Pasture Management
Improving soil health to maximise grass production
No property is too small.
We have equipment to help maintain and improve the soil health and structure for your paddocks and fields, to achieve optimum grass growth resulting in good nutrition and safe footing for horses and ponies.
1. Areation.
2. Sward lifting
3. Heavy chain harrowing
4. Rolling
5. Slitting
6. Spring tine harrowing
7. Weed wiping (alternative to spraying)
8. Grass over seeding
9. Topping
Contact us to arrange a visit to assess the specific requirements of your property.
Aeration
Soil compaction is one of the biggest contributors to poor equestrian grassland
Horses and ponies cause excessive compaction the soil structure, this is made worse by heavy winter rain. Compaction doesn't allow water penetration and oxygenation, resulting in poor soil health. The normal worms and microorganisms in the soil do not thrive and nutrients and minerals become locked into the ground. The grass plant roots cannot penetrate deep enough into the ground to develop a healthy dense sward.
This amazing AerWorx machine is designed to be used to aerate the soil due to the special blades penetrating deep into the ground under the impact force of the weighted roller drum, this has the affect of slotting the topsoil and fracturing the compacted subsoil, breaking up the soil structure allowing water penetration and oxygenation, as well as allowing better grass plant root depth.
This machine is best used on hard ground, when a conventional slitter will not be able to pentrate the soil structure.
A better grass sward will reduce forage and hard feed requirements. Improving the drainage will reduce the degree of poaching caused by horses and ponies, they will be then able to have paddock turnout for a longer period of the year.
Sward Lifting
One of the most underutilised techniques in pasture management
Horses and ponies turned out on pasture will cause compaction of the soil, particularly where the soil type is heavy clay, as it is in most of Sussex. Rolling is a necessary, common practice in pasture management, but this too leads to compaction of the soil.
Soil compaction results in poor drainage of surface rain water, locking of nutrients in the soil and a lack of grass root depth.
Sward lifting breaks up the compacted layer of soil, allowing air into the soil structure, unlocking soil nutrients that are beneficial to grass growth and allowing the grass roots to penetrate much deeper into the soil. The overall result is a healthier grass sward and better grass growth that is more resistant to wear by horses.
The added benefit of sward lifting is the creation of drainage channels under the soil reducing water logging of the paddock surface. Water logging results in poor grass plant health and increased poaching of the ground by horses. Poached ground ends up drying out and becoming a risk of limb injury to horses and ponies, as well as resulting in sparse grass plants and increased weed growth.
Heavy Chain Harrowing
Probably the most important technique for repairing damage pasture after hard winter use.
Paddocks can end up very poached by horses and ponies at the end of a hard winter.
Poaching damages the grass plants resulting in spaces between the remaining plants, these gaps quickly become colonised by weeds.
When poached ground dries out it can be quite a risk for limb injury.
Heavy chain harrowing levels uneven ground, breaks up poached land, flattens mole hills and breaks the soil surface cap helping to improve rain water drainage and unlocking of minerals and nutrients in the soil, stimulating better grass growth.
It will also spread any faecal matter from the grazing horses and ponies over the pasture - this dung is vital for promoting the fertility of the soil and returning organic matter to the land.
Harrowing dung on the paddocks allows UV exposure to intestinal parasites and aids their control in the horse population, reducing the need for expensive anthelmintics, helping to reduce the onset of resistance to wormers.
Rolling
Our hi-tech roller can travel any distance by road
Rolling is an essential part of pasture management.
Ideally performed following heavy chain harrowing. It helps press back into the soil surface the divots that have been levelled following harrowing.
It is also a good idea to roll after overseeding to press the seeds close to the spoil surface to aid germination.
A level, even footing is important for horses and ponies to reduce the risk of distal limb injury.
Slitting
An essential technique for promoting grass health
Slitting is a technique to consider following rolling of the pasture, when the ground is still reasonably soft.
Rolling risks compaction of the soil surface, resulting in surface water logging, poaching and poor grass growth.
