other peoples sheep. don't forget the paperwork!
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I have someone from here's sheep on my fields right now - I've heard they are painful to look after full time but I have the benefit of what they'll do to the ground along with their owners on the end of the phone if they have any issues. We have 38 on just 4.5 acres (that had hay cut) and they still seem to have loads of grass, 2 would be lost by now - with the rain we are having it doesn't seem to have stopped growing this summer.
 
Polos Mum said:
I have someone from here's sheep on my fields right now - I've heard they are painful to look after full time but I have the benefit of what they'll do to the ground along with their owners on the end of the phone if they have any issues. We have 38 on just 4.5 acres (that had hay cut) and they still seem to have loads of grass, 2 would be lost by now - with the rain we are having it doesn't seem to have stopped growing this summer.
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I'm glad you are still happy to have them, lol, they can be a right pain on occasions ;)
OP, 2 sheep won't make any difference at all, tbh.
 
I'm another that borrows sheep; I've had ten on about an acre all summer. They've done a great job at fertilising gently, removing any weeds that pop up and keeping the grass right. I definitely don't want my own to look after, they are hard work and always stealing the horse's feed in winter if they are a permanent addition. Mine have now gone off ready for tupping shortly and the grass has time to grow a bit of length for the winter.
 
martlin said:
I'm glad you are still happy to have them, lol, they can be a right pain on occasions ;)
OP, 2 sheep won't make any difference at all, tbh.
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They seem to be quite happy so far, not eating the grass as quickly as I thought they might and (fingers crossed) no escape attempts !! I just have to time feeding the pigs when they are in the far field as they certainly know what a bucket of hard feed looks like!!
 
Polos Mum said:
They seem to be quite happy so far, not eating the grass as quickly as I thought they might and (fingers crossed) no escape attempts !! I just have to time feeding the pigs when they are in the far field as they certainly know what a bucket of hard feed looks like!!
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Hahaha, yes, they are fairly tame :D I tend to lead them rather than drive them, real life Bo Pip, me.
 
ah Ok mainly positive feedback then.

I have tried in vain to get other peoples sheep on our land but our local farmer doesn't want the hassle of moving & paperwork. I tried the website 'sheep keep' but none available in the area at this time of year. Someone local to us has 4 sheep rotating about 10 acres with 8 horses and seems to work well. But I don't know them to speak to .
We have only around 2 acres or just over and two horses - both only need to think grass let alone see it! I don't want more than 2 in case I decide it is not for us & figure 2 are easier than 10!
We've started the paperwork so we are about ready to go.
If it doesn't work out - then i can sell. The 2 wethers near us are rare breed so I am sure I could move them on.
thanks very much - I will suck it and see :)
 
Lorrie66 said:
ah Ok mainly positive feedback then.

I have tried in vain to get other peoples sheep on our land but our local farmer doesn't want the hassle of moving & paperwork. I tried the website 'sheep keep' but none available in the area at this time of year. Someone local to us has 4 sheep rotating about 10 acres with 8 horses and seems to work well. But I don't know them to speak to .
We have only around 2 acres or just over and two horses - both only need to think grass let alone see it! I don't want more than 2 in case I decide it is not for us & figure 2 are easier than 10!
We've started the paperwork so we are about ready to go.
If it doesn't work out - then i can sell. The 2 wethers near us are rare breed so I am sure I could move them on.
thanks very much - I will suck it and see :)
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I would get in touch with the local agricultural merchants or mart and see if they know of who might be interested in grazing sheep. Altho sheep are good to put on any time they do most good if rotated so it would be better to have a lot on (mob stock) for a short period than to have a couple for a long time. This might be useful for a person who has to rent ground (up here it's known as tack rental) for short periods here there and every where, they may be glad of it for 3-4 weeks then off again, all gently fertilised and weeds eaten (and mob stocking is the only way the weeds will get eaten as they will eat the grass in preference first).

If they don't know of anyone have an ask on smallholding forums like rover cottage or the accidental smallholder for contacts or contact a local sheep shearer, they are likely to know of someone.
 
We always borrowed a few sheep. Ours have always got on well together. My parents are still borrowing the sheep even now the ponies have 'left home'. The ponies now share happily with our dairy herd.
 
My neighbour is a sheep farmer so he has always grazed our fields. Currently there are six Sheep on, but he varies it dependent on grass and how it is growing.

When I first let my two yearlings out as they were last year one was inclined to run at the sheep, however they soon settled and I would not be without them. They complement the way ponies graze well.

Neighbour lets me have hay in exchange for grazing
 
Even if borrowing sheep there will be a bit of paperwork involved but not much

If you live anywhere near northamptonshire you would be welcome to borrow some of mine!

They arent a particularly easy to care for pet and can be a pain sometimes!
 
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