Weed Removal from pasture

[czechmate]

I have to say our horse does a lot less damage than a cow does. The PSI (or BAR over here) must be at least 10 times more with a cow. The horse damage is on the surface.

 

[neilo]

Dont they will get worse and race each other. Horses are awful things to have to have in your fields one is too many

I suggested that but was informed that it was cheaper than a divorce.

 

[Coximus]

The only exception is on sandy or shales land... no matter the excuse and horses do not mesh well with being sustainable either.
Oh and I own two cobs before anyone says I hate horses.
I love the barstewards and cry at what they do. That' why they are housed in winter or run on stubbles due to be plouhed out so no permanent damage

 

[Laura_Long]

I reckon it’s just good, practical advice. 3 or 4 ponies would make an unholy mess on 2.5 acres in Cornwall, especially on that country down Stithians way.

A short drive around Cornwall nowadays and you’ll find horse paddocks a plenty and they are all poached up, full of weeds and many are borderline welfare cases... and all are over stocked and under managed!

1 or 2 with carefully managed grazing areas is all I’d put on 2.5 acres. Move them regularly and often to allow the ground and pasture to recover, and give you chance to deal with your weeds in what ever way you deem fit.

I understand your desire to get a return on your investment, but it’s important to weigh up the costs of each type of enterprise/livestock. As others have mentioned, there’s a reason horses attract a higher rent... and it ain’t because horsey people have more money!!!!

Personally, I’d rather have a few sheep, which are far kinder to grass and ground, than horses and all that horrendous white tape so favoured by the horsey fraternity, but that’s just my own irrational prejudice.

I wonder about the possibility of mixed stocking, 1 horse plus a few sheep? Would prevent any danger of laminitis, varied grazing etc? Variety is the spice of life after all. Perhaps the best of both worlds... and no need for bleddy white tape!?!?

Yo be fair you sound more sensible than most horse people i know

Also the field next to us has 2 large horses on her field (same as my field) and the field is doing remarkably well considering the constant rain!!

 

[theboytheboy]

Will it be 24 hour turn out 365 days a year or with you put a couple stables in? Is the ground well drained?

 

[Laura_Long]

There will be a double shelter or stables on skids. The lower section will not be grazed in the winter but the rest of the field drains really well as it's a gentle slope.

 

[Coximus]

There will be a double shelter or stables on skids. The lower section will not be grazed in the winter but the rest of the field drains really well as it's a gentle slope.

As long as you dont compact it. Invest in a subsoiler or find a local contractor with one. Look after your soil, and just beacuse it looks like its draining doesnt mean it is!

If you must have horses, Subsoil and other than that sounds like you have a good grasp of the trade offs and what you will need to do.

 

[Jim bean]

You guys are making very hard work out of someone who just wants to keep 2 ponies on a 2.5 acre paddock. I bet you could count the number of subsoilers in cornwall on one hand.

 

[muppet]

@Laura_Long may be worth having a look at a “lazy dog” tool. Others on here have recommended them in the past and they have different attachments for different jobs

https://lazydogtools.co.uk/

 

[Laura_Long]

@Laura_Long may be worth having a look at a “lazy dog” tool. Others on here have recommended them in the past and they have different attachments for different jobs

https://lazydogtools.co.uk/

Thanks. My rag fork is damn effective with the thistle rosettes. I am getting through them one wheelbarrow at a time

 

[Laura_Long]

You guys are making very hard work out of someone who just wants to keep 2 ponies on a 2.5 acre paddock. I bet you could count the number of subsoilers in cornwall on one hand.

I doubt if any even exist in Cornwall!

 

[Laura_Long]

As long as you dont compact it. Invest in a subsoiler or find a local contractor with one. Look after your soil, and just beacuse it looks like its draining doesnt mean it is!

If you must have horses, Subsoil and other than that sounds like you have a good grasp of the trade offs and what you will need to do.

I intend to look after my soil. Hence not using chemicals

 

[mushnt grummmble]

I intend to look after my soil. Hence not using chemicals

Looking after it also means feeding it,resting it etc

 

[CornishRanger]

I doubt if any even exist in Cornwall!

There's a couple up our way..... But I reckon our granite is buried a little deeper than yours

 

[Coximus]

I intend to look after my soil. Hence not using chemicals

on what basis do you base that assumption out of curiosity? Obviously overuse is harmful, but used correctly all the degradation and half life routes are well documented, if used properly chemicals should leave no trace, the problem comes with people spraying in the wrong conditions or using too much. A small amount of targeted an careful used herbicide could save millions of earthworms and easily tons and tons of carbon dioxide from soil damage and then the obvious diesel usage.

 

[neilo]

on what basis do you base that assumption out of curiosity? Obviously overuse is harmful, but used correctly all the degradation and half life routes are well documented, if used properly chemicals should leave no trace, the problem comes with people spraying in the wrong conditions or using too much. A small amount of targeted an careful used herbicide could save millions of earthworms and easily tons and tons of carbon dioxide from soil damage and then the obvious diesel usage.

I did bring that up earlier in the thread, but all 'chemicals' are bad.

 

[Coximus]

I did bring that up earlier in the thread, but all 'chemicals' are bad.

Which is a religious standpoint as opposed to a factual one! Pah... Well thanks to 5l of glyph on 60 acres over 3 years Im thisle free.... Most neighbors would of used 50l a year and ploughed!

 

[BELOWAVERAGE]

I intend to look after my soil. Hence not using chemicals

If you want to control weeds and eradicate creeping thistle, get yourself a couple of Rhea, they won't eat any grass if there's a weed of any description in sight, and they'll wipe the creeping thistle out in the first summer, added bonus is the eggs are worth a £10 apiece.

 

[beefandsleep]

I want an autonomous robot that pootles about chopping off any undesirable plants until they stop growing back, self charging solar powered, just release a handful into a paddock and let them get on with it. If there were such a thing I’d probably go organic.

 

[neilo]

I want an autonomous robot that pootles about chopping off any undesirable plants until they stop growing back, self charging solar powered, just release a handful into a paddock and let them get on with it. If there were such a thing I’d probably go organic.

If they were £5k a piece? It’ll be a very long time before that sort of technology is much less, if ever.