Spring paddock maintenance
A D V E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E
Paddock management in a challenging climate Words: Paul Overton
Equine paddocks should have a safe, level surface and a ‘good bite’ of fresh grass
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t may seem a distant memory now but the constant rain and wet weather earlier this year that led to flooding – and forced stud personnel to wade through wet gateways on poached ground – has now changed into a prolonged dry spell, with only the odd shower to soften the concrete-like hoof marks and ruts. This is a common scenario in the Newmarket area, which is often wet. The sudden change, with the east winds drying the paddocks, has left a compact, hard rutted-surface, which can be damaging to young horses’ legs and feet. Often the window to repair and prepare paddocks is very small and passes by very quickly. The unique equine calendar means that horses are out in paddocks in the most extreme weather conditions. Autumn and winter weather can be challenging, with horse numbers putting pressure on the paddocks at all studs. Stud managers often feel there is never enough paddocks and area to work with – extreme weather often puts considerable extra pressure on the stud manager’s shoulders. In the equine industry, we do not have the luxury of holding horses in barns and turning out when the grass is fresh and conditions are warm and dry. Covid-19 has put extra pressure on studs, not only with regard to losing staff members who are self-isolating, but also due to holding more horses on studs for a longer period, cutting down the rest periods for many paddocks. Stud managers may have to plan for the worst and hope for the best.
Paddock assessment
It is always important to walk and examine the state of all of the paddocks on a regular basis.
A paddock must have a safe, level surface and a ‘good bite’ of fresh grass, a simple concept but not easy to achieve. It is easy to let the grass levels drop which allows clover, weeds and moss to invade the grass sward. Also, the mixture and the make-up of the grass species can change over time and after extreme weather conditions. The most palatable nutrient-holding grass species for horses, like rye grass, fescues and smooth stalk meadow grass, are the most vulnerable to overgrazing, poaching and extreme damage. The coarser grass, like creeping bent and couch grass, have underground rhizomes and produce little leaf area, thus making them very hardy and able to withstand damage from hooves, harrows and weather. But with their low leaf area that quickly fades in the early summer, they hold little useful nutrients to horses and can be unpalatable. A paddock with a low grass level, dominated by coarse grass with shallow surface compaction, is the most common problem seen in equine paddocks and affects the visual look and performance of many paddocks. The drop in grass levels can creep up slowly and result in a paddock turning into a ploughed field after a short period of grazing. By looking at one square metre section of a paddock and discounting anything other than grass, what have you got? It should be 90- 95% grass and at least 75% of that should a palatable grass. Clover is a positive in paddocks as a source of calcium and protein, but must not be allowed to dominate. The word weed is subjective; dandelions and yarrow are herbs and a low level is fine but again, must not be allowed to dominate the grass.
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28/04/2020 11:11
