Notes from the field
Things worth knowing
Practical advice on paddocks, weeds, kit, and seasonal jobs — written from the seat of a tractor.
Practical advice on paddocks, weeds, kit, and seasonal jobs — written from the seat of a tractor.
Ground compaction is one of the biggest hidden problems affecting horse paddocks and grazing fields. While the surface may look perfectly healthy, the soil underneath can become so compacted that grass struggles to establish, rainwater sits on the surface, and paddocks quickly become muddy during…
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A well-maintained paddock doesn't happen by accident. While many horse owners focus on weed control and fertilising, one of the most effective maintenance tasks is often overlooked—harrowing. When carried out at the right time of year and in the correct conditions, paddock harrowing improves grass…
Can Thrust Herbicide Kill Prostrate Knotweed? Prostrate knotweed is one of those weeds that often catches paddock owners by surprise. It forms dense mats across gateways, heavily used areas, field entrances and worn patches where grass has struggled to survive. Not only does it look untidy, but it…
Ragwort is one of the most troublesome weeds found in UK paddocks, grazing fields and pasture. Not only does it compete with valuable grass, but it also poses a serious risk to horses, cattle and other livestock. Once established, ragwort can spread rapidly through seed, making early control…
When ragwort gets too big, spraying alone isn't always the best solution. Here's why we sometimes flail and collect the plants before applying herbicide, and why this approach delivers better long-term results for horse paddocks. Ragwort is one of the most dangerous weeds found in horse paddocks.…
Bracken is one of the most stubborn and persistent weeds found on UK grazing land. Once established, it can quickly dominate paddocks, woodland edges, banks and rough grazing, reducing the amount of usable pasture and making fields increasingly difficult to manage. For horse paddocks in particular,…
Every autumn, thousands of horse owners across the UK face a hidden danger lurking in their fields. While colourful oak trees can make a paddock look picturesque, the acorns they produce can pose a serious health risk to horses. If your horse grazes in a field with oak trees nearby, understanding…
Finishing off the rows at a vineyard near Salisbury with a sub-compact John Deere 2038R and a Winton stone burier seeder — rotavating, burying stones and seeding between the vines in a single pass.
Harrowing is one of the most effective and affordable pasture management practices available to livestock farmers. When carried out at the correct time, harrowing can improve pasture utilisation, distribute nutrients more evenly, reduce pasture waste, encourage healthy grass growth, and help…
One of the biggest hidden problems in horse paddocks and grazing land is soil compaction. On the surface a field may just look tired, patchy, or overgrazed, but underneath the grass there is often a much bigger issue developing. Years of machinery traffic, heavy horses, livestock pressure, and…
For anyone involved in paddock management, spraying is never something to be taken lightly. Whether you are controlling ragwort, docks, nettles, buttercups or invasive weeds, you are applying chemicals into an environment where horses and livestock live, graze and feed. Done correctly, herbicide…
Buttercups might look harmless when they flower across a paddock in spring, but for horse owners they are often a warning sign that grazing quality is deteriorating. Heavy infestations of creeping buttercup and meadow buttercup can quickly outcompete productive grasses, reduce grazing value, and…
Paddock management and paddock maintenance are critical to keeping horses healthy, preserving pasture quality, and avoiding costly land degradation over time. A well managed paddock supports consistent grass growth, reduces weed pressure, improves drainage, and minimises the risk of injury or…
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