Should I top my paddock?

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horsemadsarah

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Hi there,

Some advice needed please :)

I've recently moved my mare into a new paddock at the yard which has been rested for a long time. We have individual turnout and she has about an acre to herself. It is up to us how we manage our paddocks.

The grass in it is very long, overgrown and not very nutricious looking, rather yellow in colour.

At the moment she's out 24/7 but when winter comes, she will be stabled at night. I've divided her field so she has half of it at the moment so the rest can be saved for winter.

However, as the grass looks quite poor, I've been thinking I should top it, half at a time, to try and encourage some better grass. But at the same time, I don't want to waste it.

She's not gorgeing herself on it, which is a good thing, but at the same time, shes not really eating the long stuff.

What do you think? :confused:

Thanks :D
 
she will eat it come winter! sounds like it is too long to top now. if long and you top now will end up with loads of mown grass suffocating the underneath. sheep?for 2 weeks max
 
Hmm, difficult one this.

Personally I'd be inclined to top it now, half at a time if possible. Then ideally chain-harrow it afterwards which will aerate the soil. Perhaps not usually done at this time of year, tho' it won't do any harm and might do a lot of good.

Sheep are a good idea at any time; tho' the problem with sheep is that they won't usually eat stuff that's tall and course, they like grass to be nice and short & sweet!

OR you could do as previous poster suggests. And/or just strip feed the long stuff and let them chomp through it; my friend does this with hers and she says it saves a lot in hay!
 
Personally I wouldn't, if there are weeds in there they will have gone to seed by now and topping to prevent that would be pointless, unless you just want to pretty your paddocks up of course. Best to top for weed/sour grass during Spring and Summer if you want to keep it down.

For now I'd save one half for winter as standing forage/hay, the farmers called it 'foggage' in Wales. I usually save a few acres and let the mares out on it after the first snow, keeps them happy for a while.
 
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