Rain, rain, go away!

[greydales]

Well it hasn't stopped raining for two days now and more to come, I'm going to have to move the horses if this keeps on, but not sure where to . I've harrowed and rolled the winter field which is cut for haylage, so can't put them back there, the sheep and lambs are in the other paddock and the horses would soon trash it anyway. I'm going to have to feed hay soon!

[colmworthdales]

In north Bedfordshire we have had quite a lot of rain but our fields are standing up to it quite well. Actually turned out the cows (and the one calf that has arrived) on Tuesday into a field with a strawed-up shelter which they are sleeping in. The grass in that field is adequate for a week or so, so I hope the nights stay warm enough to keep the grass ahead of them.

My 4 Dales people are enjoying the slightly longer grass but I am still giving them some hay to stop them eating it all down too quickly.

It has been so dry for months that the ditches are only just beginning to have a little water lying in them. The patches in fields that are wet must only be because the ground is still so compacted that the water cannot drain through. Digging a deep hole to plant a big shrub last week was interesting - soil still bone dry 6 inches down. Shows that here - at least - we are still very short of ground water and the hosepipe ban is essential, despite the apparent mass of rain.

Best of luck to all of you who are really suffering with mud and floods.

[Debbie]

We've been underwater for so long that its a rare day to have sunshine. I fully agree with the rain rain go away... my parents and siblings tell me they're in a drought and we all live in the same state. Apparently its only our little area that's been flooded for the last 3, going on 4 years. I'm having to bring in hay from Kansas, over 100 miles one way

I'd be more than happy for them to get it instead of us.

[greydales]

Well it's still peeing down, the horse field is now a muddy quagmire with barely any grass left on it. I'm going to have to put them in a field I was keeping for the sheep and is pristine - but it won't be for long

I'm also in the middle of fencing which has to be finished soon, but no way can we get back on the field yet!

I'm now about to clean out some stables to bring them in for the farrier, don't think he will appreciate thick mud ..

[leannwithconnie]

It really is beyond a joke now isn't it??
It's actually not raining here at the moment and has been quite a nice morning so far but yet more is forecast for later and over the weekend , which probably means no riding or golf in my case!

[harveydales]

The lake in our paddock has doubled overnight and I can't risk the quad bike through it now. It is at least 2ft deep and more rain coming Sunday.

[NFK Dumpling]

Apr 25, 2012 17:40:47 GMT -1 dalesponyrider said:

How long does it have to rain before we are no longer in a drought?

1 year and 11 months in the East, I beleive Linda...........

Even my ditches are full, the only trouble is the land is flat so if one bit floods the whole lot floods including the shelter

[greydales]

Well I've never seen my summer fields in such a state! It is liquid mud and there is literally nothing left for the horses. I had to bring them all in for the farrier today, well what a mission - they ran all over the place wanting to come in, wouldn't stand still for headcollars, escaped to another bit of grass I was hoping to keep them off and trashed it .

Took ages to hose them all off but finally got them all trimmed, wormed and fed! Had to turn the poor buggers back out again but tomorrow they will have to go back into their winter field which is usually growing for haylage at this time .

I've never had to do that before but have no other option at the moment! And the rain is forecast for most of May I think ...