Hi,
we are on a DIY yard where the YO doesnt care less about field management. Anyway we have ended up with about 4.5 acres for 4 horses who all live out 24/7. The yard owner wants to put another 2 horses in this field too if anymore arrive! anyway that issue aside, we have now had 4 horses in this field since september. My 2 horses are constantly muzzled all summer and the other 2 horses are allowed to get as fat as they want.
I was always concerned about the grazing for the winter, but with the YO not caring, no provisions were made for the winter. So we now keep our horses off the grass for at least 6 hrs a day so they can eat some hay. The grass is short throughout the field with the top area around the field shelter being mud as usual for most fields. having walked around the field i would say at least half of the field is a thin layer of slippery mud with very short grass, the other half is a little less muddy with a tiny bit more grass.
Anyway the other owner wants to now separate the field over the winter so that half can be rested ready for the spring. i feel this is pointless at the moment as that would end up with 4 horses out on even less acreage. making the conditions worse.
The grass in our field is really rich when it does start growing, and when it does grow it grows super quick.
i feel theres no point in splitting the field now, and just wait until it starts to grow in the spring and then split the field for the summer to prepare for next winter. at least that way my horses wont need muzzles as much over the summer as they will be on less grass.
anyone with more experience of this and would know if splitting the field now is the right thing to do and im just not thinking straight about it
thanks!
we are on a DIY yard where the YO doesnt care less about field management. Anyway we have ended up with about 4.5 acres for 4 horses who all live out 24/7. The yard owner wants to put another 2 horses in this field too if anymore arrive! anyway that issue aside, we have now had 4 horses in this field since september. My 2 horses are constantly muzzled all summer and the other 2 horses are allowed to get as fat as they want.
I was always concerned about the grazing for the winter, but with the YO not caring, no provisions were made for the winter. So we now keep our horses off the grass for at least 6 hrs a day so they can eat some hay. The grass is short throughout the field with the top area around the field shelter being mud as usual for most fields. having walked around the field i would say at least half of the field is a thin layer of slippery mud with very short grass, the other half is a little less muddy with a tiny bit more grass.
Anyway the other owner wants to now separate the field over the winter so that half can be rested ready for the spring. i feel this is pointless at the moment as that would end up with 4 horses out on even less acreage. making the conditions worse.
The grass in our field is really rich when it does start growing, and when it does grow it grows super quick.
i feel theres no point in splitting the field now, and just wait until it starts to grow in the spring and then split the field for the summer to prepare for next winter. at least that way my horses wont need muzzles as much over the summer as they will be on less grass.
anyone with more experience of this and would know if splitting the field now is the right thing to do and im just not thinking straight about it
thanks!
