Cutting the grass with sheep vs mowers advice please...

[Damien East Sussex]

Hi all, first post, and hoping to receive some probably obvious knowledge for my less knowledgeable self!!
Hopefully, that is ok.
I have no farming background...but I'm handy and hardworking. My background is construction. My wife is horsey, and she has kept her horse on livery yards in SE England for some 20 years.

I have just moved into a new home a week ago. Its only 5 acres in total, separated into one paddock of around 3.5 acres. We have subdivided that into two fields with electric fencing as there is a second horse which was a livery to former owners who were not horsey. The livery had a rescue for company but that has gone back as obviously limited space and only two actual stable boxes.

The rest of the house and gardens is on around 1.5 acres. The previous owners were into their golf and the land is very well kept, including a sand bunker... They had a ride on mower for most of it and a push petrol mower for the steep slopes. The land slopes in the direction of the YELLOW arrows, and is very well drained. I visited in the middle of the wet winter several times, and even at gates etc it was fine.

Currently, I only have a small plug in flymo from my previous home! So clearly out of my depth!

I have to decide on buying a ride on mower or possibly getting a couple sheep....
All the existing fence lines shown in RED are stock proofed with wire to stop the previous owners dogs escaping. The PURPLE lines are new electric fencing.
There is an open swimming pool, which is not something we were looking for, and we have two young boys under 6, so I need to fence around it for their safety.

We are thinking of extending the paddocks, with paddock style fencing as shown with my BLUE lines, this would fence off the pool at the same time solving that problem. It would then allow us to graze the land instead of mowing. I know the land will be roughed up if the animals grazing it. But my wife does what to extend the paddocks as much a possible. Especially if she was to get a 2nd horse in the future, so 3 in total. I was thinking we would only graze the new paddocks in the summer, and perhaps have a couple of sheep to keep everything down all year.

The two horses are 20 and 30 years old, and both now chilled out so would probably be fine with a couple sheep in their field also to eat any rubbish weeds etc. I have priced up the BLUE paddock style fence line including multiple gates etc and Post and Rail fencing.

Is my idea of trying to NOT buy a ride on mower unrealistic? Is a couple sheep a good idea? I'm just a bit short on funds after the house purchase, SE England is too expensive! We would still intend to use one portion of the garden but let the sheep graze it. There is a small garden at the front of the house also. I was actually thinking of planting a wildflower meadow there....so I can just strim back yearly.

I could buy a ride on mower but I then could NOT afford to do all the post and rail fencing, and then I obviously have to cut the grass....

Hopefully, I'm not another wolly with no idea about maintaining land that is irritating on this forum, and making you chuckle at my folly! I dont really know anyone with land so I didn't know anyone else to discuss with.

Thanks in advance much appreciated. Any adive or tips, or suggestions or articles to read, or anything else would be great. In the week since moving in I have repainted the unloved stables, and multple gates, meded fences and moved in unpacked, and set up the house.

 

[JP1]

If I were you I'd be tempted to find someone to graze some sheep or a gang of tups when not used in the late Autumn. (breeding rams)

You need handling kit, a bit of knowledge and getting a few shorn or watching for fly strike would be a PIA. I have to tell you, you'll probably still be in for someone coming in to top it once or twice a year as well as harrowing the grass and levelling off the horse droppings etc

 

[Al R]

Looks a lovely small holding! but why post and rail?
Horses rub it and it’ll soon go slack. I know horse owners don’t like it but you can’t beat double barb and a loop of barb ontop of every post to stop the horses chewing the posts and pulling the fence slack!

As @JP1 has said, someone with rams would be ideal, or finding someone nearby with a few sheep in the same situation as you who already has some knowledge of keeping sheep, they may like the change of scenery and give their land a break in a year like this especially.

 

[andybk]

yes agree with jp1 we farm a lot of bits like that ,(mulberry leather goods factory is one of ours ) the advantage of using someone elses sheep, is they can stock it hard when needed and take them away when short , the only proviso is make sure they are reliable , keep them in and deal with any issues promptly and maybe prepared to run a topper over it occasionally .

 

[Dextersg]

By putting sheep on will help clean worm burden from your horse

 

[brigadoon]

Similar to all above - 2 or three sheep is not the way to go unless you are a masochist, rent it out for a couple of lambs or buy a decent mower

 

[Man_in_black]

Much more to sheep than wooly lawn mowers.
Rent it out for a year to someone with sheep experience. Watch them & read up on here for a season.







Then realise keeping sheep is for eejits, keep renting it out & enjoy your swimming pool!!

