To section off field in winter or not ?

[JaneSteventon]

Currently renting 7 acres of fairly wet land for winter for two big horses. Field shelter on about half an acre which drains really well which i will put them on when it is really wet. The rest of the field drains well in parts but also has areas which are really wet, but it has held up to recent wet weather really well and isn't churning at all. Field has a lot of over long grass on - wanted to get it cut for hayalge but due to bad weather this did not happen. They currently have access to the whole field, and are doing fine.

So any opinions/advice on whether I should think about sectioning it off over winter. I have always wondered if it is worth it - do they not churn smaller areas more ? and also are they not better having space to move about and keep warm ? - although I can ensure they always have access to the shelter. If I should section off, when should I think about doing this, and into how many sections ? Horses will be moved to 2 acre field as soon as ground dries in the spring, and field rested until end of summer.

Thank for reading

 

[Maisy]

Personally I wouldnt bother. If you dont need to save the grass for anything, they would probably churn it up much less if they had a bigger area.

 

[JaneSteventon]

Hello, thanks for this, yes this is my thinking as well, but conventional wisdom appears to be that dividing into paddocks manages the land better so wondered what others thought.

 

[scotsmare]

If it's predominantly wet then I wouldn't section it - the horses will naturally avoid the wetter areas thus churning it up less.

 

[Kallibear]

7acres for 2 horses is plenty of room.

I wouldn't bother sectioning it - all you'll do is destroy the bit you've confinded them too.

The only bit that will get muddy is the area they stand most, so where ever their hay is. It'll grow back over the spring and summer though.

 

[pottamus]

I would leave them on all of it as they will make less mess that way. If you want some of it to recover for spring then just fence the area off at the beginning of March and leave it until it is long enough.

 

[Donkeymad]

Agree with the others, in these circumstances, definately better to leave them on the whole field.

 

[Horsemad12]

I would leave it.

I haev a much smaller field and section it of from the spring to the autumn to rest sections and allow the grass to grow. From end Oct I will use the whole field!