When restricted "summer" grazing goes wrong....

[Not_so_brave_anymore]

Is this May, or November?!! It's been raining for a whole week now,and apparently there's still at least another week to come. The beautifully rested winter field might as well be called the laminitis paddock- defo no chance of putting little fatties on there, any attempt at gradual strip grazing is just poaching more and more of the field. I'm losing the will here ??? But I've remortgaged the house ? and I've got a couple of pallets of mud control mats arriving next week - they'd be as miraculous as you lot always make out! ????

 

[TGM]

I was going to say you need Mud Control mats! Love mine. Was going to take one lot up in order to re-lay them, but I'm glad I waited now with all this rain!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I was going to say you need Mud Control mats! Love mine. Was going to take one lot up in order to re-lay them, but I'm glad I waited now with all this rain!

I was going to say you need Mud Control mats! Love mine. Was going to take one lot up in order to re-lay them, but I'm glad I waited now with all this rain!

Ours need to come up too but we can't put the horses on the summer grazing until the weather dries up. The mats are better put down on almost/dry ground, we have found than actually in the mud.

 

[brighteyes]

View attachment 71977

Is this May, or November?!! It's been raining for a whole week now,and apparently there's still at least another week to come. The beautifully rested winter field might as well be called the laminitis paddock- defo no chance of putting little fatties on there, any attempt at gradual strip grazing is just poaching more and more of the field. I'm losing the will here ??? But I've remortgaged the house ? and I've got a couple of pallets of mud control mats arriving next week - they'd be as miraculous as you lot always make out! ????

I just lifted a raft of mine that went down to protect a heavily poached and flooded area (which has nicely recovered) and put them over another, newly created, mudbath. You won't regret buying them, you'll simply join the ranks of the addicted 'Mudcontrol matters'.

 

[brighteyes]

Ours need to come up too but we can't put the horses on the summer grazing until the weather dries up. The mats are better put down on almost/dry ground, we have found than actually in the mud.

I have done it both ways and both work.

 

[brighteyes]

Was going to take one lot up in order to re-lay them

This option cannot be overstated - except when making the case for getting another pallet, whereupon they neeeed to stay where they are - indefinitely!

 

[SEL]

Ive got standing water in my field again - we overdid those rain dances

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

Please could you post a photo of mud mats in situ so I could see how they work/look. Huge thanks if possible.

 

[Annagain]

The two oldies have gone on their holidays to a friend's field as Monty needs quiet (preferably small) turnout to get over his suspensory issue and their 7 acre field shared with 4 others just wasn't suitable. As their new field is 3 acres and hasn't been grazed for 3 years we fenced off an area about 80m x 30m with the intention of them staying in there a fair while so they wouldn't run around too much. With all the rain recently, we've had to open up the whole field as it was turning into a swamp. Luckily even with all that space, we haven't seen them get out of walk yet. There are benefits to having two very chilled 25 year olds together!

 

[zandp]

I've just ordered 20 mud mats, I'm on clay and the field was just looking dryish and then the rain started last week and we're back to mud soup again.

 

[Nasicus]

I feel ya, mine are on a track from spring through to autumn (weather dependant), and on friday I gave up and heaved them back into the winter field. Track is sodden, submerged and slippy, and last thing I need is anyone going arse over tit and breaking their neck.

 

[zandp]

I feel ya, mine are on a track from spring through to autumn (weather dependant), and on friday I gave up and heaved them back into the winter field. Track is sodden, submerged and slippy, and last thing I need is anyone going arse over tit and breaking their neck.

I saw my elder mare slip about 10 feet this morning on the mud, heart in mouth time. I'm now bringing them in overnight when it's raining again as it's too awful in the field. Mud control mats arrive next week apparently !!

 

[zandp]

Those who have mud control mats - did you put sand or wood pellets on them or leave them ? Horses are both barefoot, I'm thinking wood pellets as they're used to those for bedding but with the rain we're having not sure the pellets will stay around for long.

 

[brighteyes]

Please could you post a photo of mud mats in situ so I could see how they work/look. Huge thanks if possible.

So, these are on a heavily-used track that comes onto concrete outside and always churns up. The grass is established at the edges and will eventually fill in and become permanent. The tractor goes over it fine. These will stay put.

 

[brighteyes]

Please could you post a photo of mud mats in situ so I could see how they work/look. Huge thanks if possible.

Newly laid on trashed area (thanks, horse) to allow it to repair yet be travelled over. You can see the damage-level at the front. Again, coming onto concrete but it doesn't have to be.

 

[brighteyes]

Please could you post a photo of mud mats in situ so I could see how they work/look. Huge thanks if possible.

Full extent of damaged area...

 

[brighteyes]

Please could you post a photo of mud mats in situ so I could see how they work/look. Huge thanks if possible.

The bit in the foreground has had the Mudcontrol mats down, recovered and mats lifted to re-lay and actually had some traffic over and rubbish weather. The bit of a mud patch beyond wasn't done, nor the bit in front - I am lazy...

 

[brighteyes]

Sorry for the massive images. I love them. We have some down in a building with stable mats going over and then used as a stable so they will stay put. I have 8 down on another to and fro path which will stay there and 9 down permanently where I go in and out of my horse-walker as it was a soil patch between indoors and the concrete. They were my originals and I was so pleased with them, I found lots of other uses and places for them.

I also was a huge skeptic as they are not cheap and were promoted with what I thought 'hype'. I defy you to find anyone who isn't delighted, a repeat offender and slightly addicted to them.

Their FB Customer Projects page is great.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I have done it both ways and both work.

Ours that were put down on mud have shifted over the winter, those that were put down when it was dry haven't moved at all.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Those who have mud control mats - did you put sand or wood pellets on them or leave them ? Horses are both barefoot, I'm thinking wood pellets as they're used to those for bedding but with the rain we're having not sure the pellets will stay around for long.

We did put sand down but as the mats lead into the shelter, where they make the floor, they have shavings bedding on them, which has spread outside and the sand has disappeared. Our horses are barefoot, too.

 

[LadyGascoyne]

Mine are now in a couple of hours a day or for the odd night. It’s boggy, midgey, mud-fevery weather and the grass that is growing is very rich so Mimosa tends to look like a blimp.

 

[Leam_Carrie]

Need some dry weather to spray off the weeds. On a positive harrowed and fertilised clay winter fields a week or so ago, so they’re on the path to recovery. Summer grazing is looking deciding more like winter - mud and squelchy. Only letting mini on grass for a half a day, then on hay. Big horse grass during the day and hay at night. Odd weather ? ? ️ ?

 

[SEL]

I'm buying bedding tomorrow. My field is a bog and they need a few nights in.

Not Happy.

 

[Sossigpoker]

We are back to restricted turn out thanks to the pishing rain! Couldn't even turn out last weekend as it was just relentless.
I'm so fed up with it.

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

Thanks so much for the pictures...so the idea is to “float” on the muddy ground to spread the pressure of feet. Would they be left in situ for grass to grow through to anchor them in place or is the idea to keep them on top of ground and lift able.? Re read Brighteyes post ..can use either way...hummm..I think these would be a good investment. Thank you hugely for the input..really appreciate it.?