 

[rjtfarming]

Electric fence with or without the post and rail for the horses. They can be so destructive!
Finding someone local to bring sheep would be good. Perhaos someone young? But if you don't want someone coming to and fro, getting a few of your own would be good. Just have a word with local vet about help, if yu need it? Or accidental smallholder web site is good.
For the wild flower meadow, I'd graze until May day. Shut off and cut for hay after its seeded, this will help to increase the wild flowers and grasses and take the hay away. Bale it if you can, it will make wonderful 'medicinal' hay or just remove it. The sheep will love it. (In the winter). That will help to reduce the fertility on the field which will also help the wild flowers.
Good luck!

 

[Damien East Sussex]

Thanks all! Very helpful comments.
I was half expecting responses saying the idea of sheep was completely daft!
But I take on board that they will take some upkeep etc.
Obviously, we are fine with our horses and dogs so, I'm sure we will find the time for a couple sheep to help...

I think on reflection, its probably the case that I need to do the fences, borrow or buy a couple sheep, AND get a ride on mower.
Just getting my head around it. Might be the case that for this summer I have to reluctantly pay someone else to mow it every couple weeks whilst I settle in, especially if I cant afford to lay out on a mower.
Where there are some fairly steep banks, I would need something quite powerful.
Not turned the tv on since we moved in, too much to do! ha ha.

Thanks for the recommendation of accidental smallholder!

I accept that the grounds will not be left as nice as a mowed lawn, but hoping that with the sheep it will get less trashed compared to the horses.
Where I marked a BLUE squiggle at the bottom of the garden its dry now, but apparently in the winter when wet it can get boggy there.
Although from the house due to the rolling slope you cant see it.

Why post and rail... I can put this up myself with help from workers from my construction firm, so I won't be getting outside contractors in.
Both horses are quite chilled/old so I don't think they will be too harsh on the fences. But i could put electric alongside field side also.
Also as literally just outside the rear of house, I do want it to look as nice as possible. So not really liking the idea of posts and barbed wire.

My wife is meticulous with poo picking the paddocks, even when she was at a livery yard, and will poo pick at least several times a week. Already had my young sons doing this also.
So hopefully we would not need leveling off for the horse droppings. But the paddocks will need harrowing etc.

Probably a very stupid question, but with sheep poo, do you just leave it to rot, or do you pick that up also?

Also got some big hedges backing onto street that need cutting. So tha tis one of the next things i need to tackle before near neighbours ask me to do it.

Thanks again for your help and advice.

 

[Damien East Sussex]

Similar to all above - 2 or three sheep is not the way to go unless you are a masochist, rent it out for a couple of lambs or buy a decent mower

Thanks Brigadoon, I needed your comment, have to be realistic, I'm going to need a ride on mower!

 

[Man_in_black]

Probably a very stupid question, but with sheep poo, do you just leave it to rot, or do you pick that up also?

No you don't pick it up. Wouldn't fancy emptying grass box on ride on though!

 

[Damien East Sussex]

Electric fence with or without the post and rail for the horses. They can be so destructive!
Finding someone local to bring sheep would be good. Perhaos someone young? But if you don't want someone coming to and fro, getting a few of your own would be good. Just have a word with local vet about help, if yu need it? Or accidental smallholder web site is good.
For the wild flower meadow, I'd graze until May day. Shut off and cut for hay after its seeded, this will help to increase the wild flowers and grasses and take the hay away. Bale it if you can, it will make wonderful 'medicinal' hay or just remove it. The sheep will love it. (In the winter). That will help to reduce the fertility on the field which will also help the wild flowers.
Good luck!

Where there are some steep banks in the gadren, if I do get a ride on mower that might struggle with the steep banks. maybe I could sow some wildflowers on the banks...to save mowing them! agian maybe a stupid idea...
Some pics below so you can see...

 

[Damien East Sussex]

And some mole holes... get lots of rabbits too.

Kid running to wear this a sand bunker out of view cust into hill.

Steep banks. Possibly if get a rie on could i put wildflowers along banks, if keeping as a garden....

Paddocks, could do with sheep eating some of the stuff around the edges. New dividing electric fence for ease as horses did not know each other.

 

[JP1]

Nice pad!

 

[Goweresque]

You'd need to register with Defra and all the usual animal health suspects, and maintain full livestock records if you start keeping just one sheep. They're considered livestock, not pets and keeping one comes under the same rules as keeping 1000. Far better to just get someone else's sheep in - if you fence it well and provide mains water you will soon find a taker.

