If re-seeding, oversowing or patching is required, the seed mixture should be carefully chosen. The ideal grass to provide grazing for horses and ponies is not the same grass that farmers might use for silage. The seed mixture should provide a short, dense sward that will cushion the horses feet, when the ground is hard. It should also be palatable and remain thick in the bottom.
To maintain this height in the summer, it will be necessary to mow the field two or three times with a topper. This will also help keep weeds such as nettles at bay and also tidy up those areas that are not being regularly grazed. An alternative method is to go in for mixed grazing. Sheep will graze more evenly throughout the field including those areas where there are droppings. There are so many regulations with all farm animals now, that it might well be easier and safer to get a neighbouring farmer to graze his sheep on your land, at times when you have too much grass. Topping or grazing with sheep will keep the grass tidy and give an attractive parkland appearance.
Horses and ponies are very choosy eaters and they will not graze those areas where there are droppings. If possible, these should be removed on a daily basis For larger fields there are machines that will mechanically pick them up.