Slitting after rolling promotes aeration of the soil allowing the unlocking of nutrients, and better oxygenation of the grass roots in the upper surface layers of the soil..
It also helps with permeation of surface water.
Spring Tine Harrowing
Improves grass sward health
Spring tine harrowing opens up the sward by removing dead grass and moss.
This allows light and air to penetrate close to the soil surface, improving the grass plant health.
Harrowing will also help spread dung over a wider area helping return nutrients and organic matter to the soil. With the added benefit of exposing intestinal parasite eggs to UV light, reducing the need for anthemlmintic use for worm control.
Weed Wiping
A targeted approach to weed control
Weed wiping has the advantage over conventional spraying in that it is able to specifically target areas with weeds that require controlling.
There is no spray drift so less risk of damage to un-targeted species of plants.
Weed wiping allows more efficient weed control with reduced chemical usage.
Ideally weed control should be implemented during the emergence phase of the weed plant growth, when it is growing at it's maximal rate.
Many horse sick paddocks that have had nutrients leached by heavy winter rain and have poor grass cover, are populated with large areas of buttercup. This weed contains ranunculi, a substance that when eaten fresh causes irritation around the moth and can result in colic.
Standing ragwort is rarely eaten by horses in paddocks unless the grass is very sparse, however great care must be taken not to allow its inclusion in conserved hay or haylage as horses will then eat the dried plant. Ragwort contains alkaloid substances that are hepatotoxic and will damage the livers of horses and ponies.
Grassover seeding
Increasing grass sward density - improving efficiency of land usage
Grass seed can be introduced into an existing pasture in spring, to fill in the gaps between the existing grass plants. The amount of grass plants per unit area is increased and the grass cover keeps the weeds at bay. Bare patches of ground quickly become colonised by weeds that the horses do not eat.
Over seeding can be done at the same time as spring tine harrowing in the spring when the soil temperature is consistently greater than about 8C. Rolling should be employed after seeding to press the seed close to the soil surface promoting better germination.
Overseeding can be carried out in spring and autumn.
Topping
Promoting fresh grass growth for horses and ponies to enjoy
Horses and ponies do not graze pastures evenly, they leave areas to become too long creating "roughs and lawns" in the sward. They select the shorter newer growth to eat as this has a better setter taste.
By topping the paddock this encourages an even new grass growth.
We have selected a flail mower as our favoured machine for providing this service. Conventional toppers leave lines of long-length mowed grass behind the machine.
The flail mower will cut and mulch the grass over the full with of the cutting unit. This results in a more even distribution of the cut foliage, promoting better return of nutrients and organic matter to the soil.
Hedge Cutting
Creating not only a good boundary but also a shelter for your horses and ponies
Tractor mounted hedge cutting for longer stretches of hedgerow. Small hedges can be cut by hand using long reach petrol powered and electric hand tools.
Managing hedges creates a good barrier to act as a boundary to retain horses and ponies on the pasture, but it also provides a shelter for them from the elements.
A healthy hedge also creates a good habitat for small song birds and other wildlife.
Controlling hedge growth maximises the area of land available for grazing.
Fencing
Making safe enclosures for horses and ponies to enjoy
We undertake all types of equestrian fencing from traditional post and rail to wire stud fencing.
Safety is at the fore front of our paddock design - water troughs and gates are fitted and located to reduce the chance of injury.
Gateway areas typically become very poached and uneven, these can be improved.
Underground water pipes can be laid, as well as underground cabling to link to electric fencing units.
Smaller Properties
Limited access? Small paddocks?
We have some equipment that is operated using a Quad Bike or smaller tractor allowing us to assist with the management of smaller properties.
Other Services
Anything that you need just ask, we will try to accommodate your requirements or help find someone else who can
Muck removal
Soil analysis
Agricultural services
General ground clearance
Contact us to discuss your requirements
Free site visits to advise and quote for pasture management, hedging and fencing
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