Posted: 25th February 2014 | Back to news feed
The past winter will go down on record as one of the worst in living memory with some experiencing unprecedented amounts of rainfall.
Many of our paddocks will have been turned to nothing more than mud with some having been completely submerged under flood water.
As we look to spring and hopefully some warmer and drier days, there will be much work to do before we have the pleasure of seeing our horses happily grazing spring grass.
Here, Peter Hunter gives us his top tips for grassland recovery:
- Poached land can be rescued, but timing is very important. If the ground is too wet, using a tractor will make a real mess. If the ground has dried out too much, then hoofprints and ruts will not roll back, leaving you with an uneven rough field which is not suitable for riding on.
- Start renovating work when the land is drying out and the temperature is warming up.
- Harrow the field. This will tear out old feg and moss, and make a partial seedbed. Harrow as a matter of routine, particularly if the droppings are not being collected.
- Over-sow poached or damaged areas as weeds may invade these areas. Grass seed can be spread by hand, drill or fertiliser spreader.
- After the seed has been sown, lightly harrow then roll.
- Choose your grass seed carefully a good paddock mixture should be hard wearing and provide a thick and relatively short sward. If your field needs a complete reseed, then March, April, August or September is a good time.
- If the preparation is right then the maintenance and upkeep is relatively easy. Topping stops the grazing sward from getting leggy and encourages horses to graze the entire field, not just parts of it.
- Pull out weeds when you see them and don't leave them to spread their seeds. Droppings should be removed on a daily basis.
- Feed in different parts of the field to avoid poaching and spread by hand a little seed in those areas each time.
10. Put in an extra gate. This will prevent poaching and allow one gateway time to recover.
When choosing your grass seed you should look for one specially designed for horses and ponies.
The Newbury Paddock Mixture from Hunter’s Seeds would be an ideal choice providing long-lasting grazing, with an abundance of ‘bottom’ grass and herbs to provide minerals from deep in the soil.
All online orders placed before the end of March will get a 2.5% discount.
Peter Hunter Seeds offers advice on all aspects of grassland management and supplies grass seeds for the equine and agricultural industry.
For more information please contact Peter Hunter Seeds on 07831 442415 or visit www.hunterseeds.com
The Equestrian Index newsfeed is compiled from articles submitted by advertising members and expresses the opinions of those members. Watsons Directories Ltd shall not be held liable for any inaccuracies or mis-statements therein.