Topped grass

[Leeia price]

Hi,

my field was topped 2 weeks ago and it hadn’t been grazed for some time.
I turned my cremelo out in it and his face and legs are staining black and his nostrils are full of like a black dust!
has anyone ever seen this before? Is it the decaying grass and is it toxic? The cut grass was left where it was.
Thanks ?

 

[PurBee]

If the field wasnt grazed most of the year and its just been topped, there will be an awful lot of mulch material that will have to die-off, before new grass grows through. With autumn temps cooling grass growth will be slower now.

The cut mulch material will mould to decompose fully, and black moulds are common in northern climates. Horses dont /shouldnt eat the mulch and shouldnt be put in a field with a heavy layer of decomposing grass, if there’s no fresh green grass having grown through the mulch.

For it to make your horses legs and nose black means there’s way too much mouldy mulch material still laying in the field and the pony, for health, should be in a cleaner field.

 

[Squeak]

Agree with Purbee, if there's a lot of mulch on the field it probably needs longer before it's grazed.

 

[Sprig]

It doesn't help you now but you shouldn't top that late. Either top when the weather is warm and dry and the grass isn't too long (so probably before the end of June) or leave it standing and strip graze as standing hay.