Would you put your horses on a steep not easily accessible field

meesha

meesha

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Lookiing at taking on a livery yard (see other threads) and today and we walked to the hill area - to get to it you need to go from yard, through schooling field, up through main field and then through gate and up onto hill - only vehicle that might make it up there is a 4x4 quad.

There is a water trough on the hill side of gate so no need to take water up there & tons of bushes, massive trees and grass up to your armpits (literally) it is an area of scientific interest so cannot be sprayed and is stunningly beautiful and has nice breezy hill areas along with tree cover for winter. On the downside is the walk to get up there and the steepness of getting there and of course the ragwort !! there are some beautiful examples of the plant and way way too many to pull - it cannot be sprayed so I am a bit stuck.

The question is ...... Do I take the yard but not use that bit which is between 12 and 20 acres (cant remember what owners said) or do I try and let it out on its own for x per month on the understanding that the person needs to pull the ragwort. I am thinking it would suit youngsters, apparently all horses that have been up there before have come to call and are waiting at gate but its not ideal for anyone wanting to ride/bring in each day - it would be pure turnout - no stable (except for emergency) and they would need to lead though the main field of horses to get in (would say if moving them I would bring all others in of course).

Flippin ragwort ! answers on a postcard !! -- meant to say was thinking of either letting hill as whole for x per month (not a lot) or using it for grazing for main liveries to rest other field - but ragwort is issue.
 
The ragwort wouldn't entirely bother me. Horses won't eat it unless there is nothing else, which gives you a chance to get stuck into it. Our field is roughly 15 acres, and after 4 years we are finally starting to get on top of the damn stuff, but it is hard work. Are there many other options for yards to rent? And will you need this paddock? I would be tempted to use it when resting the rest, which gives more time for clearing it too.
 
If there was no way of getting a trailer up I wouldn't want a massive hill to get down with an ill or injured horse so it would put me off. That aside, I would try & let it cheap on the basis new tenant deals with ragwort. Or leave it for now & make getting rid of the ragwort a slow on going process.
 
Personally I'd be very reluctant to take on a field anywhere with the ragwort problem you describe.

Obviously its been allowed to grow and take hold and from what you say seems to be a major problem which will take a lot of manpower and effort to fully eradicate; and no-one will want to graze any stock on land with ragwort on it.

There is also the probelm of it being a SSI and you'd need to fully investigate all of the pro's & con's with having land with this restriction on it; as you say, you cannot spray anything and therefore if you do have an infestation in the future of any sort of weed then you will be severely limited as to what you can do.

You also mention the difficulties of access to the steep field bit: OK now we are in the "summer" months - but think how that's going to be in the middle of the last two hard winters we've had, and you've got a broken water pipe or fencing to see to, and have to get up there and see to it.

Personally I'd be looking for somewhere else and only come back to this as a last resort.
 
We find that the best method of dealing with ragwort is to burn it with a gas cannister weed burner.

I would only put my horses in a steep field if there was no drop over the fence, having had a horse fall out of a field and be fatally injured. I certainly would NOT put my horses in a filed where I had to lead them through another field of horses - accident waiting to happen IMO.
 
I think renting it as a whole to someone is risky, unless they are prepared to contact you every time they need to get in or out, what if you are not around and they have to gain access. It would have to be very cheap rent and you may attract the wrong person because of its situation, possibly upsetting your main liveries.

The ragwort is not too much of a problem if you have plenty of grass and use it for a short period, you could get everyone roped in for a few pulling days, barbeque after type of thing.
 
helicopter with a sling is the only way you would get a horse off there - on top it levels out but up to it is def. no no for even the best tractor. I am sure other people must keep horses on land like this but I am conditioned to liking my own flat easily accessed fields - saying that though in winter you would struggle to get a trailer out to most horses !

There is a ridiculous amount of grass up there so I dont think horse would touch the ragwort - at the end it was head height but other patches are more sensible just such a shame about the steepness and ragworth. Wouldnt consider any other yard as this is a pure business move - i drive past it twice a day to my own place half a mile down the road !!

water is at bottom of hill so no issue there and it is naturally hedge lined so fencing not a real issue - maybe I will just camp up there instead every so often !!

it isnt a deal breaker as I could just use the main field/stables etc
 
thanks guys - think I will stick to 6 or max 8 liveries with hill for them if they want to use it as and when - even with main field split in 2 or 3 they can then get on and off hill without going through others and take it in turns - or if all out as herd use it all together.
 
We used to have to walk through one field of horses to get our horses out when we had liveries. We used a couple of strands of elec fencing to section off a walkway, which made life easier..

Re the water trough - is it likely to freeze and need water taking to the field in winter??

I would try and clear at least one section of the field of ragwort, to give yourself another field, and use it in summer when the field is more accessable.
 
I love hill grazing and think it provides excellent natural excercise for horses. However I would never graze mine with ragwort in the field......Also as others have mentioned if a horse drops down dead up there, how are you going to get veichles up?

We have a 4 acre hill field and the other down side is maintenance - whilst harrowing I once forgot to put the handbrake on the quad properly, and paid the price!!!! Poo picking is also very hard work too.
 