A bit of light reading:

https://www.gov.uk/government/colle...f-sheep-goats-and-pigs#sheep-and-goat-keepers

 

[honeyend]

Hi, I more acreage but similar to you, I have rented fields most of my adult life.
Never underestimate how much time is spent mowing grass so I made a smallish garden of about 1/2 acre which we keep tidy and the rest is paddock land. If I had your problem I would not mow it but leave it wild, and perhaps just mow a path to the next bit.
Untidy grass can be beautiful,
https://www.greatdixter.co.uk/garden/garden-tour/front-meadow/.
I live in the flat fens and I would love a slope of any sort, so would make it a feature, its a natural fort for the kids to play on.
The first year I let someone put some sheep on it for free to tidy it, and paid them to spray the weeds and over seed. It cost but has paid dividends. We pay someone to spray, hedge trimming,but I do the fertiliser myself
I have tried having my own sheep and really unless you love sheep they are the pits, what ever you read about them is true and I have every respect for anyone who tries to make a living out of them. If you leave the grass to grow long its called foggage, its good for wildlife and when the grass stops growing its used as standing hay, which last year kept mine going until Christmas.
We have hardly any post and rail fencing, just a huge mains energiser which gives them such a wallop that once they have touched it they never go near it again. The ring fence is rope and the sub divisions tape so I can change the size according to the season and what is in it. For secure dog proof paddocks I love Clipex, as you can do DIY with no heavy equipment.
We have owned our place five years and still changing my mind about things, so don't spend a lot until you have seen how it works. I have spent a lot of money on gates, so if anything gets out, its contained in a compartment and the yard area has two gates to the road. If you haven't got it get smallholding/land insurance.
Its lovely having your own land but one of the first thing you have to learn to say is no. Friends will suddenly have a pony to graze, a boat or caravan to store and you can never have too much space or grass, honestly, and you paid or are paying for it. I have lost count of the people who knock on my door in summer looking for grazing.
My biggest tip is make friends with your neighbours. Don't fall out about stray, cows, sheep, noise because when you need help even if they are two fields way they are your SOS call. I managed almost to knock myself out on Sunday and I knew my 'close' neighbours would help and did.
Apart from this forum I would recommend
https://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/forum/index.php
There should also be a local smallholders Facebook group. Welcome to the money pit club.

 

[Damien East Sussex]

You'd need to register with Defra and all the usual animal health suspects, and maintain full livestock records if you start keeping just one sheep. They're considered livestock, not pets and keeping one comes under the same rules as keeping 1000. Far better to just get someone else's sheep in - if you fence it well and provide mains water you will soon find a taker.

A bit of light reading:

https://www.gov.uk/government/colle...f-sheep-goats-and-pigs#sheep-and-goat-keepers

think I might post on local Facebook page about borrowing some sheep from a local farmer, once I have sorted some additional fencing.
Probably more sensible than buying...thanks.

 

[Damien East Sussex]

Hi, I more acreage but similar to you, I have rented fields most of my adult life.
Never underestimate how much time is spent mowing grass so I made a smallish garden of about 1/2 acre which we keep tidy and the rest is paddock land. If I had your problem I would not mow it but leave it wild, and perhaps just mow a path to the next bit.
Untidy grass can be beautiful,
https://www.greatdixter.co.uk/garden/garden-tour/front-meadow/.
I live in the flat fens and I would love a slope of any sort, so would make it a feature, its a natural fort for the kids to play on.
The first year I let someone put some sheep on it for free to tidy it, and paid them to spray the weeds and over seed. It cost but has paid dividends. We pay someone to spray, hedge trimming,but I do the fertiliser myself
I have tried having my own sheep and really unless you love sheep they are the pits, what ever you read about them is true and I have every respect for anyone who tries to make a living out of them. If you leave the grass to grow long its called foggage, its good for wildlife and when the grass stops growing its used as standing hay, which last year kept mine going until Christmas.
We have hardly any post and rail fencing, just a huge mains energiser which gives them such a wallop that once they have touched it they never go near it again. The ring fence is rope and the sub divisions tape so I can change the size according to the season and what is in it. For secure dog proof paddocks I love Clipex, as you can do DIY with no heavy equipment.
We have owned our place five years and still changing my mind about things, so don't spend a lot until you have seen how it works. I have spent a lot of money on gates, so if anything gets out, its contained in a compartment and the yard area has two gates to the road. If you haven't got it get smallholding/land insurance.
Its lovely having your own land but one of the first thing you have to learn to say is no. Friends will suddenly have a pony to graze, a boat or caravan to store and you can never have too much space or grass, honestly, and you paid or are paying for it. I have lost count of the people who knock on my door in summer looking for grazing.
My biggest tip is make friends with your neighbours. Don't fall out about stray, cows, sheep, noise because when you need help even if they are two fields way they are your SOS call. I managed almost to knock myself out on Sunday and I knew my 'close' neighbours would help and did.
Apart from this forum I would recommend
https://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/forum/index.php
There should also be a local smallholders Facebook group. Welcome to the money pit club.

