Posted 2011-06-20 7:12 AM (#134986) Subject: What can I plant for winter
Regular
Posts: 74
Location: Dublin Ga
I have 4 horses on about 3 acres, I have to feed hay year round it has not rained much here so the hay supply isn't looking promising for the year. I want to plant something for the winter that I can put the horses on and just leave them since I have limited space winter rye is out due to the fact that the rye gives them diareah. A guy told me about some stuff he said was called pasturell but I cant seem to find that.
Posted 2011-06-20 9:44 AM (#134992 - in reply to #134986) Subject: RE: What can I plant for winter
Expert
Posts: 1723
Location: michigan
With 4 horses on only three acres I can't imagine anything you can plant that will feed those horses for the winter..I know you are speaking of a GA winter which really isn't winter at all.I guess I am thinking thats not enough land to support 4 horses. I could be wrong tho...
Posted 2011-06-21 10:38 AM (#135012 - in reply to #134986) Subject: RE: What can I plant for winter
Expert
Posts: 2614
Farmbabe's not wrong.It's too many horses and not enough land to support them.Not even in summer.I'm just speaking from experience,having tried to keep 5 horses on 5 acres for the past 7 years,2 summers of that were drought summers.We have mostly common bermuda which is very hardy and drought tolerant,yet,it isn't enough.Our place is now showing the effects of overuse,bare spots,eroding areas,and,it's going to take some time and money and effort to just maintain what we have.We have to spray this in early spring with expensive chemicals to prevent weed takeover (Roundup with Cimmaron works really well,2-4 D is less effective but better than nothing.) we have to fertilize twice a year,and,last summer,I let my beloved celebration-from-cancer treatment gelding go to another home with more pasture and riding time.
You might try looking and calling this place: Johnston Seed in Oklahoma.http://www.jeinc.com/seed-company.They sell several varieties of winter hardy grass seed,one of which is Wrangler Bermuda.It will help,but,mostly with maintaining your soil.Unless you upsize on your land or downsize on your horses,you're looking at a big hay investment from here on out,I'm afraid.Sorry.
Posted 2011-07-01 7:07 AM (#135313 - in reply to #134986) Subject: RE: What can I plant for winter
Regular
Posts: 74
Location: Dublin Ga
I have been feedong 4 rounds a month all year round I was just hoping that I can get something to make them last a little longer, When it rains some in the summer i get away with two bails a month but this year is awful no rain, so I have fed 4 a month since last fall.
Posted 2011-07-01 7:50 AM (#135315 - in reply to #134986) Subject: RE: What can I plant for winter
Expert
Posts: 2453
Location: Northern Utah
You will need to set up a sacrifice area where the horse will be kept most of the time. Only allowing them out into the remaining pasture intermittantly. Grass needs time to recover after being grazed. So you might subdivide your pasture into smaller section, allowing the horses to graze for a day, Then removing them for a week or 10 day. You will definitely not produce enough grass to replace baled hay, But it could reduce the amount you have to feed.
I have 4 horses and feed the mid sized square bales and I go thru 13 tons a year. It's a lot of hay to pay for and a lot of hay to have to stack and store. What little pasture I have is used mostly to help the horses get used to eating green grass before camping trips. Allowing them an hour here and there to graze the week before heading to the mountains.
Posted 2011-07-01 9:01 AM (#135319 - in reply to #134986) Subject: RE: What can I plant for winter
Regular
Posts: 74
Location: Dublin Ga
I have my area divided into 3 sections one section is where the barn is there are alot of oaks and shade so no grass grows, so I have 2 sections where the grass grows both sections have access to the barn, but due to the drought I have had them shut up by the barn waiting for grass to grow. I planted grass in the bottom this year it is knee high but has not developed a root system so the grass will be pulled up by the roots if they eat it so all they can do for now is look at it.
The guy I buy hay from usually has 40 bales by now but only has 75 this year so am cocerned about the avalibility of hay late in the winter.
Thanks for all the help I knew I would get some good info from here.
Posted 2011-08-15 8:14 PM (#136727 - in reply to #134986) Subject: RE: What can I plant for winter
New User
Posts: 4
Location: NJ
Here in the northeast there are certain grasses that we reseed in the spring and fall. I too have a sacrifice area and feed hay all year. But my two horses are turned out on pasture about 5-8 hours per day on about 2 acres......careful pasture management is key.... We also keep any weeds down by mowing once a month.