Solution for too much grass

[lozzles]

Apologies for the essay, in theory its a nice problem to have but our winter field which has rested all summer has way too much lush grass in still. I have one big horse who'd be fine but I can't risk moving his pony companion over. He has no history of laminitis but obviously still don't want to risk it. They are currently in the summer field with hay.

I normally graze the resting field as standing hay in the winter (previously had two big horses till this year) but this year it's still staying super green. I was trying to give them a few hours on it and then back on the winter field but the Houdini pony started breaking back through from the summer field through mains electric fence once they'd got a taste for it.

The fence is now reinforced with a second line where they got through but I don't think that's an option again. We have the same issue if I strip graze that he starts breaking through.

Would topping it help now the growth is slowing down or would that be worse than letting them graze the long stuff. I tried a muzzle and he absolutely hated it so would be no way I could take it on and off regularly without upsetting him. Otherwise is there a time later in the winter it would go poor enough nutritionally I could pop them both in it?

 

[Pinkvboots]

I would leave them in the summer field with hay for now, I don't let my horses on the rested bit until December.

The grass is still so rich at the moment it's too early.

 

[Equi]

Is there any sheep about? They would soon get it down.

 

[ponynutz]

send it to me!!

 

[PurBee]

I wouldnt top it, the clippings will be sitting and rotting with mould spores on top of good stuff you want them to graze in a few weeks. Topping it now would turn a very good nutrition field into a toxic one.

When it gets cooler, the grass will send nutrition reserves to the root, and the longer blades will start to go paler green to yellow.

You could narrow strip graze it now if you need them off the summer field, as yours dont have lami/ems etc. Mine are fine with long grass, i just have to keep them limited access hours as they just gorge and bloat.

My houdini needs at least 3 very tight rope electric fence lines belting out at least 5k volts to stop him getting that ‘greener grass over there’! Tight lines, strong fencer, kept on, should help stop the escapes

 

[Ali27]

Mine are still on Summer grazing but strip grazing with Winter part. My 4.5 acre field is divided up by electric fencing so easy to do. Could you muzzle smaller pony and divide up your Winter grazing with tape?

 

[paddy555]

send it to me!!

I'm in exactly the same position as OP and I would gladly send it to you, in fact I would pay you to take it.

I am just sitting it out, leaving them on minimal grass and hopefully something will happen. I'm just having to feed a lot of hay to a lot of fat animals as I think anything else is too risky.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I never turn out onto a ‘rested’ field with a lot of growth, I strip graze into it. I’ve been strip grazing daily into my foggage for a few weeks now since there was not enough grass left on their summer equicentral track. The foggage is still quite green, but is fine for my two Cushing’s horses in the limited quantities that they have access to.

 

[honetpot]

Could you find a couple of Dexter cows just to top it, try Preloved or Facebook. They only take the top off the grass but because they are small they will not make much of mess. My cows went at the start of the summer and I have too much grass, they top it before I put the horses out, they also eat the weeds, so I am going to have to loan some next year.

 

[Landcruiser]

Have you tried different muzzles on the pony? I tried 3 before I found one that my mare keeps on and doesn't rub. I'm strip grazing onto my winter field, mare (EMS) wears a muzzle, and they only have access for a few hours first thing in the morning then they are back on the grass free turnout with hay. Mine have broken through the fence once, but at least the high risk one is muzzled and they weren't on it for long until I went and got them.

 

[Lucky Snowball]

I have similar problem. I’ve been strip grazing one field. Now they’re in that one and having an hour, twice a day in the next one.

 

[cauda equina]

My fatty is mainly still in his summer field, just spending the afternoons on the longer rested grass
Thank goodness the ground is dry - the worst thing is having to stay on the summer field when it's wet, and ruining it for next year

 

[JenJ]

I would try different muzzles - mine used to get theirs off until I tried the flexible filly ones, and they've been fine ever since. I had to open up the centre of my track a few weeks back, as there wasn't enough around the track for them to eat with muzzles on, but I didn't want to risk taking muzzles off. They've actually been fine on it (still muzzled).

 

[lozzles]

The challenge with muzzles is he's very sweet but quite nervous so I don't want to make catching be an issue. They are also out 247 so a muzzle wouldn't work unless I took them in and out of that field to give him a break from it.

I think I might try leaving it till December to let the goodness out of it then strip graze it. Hopefully with some hay out he'll be less motivated to try Houdini antics.

 

[4Hoofed]

I can lend you my two they don’t mind and will be glad to be on dry land!!

On a serious note maybe keep them in the summer field with hay till we’ve had a few hard frosts and a bit of coldness to take the goodness out?