Section off field - right section??

[GR & Me]

Anyway,

In my field I currently have my arab and her little companion shetland and a friends fat cob.

Field is big enough for all but it is the only field.

Now I am going to section it off for winter grazing and summer grazing (they have had free range for the past month in it).

Should I give them more space in summer area or winter area? And why?

Thanks.

P.s - I shall post an intro soon!

[black crow]

How big is the field roughly?

I tend to split into 3 if possible, as you can then rotate around and have two sections 'ready' bythe time the third one has been eaten down. Currently my lot are in their half of the field which is a fraction smaller then the other half. They will be coming in for winter so will eat less grass, however the side that is currently growing will probably do them for the second half of winter through to spring, which they will then get rotated back onto the slightly smaller section and then back again when that is down - also reduces how much of the spring grass they will be getting!

[GR & Me]

Thanks for the reply.

Not big enough to split into three unfortunately. Im really not good with size but its maybe about 4 acres. Although thats totally approx.

There is another field attached with gate opened with just less than an acre but my two will not go in as there is a muddy water filled hollow at gate but cob goes into it.

[fougere]

If it's 4 acres you should have plenty to split into 3 as BC says.
I have only 2.5 acres ( for 1 pony and 1 donkey) and I have mine split into 3 main fields and a starvation area. The starvation area is accessible all the time and has a field shelter. I always have one field in use and 2 resting. When they go into a rested field, they never have it all in one go. Instead they have the starvation area and a strip of the new field. I increase the strip each day. In this way the field gets eaten down evenly, rather than them picking the best bits and leaving the less choosey bits, and my porky pone doesn't explode.

[black crow]

Ditto Fougere!

4 acres would be plenty. I have a horse and two ponies in a 5 acre field that is split into two, however when they go into a new bit, that is sectioned in half for a while just to keep the grass going for a little while longer. Theyre allowed into the newer part usually only a week or so later.

If not, why not try strip grazing? Smaller sections of grass but you should get 3/4 sections in which would have the same effect as rotating?

[Tiaki]

What about Paddock Paradise grazing system?? Super method which works a treat for all horses :)

xxx

[GR & Me]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys.

Okay, spoke to other half and he says that field is more like 3 acres or 3 1/2 acres.

Could this still work being split into three? I just worry that as the grass goes down they start getting very grumpy with each other as it is such a small area to escape from each other??

Also what happens if you split it into three and shelter, how does that work?

[Tnavas]

What you need to consider is how much damage they will do to the area they are in during the winter - wet ground pugs up easily and destroys the grass.

You coould divide it in three which will mean only an acre and a bit will get wrecked - you can easily scatter grass seed to recover the grass in the spring.

You could divide into 2 and still end up with the grass badly damaged by spring. It will cost you more to recover it.

Finally you could allow them the run of the whole field - this means that the grass gets less wear and tear and so will recover well in spring. This is what I do with my field which is 5 acres - I have four running on itover winter. Come spring I then divide the paddock and within a few weeks the grass has gone berserk.

I have little damage to the field and I put their hay in the damaged areas as the seeds drop off and re sow the damaged areas.

[fougere]

Also what happens if you split it into three and shelter, how does that work?

This is how mine is organised. They always have access to the starvation field with the shelter and then the 'electric gate' is left open to whichever other field is in use at the time. (Sorry it's a bit small - if you wish I can search for a bigger copy)

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s133/fougere9/Fieldlayout.jpg

I found I had to buy a dual switch for electric fencing to make it work.

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s133/fougere9/switch.jpg