Too much grass in new field

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shah's mum

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Excuse my ignorance but is there anyway of getting grass down before putting small ponies in, ie cutting/mowing a strip so I can start off strip grazing/ track system? I am worried that even in a tiny section they will have too much the first few days.... Knee high!!
We do have poor grazing, but it has been rested for over a year (new rental field)
I feel a bit cheeky asking the owners to find some horses to munch it down before we move in..!!
 
I would probably top the whole lot - and then cut the bit you want to start in down even further with a mower. Just make sure you collect up all the cut grass to prevent colic. That's just what I would do though - others probably have other options for you to also consider. :) HTH xxxx
 
Yes am tempted to mow a section to start my strip grazing, but also know that short grass can be dangerous...But by the time we move in it will be end of june so hopefully grass will have gone off a bit...Unless it keeps blooming raining!!
 
As above. Don't know what machinery you have available but perhaps do what I do. Strim it first if necessary, rake up the cut grass, and then go over with a mower with a collection box. You only need do a smallish section to start with, as from then on you could strip graze.

It's a bit of a faff, but much better than your ponies getting laminitis.
 
Ah thank you, that is what I suggested doing to a friend and she laughed, as if mowing a paddock was unheard of??? But I only meant a section to get my strip grazing started...Feel better now.. Might not be able to find petrol strimmer, may have to use shears and a rake!!! Oh well I have a few weeks!! :D
 
I have mowed 2 acres before with the garden lawn mower!!! It was hellish hard work but did the job and I got a nice sun tan to boot..
 
Did I mention it was on a steep hill!!! Great exercise for the ponies but I'm going to be exhausted!! Still better than them being ill!!
 
Im sure I have read somewhere before that the shorter the grass the sweeter it is as its nearer to the roots. Longer grass is supposedly less sweet and nutritious so mowing it will have the opposite effect if Im correct in what I read.

My mare lived on an almost bald paddock when she came off box rest, the grass was very short and she didnt lose weight all summer. Would hate it to be wrong info for you and your horses be poorly..
 
Yes short grass is much worse, but this would literally be a strip to allow us in the gate :-) and so I can get the electric fencing up without shorting the circuit by the long grass touching it ... then they can have gradual access to long grass... Its all so technical isn't it??? :-)
 
top it then mow it-my dad mows off the 2 x lami paddocks virtually weekly at this time of year to keep it short.he does have a sit on mower though lol!

then,one is muzzled(barges through any strip grazing fence) and one is strip grazed (head shy so cant be muzzled) but keeping it super short limits how much they can grab and gobble.
 
A strip would be good then I would let the rest grow and go to seed and then let them graze it bit at a time. Long grass holds much less nuitrition and it takes a lot to digest it - just perfect for lami sufferers.

It always make me wonder at people who keep their lami prone on short grass which is so dangerous.
 
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