RIGHT MACHINE FOR THE JOB

We take a look at the agricultural calendar to see what machines you need, and when

Paddock prep for the winter months ahead can be a daunting thought; however, planning and preparation for the seasonal change can make “winter life” for both you and your horse much more manageable and a whole lot easier!

As with most activities on the farm, paddock maintenance and care can be labour-intensive, which as we bask in the glorious sunshine we’ve had this summer, can seem like an unwelcome, sweaty chore that is best put off!

So here are our top five simple ways to prepare your paddock for the months ahead along with some of what’s available in terms of machinery to help you along the way.

It is quite often the case that many horse owners choose to turn their horses out throughout the spring and summer months, allowing them to forage freely and enjoy the sun on their backs. With roaming horses come poo-strewn fields and if it is left it will turn next year’s grass sour, leaving long tufts that our fussy horses simply will not eat. There are a number of ways to “poo pick” your paddocks, from traipsing acre upon acre with a wheelbarrow and fork to purchasing or hiring a poo vacuum or paddock cleaner, often towed behind a tractor or quad bike. 

 Once you’ve picked the poo, it is definitely worthwhile running a harrow or rake across your paddocks. This will loosen off and kill any poor growth left over from the summer, as well as break up some of the hard ground. It will also break up and spread any muck residue, allowing autumn showers to wash it back into the ground, enriching the soil quality without souring your grass. Harrows and rakes can come in a range of sizes to suit the size of your paddock, from hand-held rakes, sixfoot chain harrows ideally pulled by a 4x4 quad bike or small sub compact tractor, to enormous folding harrows or power harrows operated by using much bigger tractors, meaning there is something available for everyone whether you are tending to a twoacre plot or a 200-acre paradise!

September and October are good months for adding nutrients to your soil. As the hot sun cools and we welcome warm rain, fertilisers can be well washed into the ground, offering all the nutrients required for a spurt of good grass growth next spring. Fertilisers can come in several formats, from liquid sprays to pellet form, and again depending on the size of your paddock there are a number of ways to spread or sow your fertiliser. Pellets can easily be spread by hand and liquids with a knapsack sprayer, both equally ideal for smaller paddocks. If your paddocks are greater than about two or three acres then you may wish to invest in a larger spreader or sprayer that, depending on which make and model you opt for, can be mounted onto a quad bike or tractor. Be sure to check individual fertilisers for safety and the manufacturer’s recommendations for use around animals and on grazing paddocks.

As the autumn rainfall intensifies and before the ground gives way, it’s a good idea to roll your paddock, tamping down any old divots or rough patches in the ground. Its also a great idea to check your gateways at the same time. If your gateways tend to get a little deep and muddy in winter as many do, it’s a good idea to put some Type 1 hardcore or loose stone across them. Rolling this into the ground will offer more stability and support around your gateway, hopefully preventing lost shoes sucked off by heavy mud and mud fever, giving your horse a firm, clean standing while they wait at the gate to come in.

As autumn draws out and winter whispers around the corner, we like to make a final cut on the paddocks, topping weed growth or sour grass patches, preventing them from spreading. With the winter weather these cuttings will rot nicely into the ground instead of growing out of control over the winter months when the ground is too soft to act on them. Toppers and mowers are variable in design, with the more modern flail mower using a series of teeth to chop and mulch overgrowth, whereas the more traditional-style field topper uses a long or multiple, rotational blade to quite literally take the top off your paddock.

When purchasing agricultural machinery, Your Horse & Country Magazine strongly recommends buying via a reputable business, as your investment can sometimes be wasted when buying tired second-hand machinery that has not been serviced or well maintained.