The sheep are coming!!

[Melandmary]

So. I posted a while ago about having way too much grass for my fatsos and a field that was inaccessible to farm machinery. After some futile advertising on fb for someone to come and cut the field I put an advert in my local mole valley of free sheep grazing.... And finally I have some coming at the weekend. Is there anything I need to know about grazing my horses after sheep have been on? My main concerns are worming and ticks. Do I need to rest the field before putting the ponios on? I know a few of you have sheep so any tips would be useful. Thankyou ?

 

[Parrotperson]

first thing is. sheep escape! So I hope you're fencing is good or whoever is bringing them brings plenty of electric fencing.

As long as your ponies are properly wormed I wouldn't be worrying about a gap. Plenty of people;e round hear graze sheep with horses.

 

[Melandmary]

The "farmers" albeit hobbyists are coming this evening to measure for fencing. 1 side has water and the other a road. I do have some sheep wire that the OH's ex wife left behind which they could use but I don't like it in horse fields. I don't fancy sheep wrestling ?

 

[canteron]

Sheep are great and so good for the land. Horse worms can't live in sheep and vice versa, so they are perfect to follow on the horses on the pasture to clean it up.

What to worry about - that the sheep owners are good to their animals. Some sheep people are very 'hard' on their stock, and personally I find that difficult to handle ...... but just as many more are delightful so hopefully they are the type you have!!

 

[laura_nash]

Is there anything I need to know about grazing my horses after sheep have been on? My main concerns are worming and ticks. Do I need to rest the field before putting the ponios on? I know a few of you have sheep so any tips would be useful. Thankyou ?

Nothing you need to know really, assuming they are going on after the sheep not with them and it sounds like that is the case. The sheep will eat it down making ticks much less likely. They will kill horse worms and excrete sheep worms which can't infect horses. No need to leave a gap afterwards.

 

[rabatsa]

Plus sheep are said to have golden hooves as they are light on the land and scatter fertilizer as they walk.

 

[ycbm]

Sheep while the ground is wet act as a great roller and flatten out the bumps. They stink!

I don't know why people are suggesting they need to follow on, they can co-graze fine as long as your horses don't attack them. I have had one which did.
.

 

[Not_so_brave_anymore]

What to worry about - that the sheep owners are good to their animals. Some sheep people are very 'hard' on their stock,

This! Hopping lame in one foot = sound in three feet ?‍

 

[Melandmary]

Ah, thanks for the replies, sounds like there is nothing too much to worry about then as long as they don't escape and their owners are kind, they seem nice and eager. They went to agricultural college together and this is their first attempt at keeping their own. They are going to market to buy some tomorrow and having them delivered on Saturday. I hope they are very hungry as there is alot to munch through ?

 

[brighteyes]

I love my foster sheeps. They belong to an ex forum member and I get the inedible ones who are essentially pets. They are Zwarbles and a largely mannerly lot - if a trifle over friendly. I love having them and they seem less determined to escape than the mules or mountain ones who come to the lowlands over winter.

I can't add much to the above other than they leave poo all over, which the horses are a bit sniffy over except for rolling in the stuff.

The girls coexist with the horses but can dodge under fences to get out of the way if needs be. They are loved by me and their owner alike.

 

[laura_nash]

Sheep while the ground is wet act as a great roller and flatten out the bumps. They stink!

I don't know why people are suggesting they need to follow on, they can co-graze fine as long as your horses don't attack them. I have had one which did.
.

I didn't mean to suggest they can't co graze, just that there's a little more to consider if your doing that.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

You will be amazed at the amount of grass the sheep can eat! Our sheep and horses live together happily but we always introduce new horses to the sheep very carefully and leave the sheep 'escape' routes just in case.