What do with field that probably won't get made into hay?

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kit279

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We have about 12 acres at our yard that have been set aside for hay making and YO has really struggled to get anyone to come out and make the hay. It is slightly complicated by the fact that he doesn't want to pay someone to do it
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but there you go! A local farmer always used to do it and sell the hay on himself but he let us down earlier in the summer and now everyone else is too busy to do it. We have bought in our hay already from somewhere else so the horses will be fine.

Basically the fields are very long now and although we hope we can get the hay off it before autumn, it won't be great quality and we are wondering how best to manage the fields.

Should we:-

a) stick the horses on it and let them get it down a bit? If we do this, poopicking is going to be pretty impossible as the grass is so long. So do we then top what's left over and then chain harrow to break up the poo? Definitely not ideal but might be better than letting the poo lie on the field.

b)persuade YO to pay someone to come and top it and bale it and take it away?

c) top it and let it lie? We're worried about it damaging the grass underneath which is pretty healthy.

d) top it and chain harrow?

Any thoughts? Thank you!
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c will destroy grass cant understand why farmer wont do it free if he gets the bails try putting a ad out mabey? sorry im not much help
 
a) is the best choice as it will feed the ground too. Sheep unlikely to eat longer grass. Harrowing will improve field too.
Can't believe they wont cut with the price it is!
 
probably no good to you if your yard owner has not got a good relationship with local farmers, but what I do, is offer my fields to local dairy farmer to graze drying cows on, good for farmer, and is certainly good for my fields...my farmer also takes cut of silage, have you tried this. Particularly this year, with hay being difficult to make given lousy weather. Try your farmers.
 
The best thing to put on it would be cattle. If not top it, then put the horses on it. The cut grass will soon disappear. Horses preffer to graze on 'lawns' rather than on long grass. Topping will also help stop thing like docks and thistles speading.

Many farmers are in the same situation where they are so busy now that they may not be able to spare the time to make an extra patch of hay, even if they could have it for nothing, especially as you say the grass is past its best.
 
Someone on here gave me top advice last year....

I only had about an acre or so though! I strip grazed my fat boy on it all winter and used it as 'standing hay' - it had lost most of its goodness by then but saved me putting any hay out at all during the days. He grazed it pretty short apart from the odd area he was picky with.
 
You poo pick a 12 acre field?!!!!!!!!!!
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That's a lot of walking
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As HelsB says, I would leave it as is and use it as winter grazing then top it and harrow next season.
 
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