Current grassland management practices for equine pastures in the United Kingdom and how these could be improved to increase pasture quality and sustainability.
My name is Lauren Hall, I am currently undertaking MSc Equine Science at Hartpury College. I would like to invite you to take part in a research study looking at Current grassland management practices for equine pastures in the United Kingdom, and how these could be improved to increase pasture quality and sustainability. The questionnaire should not take more than 10 minutes to complete.
In this study I will be investigating the current grassland management practices implemented on equine pastures in the United Kingdom and how these could be improved in the future to increase pasture quality and sustainability.
Please note that all of the information collected about you during the course of the research will be kept securely with the researcher. Any information which enters the public domain will be anonymised so that you cannot be recognised. Questionnaire data will be held but information will be coded for anonymity. The results will be presented as my dissertation and a paper and electronic copy will be kept at Hartpury College. Additionally, I aim to publish the research in an appropriate journal.
It is up to you whether or not to take part in this research. By filling out this questionnaire this is indicating your voluntary informed consent to participate in the research, and also granting consent for the data obtained from this to be used and analysed over the course of the research study.
If you decide to take part you are still free to withdraw without giving a reason up to the point of data processing (30/04/2017) by contacting me, Lauren Hall on lauren.hall@hartpury.ac.uk
This question requires an answer
1. Are you male or female? *
This question requires an answer
2. What is the highest level qualification you hold? *
This question requires an answer
3. Which county within the UK do you live in? *
This question requires an answer
4. How many acres of grassland do you have access to, whether owned, rented or at livery? If at livery, how many acres are assigned to your horse/s specifically? *
This question requires an answer
5. In respect of this ground, is it *
This question requires an answer
6. How many horses are kept on this ground? *
This question requires an answer
7. Is this ground on or part of a farm? *
8. How many hours a day is your horse/s allowed access to pasture in the summer?
This question requires an answer
9. How many hours a day is your horse/s allowed access to pasture in the winter? *
This question requires an answer
10. Which grazing system do you use? *
This question requires an answer
11. What type of grazing do you have? *
This question requires an answer
12. How would you describe the grass coverage on your pasture? *
13. Do you have any undesirable weed species growing on your grassland?
This question requires an answer
14. How often do you poo pick? *
This question requires an answer
15. How often do you undertake soil testing? *
This question requires an answer
16. How often do you apply fertiliser? *
17. What type of fertiliser did you last apply?
This question requires an answer
18. How often do you chain harrow? *
This question requires an answer
19. Do you graze your horse/s alongside or as part of a rotational pattern with any other species? *
This question requires an answer
20. How often do you mow for hay/haylage? *
This question requires an answer
21. How often do you apply herbicide? *
This question requires an answer
22. How often do you reseed/overseed? *
This question requires an answer
23. Do you restrict access to grazing for any reason? *
24. If you restrict grazing, do you?
This question requires an answer
25. Where do you seek advice on grassland management practices? *