Two acres but three horses, how would you manage it?

Spot_the_Risk

Spot_the_Risk

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www.animalcrackersdevon.co.uk
We will be moving soon, and will have about 2.2 acres, split into two fields, one just 0.8 acres and the other 1.4 acres. We have three horses, all cobs who get fat by looking at pictures of grass! The grazing is fine for them, short moorland grass.

We also have a barn which we can use for stabling, it's about 25' x 14', I've been trying to work out how to fit three stables into it, when it's finally dawned on me that as the horses all live together peaceably, they can sleep together loose too, although I wouldn't give them hard feed together in that situation.

At the moment, the horses live out on 5 acres, we harrow and the fields are split. I'm thinking at the new place that if I poo pick, and have the horses in by day in summer, and by night in winter, the land should hold up. Of course I don't know yet how free draining it is, but both fields are on a slope, and about 8 feet below their lowest point is a brook, so at least there is somewhere for the water to drain to.

I'd be interested in your opinions regarding how best to make this work please.
 
Up until recently I have kept a 15.1, a 13 hh a 11.2 and a donkey on just under 2 acres! It is hard work but manageable. I have it divided into 3 paddocks, one of which is a tiny starvation plot for the little pony who has Cushings, and the donkey. I poo pick throughout the year so that none of the precious grass is soured, I find they are very tidy in the field and only use a couple of "toilet" areas, which makes it easier. I also pull weeds such as ragwort and nettles, as I find it better on a small plot than spraying. Through the winter the 2 bigger ones are in at night, as much to save the field as to keep them warm, but they are turned out everyday, but with hay in the field. They go onto the winter paddock in October, which gives the summer one chance to get a bit of growth on it before the bad weather. There is usually very little grass on the winter field by March, but when I move them across to the other paddock I harrow and roll the field and spread some grass seed on it. It usually recovers fine for the following winter. I split the summer paddock and rotate them between the 2 sides so neither side gets eaten totally bare. You have to be prepared to feed hay for longer than you would if you had lots of grass, but I have managed like this for several years, I am sure you will be fine. Feel free to pm me if I can answer any questions.
 
i have similar to you at home.
i have a hard area about 30ft X 50ft in front of the buildings that the horses can wander about in,instead of being shut in,this can be split into 2 with leccy depending on who gets on with who and who is greedy.
my pons go out for a few hours in the morning and are in the yard the rest of the day with hay.(all would-be fatties!!!)if the weather is very bad they dont go out because i am very concsious(sp) of looking after the grass.
my field is quite wet in the winter but i find just an half hour turn out can keep them sane for riding.
i have been here 20+years and have often had 4 horses(as i have now)and have always managed well but it is labour intensive compared to some people who have turn-out then just need to harrow.
i cant decide between strip grazing(move fence a little each day) or let them have a whole acre for limited time,have done the latter for the last 2 weeks and my cob has put on a few kg`s.
i have tooo much grass this time of year!!!
i have 2 gateways which is good in winter cos when one gets bad i use the other till that goes and by then the other has recovered.

so,it can be done but you must `manage it`
 
As per the above - it is possible but poo picking to stop the grass from souring is essential as is lots of hay. The barn situation is fine - they'll probably appreciate having the extra space to wander about in and they can scratch each other etc like they would were they outside.
 
Thanks everyone, I was banking on poo picking all the time anyway, it's good to know that it's all possible. I'm aiming at keeping them in by day in summer and night in winter.

Actually, I can't WAIT to move!
 
We have three cobs 15hh, 14.1hh and 13.3hh on 2.4 acres. They live out 24/7. During the summer we strip graze and have way too much grass. During the winter we confine them to a small grass sacrifice paddock which gets trashed or, if the weather is really bad, we have a stone hardstanding area in front of the field shelter which we confine them to. We poo pick every morning and every evening. We manage fine and we are on heavy clay soil.
 
We have three horses & 2.5 acres, we have split this into four grazing areas a menage and a 20mx20m paddock.
We have to keep one horse separate as he is a thug.
It works and we often open up two fields into one to allow them a bit of a charge around. You will need to asses the shelter/shade aspect when dividing up a field as this can make a big difference to their comfort.
The big problem is the way that the field gets trashed in winter near the entrances and If you can I would have two "gates" in & out so that in the summer one entrance area can recover.
We use far more hay than our freinds and have learn't to feed it against hedges etc so that as little land is poached from left over hay as possible. Also you may need to feed hay up to May so watch that you have enough in store by Feb as it can be really hard to buy later.
 
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