Ha ha, really helpful post, with lots to consider! Thanks.
Must admit I'm starting to think sheep might be too much hassel unless borrowed...
Definitely considering putting the whole frontage over to wildflowers, and possibly the steep parts of garden to save the difficult mowing and add depth and character to the garden.
I think I am not going to be able to avoid getting a ride on mower. Trying to see if a 4 wheel drive one would cope with some of the steep slopes.
I know previous owners had a 2 wheel drive which could not cope with the slopes.
I have gates at the front and as my plan I was was going to fence around the front parking area, with several additional gates.
I have lots to learn, and I guess your best advice is not to rush into anything!
Already had friends from 40 miles away, asking to put their ponies here, horsebox, and an old classic car, no idea how some people have the nerve! I have started with a solid no.

 

[tr250]

We graze a fair few paddocks like these probably 30-40 acres total for free some drop their horse muck/grass clipping etc in our heap and we spray weeds in return but all we do is graze with sheep usually quite a lot of sheep for a short period and take them away a few of the people have tried sheep of their own but decided there too much hassle. Is there any sheep around it that you could just open the gate and let in as opposed to loading up

 

[bobk]

Hi all, first post, and hoping to receive some probably obvious knowledge for my less knowledgeable self!!
Hopefully, that is ok.
I have no farming background...but I'm handy and hardworking. My background is construction. My wife is horsey, and she has kept her horse on livery yards in SE England for some 20 years.

I have just moved into a new home a week ago. Its only 5 acres in total, separated into one paddock of around 3.5 acres. We have subdivided that into two fields with electric fencing as there is a second horse which was a livery to former owners who were not horsey. The livery had a rescue for company but that has gone back as obviously limited space and only two actual stable boxes.

The rest of the house and gardens is on around 1.5 acres. The previous owners were into their golf and the land is very well kept, including a sand bunker... They had a ride on mower for most of it and a push petrol mower for the steep slopes. The land slopes in the direction of the YELLOW arrows, and is very well drained. I visited in the middle of the wet winter several times, and even at gates etc it was fine.

Currently, I only have a small plug in flymo from my previous home! So clearly out of my depth!

I have to decide on buying a ride on mower or possibly getting a couple sheep....
All the existing fence lines shown in RED are stock proofed with wire to stop the previous owners dogs escaping. The PURPLE lines are new electric fencing.
There is an open swimming pool, which is not something we were looking for, and we have two young boys under 6, so I need to fence around it for their safety.

We are thinking of extending the paddocks, with paddock style fencing as shown with my BLUE lines, this would fence off the pool at the same time solving that problem. It would then allow us to graze the land instead of mowing. I know the land will be roughed up if the animals grazing it. But my wife does what to extend the paddocks as much a possible. Especially if she was to get a 2nd horse in the future, so 3 in total. I was thinking we would only graze the new paddocks in the summer, and perhaps have a couple of sheep to keep everything down all year.

The two horses are 20 and 30 years old, and both now chilled out so would probably be fine with a couple sheep in their field also to eat any rubbish weeds etc. I have priced up the BLUE paddock style fence line including multiple gates etc and Post and Rail fencing.

Is my idea of trying to NOT buy a ride on mower unrealistic? Is a couple sheep a good idea? I'm just a bit short on funds after the house purchase, SE England is too expensive! We would still intend to use one portion of the garden but let the sheep graze it. There is a small garden at the front of the house also. I was actually thinking of planting a wildflower meadow there....so I can just strim back yearly.

I could buy a ride on mower but I then could NOT afford to do all the post and rail fencing, and then I obviously have to cut the grass....

Hopefully, I'm not another wolly with no idea about maintaining land that is irritating on this forum, and making you chuckle at my folly! I dont really know anyone with land so I didn't know anyone else to discuss with.

Thanks in advance much appreciated. Any adive or tips, or suggestions or articles to read, or anything else would be great. In the week since moving in I have repainted the unloved stables, and multple gates, meded fences and moved in unpacked, and set up the house.


View attachment 689010

ffs with that pad the least of your worries be a bit of grass , cost more to clean the pool .