You could always take on some sheep and raise them as a side thing. Graze them in a small area, after a few days move them should make the ragwort easy to fine and you hvae benifit of sheep. ONLY TAKE ON SHEEP WHEN YOU HAVE GOOD FENCING THEY ESCAPE ALOT i swear i spend half my time on the yard catching sheep.
 
The sheep are a good idea - but are a lot of work and don't mix well with horses (I have known horses kill sheep when ":playing" with them). Also fly strike and hoof rot are problems......I love the idea of grazing that area, sounds perfect for horses. Ragwort is easier to deal with than gorse....grub and burn is what we did, but I do like the gas burner idea!! And if you keep on top of it it's easier to deal with, just don't let it seed!! And I am sure it would be fine to run an electric tape along the other paddock to create a laneway for access. And that could be grazed when not required. All the best.
 
I've had horses on a steep field, and have no problem with it. As for it being an ssi, whole other issue as you won't be able to fertilise, but will be able to remove ragwort. However, given its status I would question whether horses would actually be. able to graze it.
 
hi original poster

i use to keep my horse on a yard very much as you describe at loxton. i never had a problem and also it is a very good place for a good doer with all that extra exercise etc.
what i wished was a fenced path round the edge of the big field so you didnt have to walk through the other field.

as for ragwort, friends and the bribery of a barbie and get pulling!
 
I dunno like, after the amount of rain we've had lately I've seen horse skidding and slipping about on the flat fields!

If there is lots of grass the horses wont touch the ragwort and not sure what the quality of grass will be like if it's not getting sprayed ect.

Think on it this way.... if the yard you were at had a field like the one mentioned.... would you be happy for your horse to graze in it? xx
 
We have just moved some of our fatties onto a very steep hill with sheep, its quite a hike away from the yard to. We have had no injuries (horse or sheep!) The fatties also come in everyday, walking never killed anybody!

90% of our horses have to be led through fields with other horses in, I cant believe so many people would see that as a problem?!
 
90% of our horses have to be led through fields with other horses in, I cant believe so many people would see that as a problem?![/QUOTE]

ok you try and bring a mare in season through a field of geldings with one which had been cut later in life trust me it is a problem
 
hollyandivy123 said:
90% of our horses have to be led through fields with other horses in, I cant believe so many people would see that as a problem?!
Click to expand...


ok you try and bring a mare in season through a field of geldings with one which had been cut later in life trust me it is a problem[/QUOTE]

I'm honestly not being argumentitive, but I do lead in season mares past a fairly recently cut gelding. We have no issues at all, yes he follows and might prance about like a bit of a tit, but he doesnt get too close and has respect for us. If he were to get into a field of mares there would be a problem, but whilst being handled our horses have respect and manners.
 
Sheep will eat ragwort apparently! Could you find a local farmer who would graze down the field for you (we used to have our own sheep but omg such a hassle!) Our top fields are on a hill, they are not overlly steep (you can drive any vehichle right to top) and never had any problems! Also it seems to get less muddy than our old flat fields! Good luck whatever you decide to do!

Oh and as for ragwort this will be our 4th year of pulling/letting sheep get on it but as it was just left before its a very very hard job!
 
The biggest problem for me would be the SSI status. I know of someone with horses on an SSI had were told to remove them - something to go with overgrazing and poaching I think. You'll need permission from Natural England as well as the Local Authority to put anything such as field shelters, even mobile ones, up. RE the leading through another field, I'd just section a walkway off with tape etc. Unless the field is ridiculously steep I wouldnt worry about grazing on it. Our field is on a hill. Its accessible by 4x4 in summer but when its wet in winter probably only a tractor would do it - we've never had a problem with the horses.
 
Thanks for all the replies guys - horse have grazed up there on and off over the years so no issue having them up there again, it shouldnt get poached due to the ground conditions and no issue with shelters as there is masses of natural shelter up there. Ragwort is my biggest concern but will treat it as a 5 year plan haha and will pull the worst of it b4 liveries go up there and then offer them the grazing up there on condition they know the situation.

Think I will stick to 7 liveries using hill as needed - hollyandinvy123 - its probably the yard you are thinking of !!! did you leave about 6 months ago ?
 
nope i left about.............................1989.......................yikes thats a long time ago, i come from the other side of the valley but have moved a lot for work etc and now seem to be trapped in the midlands, i miss brean beach and riding up behind shipham
 
I ride alot from the swan (roberrow) and do the quantocks - not done brean yet as no-one to go with and bit dicey going on own

Any tips of hints about the field/stables etc - any insider info appreciated - hope you are enjoying the midlands !x
 
My old yard was on a SSSI.
In fact most of the surrounding land (MOD) was of the same status.
You cannot, spray weedkillers, fertilisers, erect any kind of building (mobile shelters are also not permitted), or over graze.
Animals are beneficial to the land management, so no reason to be told to take them off unless you are seriously over grazing.
 
thanks joeanne - no chance of overgrazing - undergrazing major issue at the moment with acres of grass waist and head height !! looking for 7 horses or ponies to eat it down - they would be out all year if owner wanted (although with stable provided) making it a very cheap option as I would guess if good doers they will barely need any hay !
 
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