How Long?

[fimacg]

How long would you leave it before putting horses back in a field that has been topped?

I was going to make hay on the field I rent but neighbours from hell scuppered that plan as the wouldn't allow us to take a trailer through their driveway into the neighbouring field (only way to get the hay out) so I have had to just hav it topped instead.

The grass was really long, about 2' high and quite thick. It was cut on Friday last week.

I want to move my boys down there as soon as possible to as my own field it starting to become poached in places after all the rain, but obviously don't want to give them colic by letting them munch on grass cuttings.

[r0450111]

they could have remained in the field whilst it was topped, however now you've allowed the gras to begin to ferment thats not a good diea. If you want to get them on the field as soon as poss, best bet would be to rake up the cuttings and remove them. I just finished studying Grassland Management (very boring, but suddenly useful!)

[brigadier]

If its dry its not too much of a problem as the horse will prefer the short sweeter grass- but if its still wet its still yummy so that will cause problems!

[jack]

we had georges field toped ( and it was very long ) a week before he came and we raked as much as we could he was fine and i was told as long as it is dry ( the cuttings ) its fine

[fimacg]

Cheers, most of the grass was dying back before it was cut, I will leave it a full week before moving them down just to be safe.