turnout paddocks / snow / frozen poo?

[Jericho]

Just a quick question for those who use small turnout paddocks.. say less than 1/3 acre. Due to snow my two have been in a small paddock where the field shelter is and I havent been able to poo pick that tiny bit of field for a week now due to frozen poos etc. (I cleaned the field shelter out daily) - now the snow is thawing the paddock is just one sopping great wet muddy pooey mess as all the poos have been kicked about / trodden in etc. I tried clearing some today but could only get the 'neat ones' up - the rest were just too slugdey and I just ended up clearing up big chunks of ice!

Am not worried about the grass in that area as they usually have access to the big 4 acre field all the time anyway and once the snow has gone they will go back out so they wont be standing in it all the time (and they have their hay in the field shelter anyway). Just worried what it will be like if I leave all those poos to decompose naturally with the help of the melting snow and disapppear into the mud? Will the grass grow eventually come spring? Will it just turn into dust in the summer?

 

[TURBOBERT]

Relax - and have a glass of wine!

 

[JamesEarwaker]

Just leave it be, any sort of manure spread on grass does it good, acts like a fertalizer so it will bounce back given some rest.

 

[Patches]

My farmer hubby does not like horse pooh on the land. Not many farmers would as it doesn't rot into the ground in quite the way that cow pooh does, thus potentially killing the grass underneath.

Not to mention the worm burden issue for horses grazing.

To the OP. In this weather, I would leave it too. Just start picking up the poohs again when you can get to the land after the thaw.

 

[ofcourseyoucan]

as sure as god made little green apples the pooh will be there once it has thawed and the snow gone!!! you can collect it then! if it has gone to mush it will disappear and grass will be ok. grass is very resilient!

 

[CBFan]

Don't panic!

I'd try and continue yoyr poo picking regime as normal throughout the winter and then come about march, when we start to get some warmer, dryer weather, rest the padock for a few months. you'll be amazed at how the grass recovers. Any that doesn't, you can overseed with new grass...