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Post by taklishim on Jun 18, 2008 13:27:03 GMT 1
WE certainly hope so easyaspie. This system has to be the way forward for horse keeping in the UK. As laminitis tightens it's deadly hold on our equines we have to take a step outside the box and think about the horse not about the human. Totally agree this is the way forward. It has made a lot of difference to mine. Not only from a lammy point of view but from riding. Last spring before the track they were so high on sugar riding was very difficult. Now on track they are pussy cats I too would be interested if JJ gave a talk etc. My fields are wet (ie meadow pasture) and I struggle with the muddy track in winter so have to yard them for part of it. Would love any info on the idea of mobile surface beds or other tips from anyone in dealing with wet and winter mud. Off to find the EMW site for ideas. One problem I find is the grass in the middle. It would be great for hay but as these are relatively small areas for most people eg 2/4 acres etc it is difficult to make hay as you are so dependent on farmers to cut it, bale it etc. (ie you are behind everyone else who wants their hay baled on the only fine day!) don't suppose anyone has any ideas on this?
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Post by easyaspie on Jun 18, 2008 14:07:48 GMT 1
EMW: Yes, I agree wholeheartedly. I seem to have heard about loads of laminitis this year, way more than in previous, but maybe because I'm more aware of it!! I'd be very interested in attending any workshops or talks that Jamie is doing, will you be posting nearer the time with details?
Taklishim: ref:the long grass in your fields. If you leave it to grown and then die off in late September/ early october, you'll see it going off and becoming brown and laying down.... you can then let your horses on to it to graze all winter, its called "foggage". I have a large 8 acre field that is my winter field that I do this with every year. That way also, I don't have to give them any hay until January! They do get a speedibeet and multivit & mineral feed though daily.
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sazjayp
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Post by sazjayp on Jun 18, 2008 14:22:40 GMT 1
I'm with BooBoo on this one...currently on a lovely yard but would love a place of my own one day to try all of this stuff out!
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Post by taklishim on Jun 18, 2008 16:57:02 GMT 1
easypie, that is really interesting, thanks. I have seen the long grass on the moorland do that but never thought of it in the field. You certainly learn on here!! ;D ;D
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sixfootblonde
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Post by sixfootblonde on Jun 18, 2008 17:26:44 GMT 1
Very interesting thread. WOuld like to do this for mine and we do have one 6 acre-ish field we could use and then keep the others for hay. If we cut hay though can the horses graze the cut fields during winter or is that bad for them too? I have a problem with fencing as Betty has little regard for the electric even though it is mains. She waits for the clicks then runs under when it is quiet!!! Also, we have one horse who is old and cannot have hay. Maybe we should just leave him on normal pasture as he is 31 and has managed so far. I do not like the rings in my horses feet all through the spring/summer so realise it is not as it should be. And our pasture is high-clover and very rich. Lastly, EMW how do you manage wet/muddy months? We have quite good drainage but it does get muddy. Also, could not find your thread and pics on your forum - can you post a link? Thanks
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potto
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Post by potto on Jun 18, 2008 18:39:39 GMT 1
This is such good news.... i am so relieved to hear that i am not the only one.... l love this site and discussion group!!!
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sundance
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Post by sundance on Jun 18, 2008 18:48:32 GMT 1
One of mine spent three months with Sarah Braithwaite last year on her pasture paradise. She has an arrangement with a lorry driver she saw working for the council on the roads, she approached him and asked if he could dump the old tarmac scalpings with her when he was in the area! This gives a very cheap and effective area of hard standing and helps with the problem of mud. I have made a long strip as a starvation patch but am lucky as I am on sandy soil so the grassisn't very rich and we don't have mud.I always leave at least one paddock to grow and go to seed over the summer and this provides winter grazing meaning I don't have to buy haylage untill after Christmas.
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Post by jen1 on Jun 18, 2008 18:55:50 GMT 1
just a few pics of ours, its still in the making still has to have the post rail put up and some differant surafes on
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Post by jill on Jun 18, 2008 18:59:15 GMT 1
Jens is the sooper dooper luxury rolls royce version lol
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Post by mandal on Jun 18, 2008 19:01:15 GMT 1
Totally agree with EMW this has to be the way to go here in the UK!!!! Oooo I've got plenty of maturing foggage then!!! I'm also going to look out for the road maintanance men!! Yes I was just thinking today that PP would be a good way to get race/competition horses fit and improve their life style. Yes you learn all the time on here don't you!!! ;D Mta..........I'm sitting here with my tongue hanging out looking at your PP jen1...............I've gone an unflattering shade of green!!
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Post by wiggy on Jun 18, 2008 19:11:07 GMT 1
I've just put a track in my field too. The middle is going to be grown for food - for humans and the horses. Fruit and nut trees will create corridors and bands of shelter round the track, the lower damp parts of the field will be used for growing oats, for me and the horses that need that type of feed. Then there will be vegetable beds for root crops, again for both me and the horses. I get hay from a different area, but a small field such as mine would easily provide hay, and rather than rely on a farmer to make it for me my horses could pull the machinery for cutting and turning, plus the cart for taking the hay to storage. They might as well earn their keep! More fun than dressage
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Post by mandal on Jun 18, 2008 19:21:39 GMT 1
but a small field such as mine would easily provide hay, and rather than rely on a farmer to make it for me my horses could pull the machinery for cutting and turning, plus the cart for taking the hay to storage. They might as well earn their keep! More fun than dressage Then it would be total Paradise imo!!!
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Post by lolamae on Jun 18, 2008 19:27:20 GMT 1
Makes complete sense to me, grazing horses on an entire field is bad economics when you look at it, apart from anything else! I did plant oats, the entire white tail population in the area thanked me very much for the donation to their shiny coats.
I would be reallly interested to see more photos of peoples tracks.......
Foggage wouldn't work for me sadly. Most irritating.
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Post by barbararob on Jun 18, 2008 20:42:35 GMT 1
I started putting a track system in but have 15 horses and ponies - some fatties, some skinnies, and some oldies. I found a bit of bullying went on and the skinnies got pushed along, then overtaken, then caught up and lapped. I've put it in one field and a paddock that lead to fields on either side, so they have open fields and corridors - I think I just need to be brave. My other worry is what happens if the fence gets broken and they get into the long lush stuff.
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debutante
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Post by debutante on Jun 18, 2008 20:52:02 GMT 1
i would love to set this up but im at a livery yard so i could make a track but not put all the fancy stuff on it
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