Strimming nettles?

[spotty_pony]

Is it ok to strim nettles and leave them on the ground with horses in the field? We have quite a lot of nettles in parts of one of the fields and I would like to tidy it up. I know they cant eat them when dry and they are good for them, just checking it's not like leaving grass cuttings in the field. ?

 

[cobgoblin]

We do this. The horses eat them when they've wilted.

 

[brighteyes]

Yes, they love them but don't usually eat then until they are crispy.

 

[Tiddlypom]

We did that, the horse gorged on the freshly strimmed nettles and colicked, needing an OOH vet call out. He was ok, but never again.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

Nettles are quite high in iron so don’t feed if you have a horse with liver problems/EMS as it doesn’t do them any good.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Pull them if you can. Native ponies in particular enjoy eating them roots and all.
I tend to pull a metre patch once a week, in the meantime the caterpillars enjoy feasting on them.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

We did that, the horse gorged on the freshly strimmed nettles and colicked, needing an OOH vet call out. He was ok, but never again.

I had one who did exactly the same. She recovered but it does make you wary.

 

[cobgoblin]

The answer is not to do too many at once.

 

[SEL]

I do small patches at a time. Only one eats them

 

[meleeka]

One of mine eats them when they are in the ground! As above, just do small patches. A friends horse got choke from gorging on them.

 

[Archangel]

Nettles are a favourite of butterflies - Red Admiral, Tortoiseshell, Comma etc so I tend to leave them now until July when the caterpillars have done their thing.

 

[J&S]

I pull them and strew them around. They get eaten over time.

 

[Micky]

I tend to leave them for the butterflies, then in autumn when they start wilting, the horse will eat what they want/need..

 

[Gloi]

Wily old pony dug them up himself and ate them once wilted. He learnt a lot of tricks in 30 years. He was an expert in mushing up thistles by pawing them and at pulling out electric fence posts by the base.

 

[Dasher66]

Wear marigolds and long sleeves, and pull the nettles out. Grab the stem low down and pull gently upwards aiming to keep a length of root attached.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Wily old pony dug them up himself and ate them once wilted. He learnt a lot of tricks in 30 years. He was an expert in mushing up thistles by pawing them and at pulling out electric fence posts by the base.

One of my Fell ponies used to love digging them out, I'd leave her a large area to start on each autumn. But she was on the hills till she was 7, do loved picking at the gorse too.

 

[Gloi]

One of my Fell ponies used to love digging them out, I'd leave her a large area to start on each autumn. But she was on the hills till she was 7, do loved picking at the gorse too.

I love watching them eat Gorse flowers so delicately

 

[Widgeon]

Wily old pony dug them up himself and ate them once wilted. He learnt a lot of tricks in 30 years. He was an expert in mushing up thistles by pawing them and at pulling out electric fence posts by the base.

My Icelandic did this, he would paw them down then eat them. It was quite impressive.

 

[Gloi]

My Icelandic did this, he would paw them down then eat them. It was quite impressive.

He was an Icelandic too. Must be used to making sure they don't miss any available calorie. ? he was very fond of nettle roots once he'd dug them up and it was impressive seeing him tackle those enormous spear thistles with gusto. I wish I'd filmed him in action.

 

[MissTyc]

I also strim them in patches and they get eaten bit by bit

 

[zandp]

Wily old pony dug them up himself and ate them once wilted. He learnt a lot of tricks in 30 years. He was an expert in mushing up thistles by pawing them and at pulling out electric fence posts by the base.

He's a relative of my older mare then, as she does the same with nettles and thistles and has stood in front of me wrapping one leg around a plastic fence post before knocking it over and calmly stepping over the electric tape to get to the middle.

 

[Gloi]

He's a relative of my older mare then, as she does the same with nettles and thistles and has stood in front of me wrapping one leg around a plastic fence post before knocking it over and calmly stepping over the electric tape to get to the middle.

He's a relative of my older mare then, as she does the same with nettles and thistles and has stood in front of me wrapping one leg around a plastic fence post before knocking it over and calmly stepping over the electric tape to get to the middle.

Mime's method was to get hold of the bit you put your foot on to push it in with his teeth, and pull them out with that. The others would watch and wait while he did it and then go through

 

[Goldenstar]

Always leave some for the butterflies