Paddock Paradise?

[corabella]

Just ordered this book by Jaimie Jackson because I am preparing my land for ponies and I was amazed by this approach which is so different from the normal fenced green field! Has anyone adapted this approach to our climate and vegetation? I was planning to turn my wilderness into a neat fenced field...... but am thinking again now. A google search on pasture paradise turned up horses in all sorts of terrains with internal fencing to encourage movement for forage. Also I got quotes for traditional stable blocks but now like the idea of various simple shelters with more than one access/exit. So rather than spending on smart stables I may spend more on earth movement and more , tracks & fencing - what do you think?

[zeldalithgow]

Hi I think Lucydales does something similar with her lot, I'd like to give it a go as I'm sure the ponies would benefit from it.

How are your plans going, are the patter of not so tiny hooves in the offing yet ?.

[valerie n scout]

oh am looking forward to seeing what you do x

[felix]

im going to try this next spring for my ponies.just a simple fenced track around my 4 acre field though incorporating the open stables area with the concrete standing.
i wouldnt try it in winter as people on the intelligent horsemanship site who tried it said it wasnt great in winter.
then il keep the centre as a hay paddock.

[lucydales]

I do this (and have done for the last 4? 5? years to a varying degree) and it is the best thing ever for my fatties, however all their creature comforts are in my yard (shelter, water, feed - token guesture only! - seaweed/licks, etc) so they have to come and go, ie they must keep moving. They have lots more grazing than in a restricted paddock regime and still keep themselves slim(mer!) and fit(ish!)

If you want to pm me your phone no I'll explain it, or if ANYONE wants to come and see what we do i'd be delighted to have you or organise a group day.

If you have your own land I would highly recommend it to anyone with lami prone pones.

Mine can also come and go to suit themselves so can be in or out at their choice (except poor Celt who no one will share with! Steve is making a shelter especially for her for this winter, Helen, so panic not! LOL!).

They do practicing their "escape from tigers" at a flat out gallop round the track in the small hours (much to the alarm of my neighbour whose house ajoins the track!)which they couldn't do on restricted grazing. In fact Celt goes most places at a canter/gallop because she can!

Paddock Paradise, not sure, fat pone paradise it certainly is!

ETA for Felix, in winter I've taken the tape down and opened up the fields to reduce the poaching on the tracks which is bad if it is very wet, can't do that this year cos of Jen's posh pones being here, so I'll let you know how I go on.

[SuzieP]

This sounds really interesting. I'm not likely ever to have the opportunity to apply it - not having land of my own. But that doesn't stop me being interested in the concept.

I WILL get round to visiting you, Luce - when you're up to it. xx

[lucydales]

Come by 5th Nov and we'll do trains for Steve too! (joy of joys! ) Lx

[cadeby]

I've seen Lucy's track in action and it's a great system. Would do something similar myself but since Martin has banged in over 1000 fence posts manually, I daren't suggest we rearrange our paddocks!

Lol Lucy - Celt never had a shelter here, just hedges, trees and lots of fur. Those posh horses have turned her into a diva

ETA - don't think a wandering track system would totally work for us, having two stallions. They would think Christmas had come with mares tooing and froing past them

[harleydales]

It would blow their heads Helen!

[harveydales]

A lady down the road has just done this for her horses and I'm watching with interest.

My set up runs on similar lines in that our 7 acres are devided up into 4 paddocks, 2 on a slope, 1 flat and 1 ridge and furrow with moveable gates so the horses have to walk quite a distance to get from one end to the other. I only have 1 field shelter at the moment though!

BUT I struggled for a whole year with this set up for my 5 ponies and have finally given up and separated Harvey and old Winnie from the other 3 as they were getting bullied and were not happy. Since they've been apart Winnie has put on a lot of weight and is looking much happier and healthier. Harvey is just a big wuss.

[corabella]

Thanks everyone for your comments. Book not arrived yet cant wait. Thanks Lucydales would love to come down and see your paradise!

Hi Zelda how are you & yours? No hooves on site here yet - still looking and waiting for work to be done. Going to Fell Pony Sale in Penrith but just to look.....

Can anyone say how good dales are at avoiding ditches, potholes and rabbit/badger holes? Is it necessary to go round filling these in or will they manage - I assume so as they are used to moorland?

[greydales]

Oct 20, 2010 9:26:41 GMT -1 corabella said:

Can anyone say how good dales are at avoiding ditches, potholes and rabbit/badger holes? Is it necessary to go round filling these in or will they manage - I assume so as they are used to moorland?

Dales like any other breed can catch a foot - not usually if they are just mooching around grazing but if they are having hoolies then there is always the risk they can go down a hole. I'm sure this is what happened to my old grey Dan, the rabbits haven't dug very deep but there are quite a few areas where they have been busy trying to make holes. We do kick the soil flat where they've attempted to burrow.

Badger holes are usually in hedgerows but they will encroach on the fields as the badgers expand their setts and we've had to fill in a few - they are too large and deep to leave.