BB123
Full Member
Posts: 210
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Post by BB123 on Feb 21, 2016 21:44:46 GMT
Question regarding whether it would be possible to have 4 horses (14hh 14.3 15.2 and a 15.1hh) on approx 3.8 grazing wise? I know normal rule is acre per horse but was wondering if anyone else that manages in a similar situation? They are all good doers, live out 24-7 and would have ad lib hay, feed where needed, grass normally does well during the summer months.
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Post by lucynlizzysmum on Feb 22, 2016 16:40:52 GMT
As long as you are sensible, supplementary feed where necessary, and use pasture management wisely. Your difficulty will come when fields get trashed I would say. This winter I have two running on 6 acres and the fields are mashed to hell. During summer though, I have run in the past up to 5 on two acres - but I have always had extra available to me if necessary.
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sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on Feb 22, 2016 17:19:26 GMT
Well I have 14 on about 4 acres currently which looks like a rice paddy! But it's a sacrifice field to allow the other ones to be looked after, and makes a useful very sparse field for over fat Welsh as in the summer. My point being that you need to have a plan. Our winters seem to be getting warmer but wetter and windier.
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Post by brindlerainbow on Feb 22, 2016 18:03:21 GMT
I have always had 3 ponies on 2 and a half acres - an 11.2hh, 12.2hh and 13hh. I always take them to a farm up the road for 3 or 4 weeks each spring just to let my field recover a bit after winter but to be honest it doesn't really recover. We harrow, reseed and use calcified seaweed on it which I suppose makes a bit of difference although not much. Last August I had my 11.2hh PTS as he was old and not doing well so this winter for the first time in 16 years I've only had the 2 ponies on it. The gateway is very muddy and the rest of the field is trashed from them charging around!! I have got extra grazing for this year which will be better than the farm so I intend to rest it for as long as I can. I feed my ponies all year round. It is do-able but I would much sooner have more land of my own so that I could rest fields
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fredaf
Junior Member
Posts: 173 
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Post by fredaf on Feb 22, 2016 18:38:41 GMT
Would be OK if you had an area to feed them hay during the winter which was weather proof - but with the weather we've had this year wouldn't be much fun as due to the amount of rain and wind fields are getting trashed. I'm planning to have an area dug out and filled with hardcore over the summer and will have wood chip on top so that I can feed hay on it next winter.
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