|
|
Weed SprayingHorses and ponies can have an effect on the landscape, and it is up to their owners and keepers to ensure that this effect is a positive one!
.jpg "400_sprayer_(1).jpg") Horses are often given the reputation of being poor grazers. Their selective grazing habit is that of choosing only the sweeter grasses, and manuring in specific places where they then won’t graze. This overgrazing of certain areas and the bare areas left from poaching in the winter provide the ideal germination site for weeds. It’s important not to think of everything except grass as being a weed, you can read more about this in the pony fields section of the website. Other plants should really be classified as herbs, many of which are not only extremely palatable to horses and ponies, but also beneficial.
 Weeds such as ragwort are obviously poisonous and must be removed, by hand pulling or spraying. Other invasive plants that are considered weeds are those plants which horses and ponies will not eat like docks, thistles and nettles. Regular cutting or mowing of these weeds will not stop them from spreading. The most effective option is to spray in the spring and if the infestation is bad enough again in the Autumn. We can spay the field in two visits as the sprayed area will need to be left ungrazed for up to 3 weeks.
The spray equipment is small and light enough to get in and around the smallest and most odd shaped fields. It is also very light and leaves no wheel ruts even in the wet areas. We aim to spray the entire field including all the hard to get at areas, including under the fences and water troughs. This ensures a complete kill with the aim of eliminating any seed set.
|
|
