yard stable & paddock Gourmet Grazing
Q – Even though we only have ponies for our three daughters and don’t want them on lush grazing, the two paddocks they’re turned on into every day never seem to have enough good quality grass as the autumn approaches.
We have seven ponies on two paddocks that total 12 acres and we fertilise in the spring with a slow release fertiliser, but that’s all. They’re then grazed by some of our sheep through the winter when the ponies are out less and on different – drier – pastures.
Would it be beneficial to fertilise their summer grazing again later in the season to keep the grass growing? We’ve also wondered about using potash, or something like calcified seaweed to help the quality of the grass. What would you advise?
Answer - The area you have should be more than adequate
to look after 7 ponies, with scope to make hay on some of it. The first thing to do is to have a soil sample taken to check if there is a lime deficiency. You could also expand the analysis to include Phosphate and Potash levels, which will govern the analysis of fertiliser you should use and also trace element content, as too much of certain trace elements ‘lock-up’ nutrients from the herbage. This is rare but can happen and will require specialist advice on counter measures. If Potash analysis levels are low, the blend of fertiliser used should contain a small quantity to balance the nutrients in the soil, but advice from the supplier should be sought. If the pH is correct, which should be 5.5 – 6.5, any fertiliser you apply will be fully utilised by the grass. If you have your own fertiliser spreader you can split the applications into 3 or 4, throughout the year, which will give you better control over the
quantity available. When you are relying on a contractor you may choose only to apply 1 or 2 times, which could result in a feast or famine.
Our advice would be to use a small Logic fertiliser spreader, most models of which are ground driven so can be towed by any suitable vehicle. Apply about 30kg per acre of a Calcified Seaweed type product just before winter sets in or very early in the new year when ground conditions are suitable. This slow release tonic will prepare the plants with all the trace elements they need for a healthy start to the next growing season. During March when ground conditions are dry, apply 80kg per acre of a slow release type product with a typical analysis of N 10 : P 20 : K 0. Another application can be made 30 days later, which could be reduced to 50kg if the quantity of grass is getting ahead of the ponies. It would be at this stage you may decide to section off an area for
with the experts at Logic
conservation and apply a little more fertiliser to that area to ensure a decent crop. If the grass is topped throughout the summer to prevent grass going to seed, the grazing should be more than adequate for your ponies. There will be an ‘Autumn flush’ of grass in late summer and if you want to extend the grazing, then a final application of about 50kg per acre in August will help this. Another 30kg per acre application of Calcified Seaweed would also be beneficial in late summer, to replace the minerals and trace elements taken up by the grass. Grazing with sheep throughout the winter is a good idea, as they will keep the keep the grass short, eat some of the weeds and leave some useful manure. Be careful though if feeding them supplementary feed, not to create poached areas which will encourage weeds while grass is re- establishing the following season.
Logic LDS120DS Ground driven spreader, ideal for smaller paddocks
Equine Page 28
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