suffolksmallholder
Member
- Location
- Suffolk
This will tell you in simple terms;http://www.all-natural-horse-care.com/paddock-paradise.html
SS
SS
DIY Horse Livery
- Thread starter Goc Man
- Start date
RandomsRanch
New Member
Paddock Paradise works on the natural lifestyle of wild horses......in its simplicity it is, 24/7 grazing varied roughage, constant movement across variable terrains with plenty of natural shelter, mud, sand, shale, etc. Everything a herd needs to allow natural behaviours. using a circuit of narrow tracks encourages the constant movement.
I actually use a hybrid of Jaime Jackson's Paddock Paradise and Equicentral system. It is easy and cheap to begin but by the time you are happy with your system you will have spent ££££'s lol. tonnes of varied gravels/rubble, electric fencing to make your tracks, slow feeders for hay/hayledge, mineral licks and tubs and the list goes on.
Everything you put into your system will pay back 10 fold. No more shoes, healthy toned horses with minimal work, no more hard feeds, additives or potions, and the biggest difference most find is how calm and content the horses become. Their personalities come out and they are actually 'happy' watching them work together and enjoy each others company rather than standing in a grass paddock with their heads down uninterested in anything is amazing......
You will find many different systems and ppl sharing theirs on google now as they become more popular... you do have to sift through those who still have the 'typical equestrian attitude' know all and have to be a certain way but if you research, like I have you can work a system to your own herd and it can have an immediate impact in such a good way.
I actually use a hybrid of Jaime Jackson's Paddock Paradise and Equicentral system. It is easy and cheap to begin but by the time you are happy with your system you will have spent ££££'s lol. tonnes of varied gravels/rubble, electric fencing to make your tracks, slow feeders for hay/hayledge, mineral licks and tubs and the list goes on.
Everything you put into your system will pay back 10 fold. No more shoes, healthy toned horses with minimal work, no more hard feeds, additives or potions, and the biggest difference most find is how calm and content the horses become. Their personalities come out and they are actually 'happy' watching them work together and enjoy each others company rather than standing in a grass paddock with their heads down uninterested in anything is amazing......
You will find many different systems and ppl sharing theirs on google now as they become more popular... you do have to sift through those who still have the 'typical equestrian attitude' know all and have to be a certain way but if you research, like I have you can work a system to your own herd and it can have an immediate impact in such a good way.
RandomsRanch
New Member
I have a combination of mares and geldings, 2 yearling cobs, 22yr ex dressage tb, 18yr ex eventing ish, 24yr highland, 24yr Dartmoor, 17yr welsh A, 4yr idxtb, 2x 3yr cobs, 6yr trotter, 6yr Dartmoor, a llama and 4 goats.
They all live on a track approx. 3-5mtrs wide and 1km length circuit. It covers around 1.5acres, has feeding stations around the track and 2 grazing 'pods' at either end. I have 2 internal grazing paddocks about 2acres each that the herd have opened alternatively for about 4hrs each day, some go to graze and some don't.
my land is naturally very sheltered and wet, with shrubs, trees, bramble, blackberry, plums, strawberries, raspberries, elderberries, which are all now entwined around my outer fences so the herd can self select. They have wet areas for mud baths with wild garlic, and other herbs that prefer damp ground. during dry times we have dust areas for bathing, they have 7 slow feeders around the track and a selection of mineral blocks in the tree line. I am now in the process of adding gravel to some areas and will continue to add rubble, hardcore etc to encourage good hoof growth. This also helps with drainage around the land.
A 'track system' has a continuous circuit that they would move round consistently, although I have this I find my herd naturally use an 'equicentral system', most likely due to our expectations of them. They spend their nights in the bottom sheltered grazing area, they migrate up either side of the track within an hour of us being around and gather in the open feeding area for hay. We work with them, play groom etc. They have the paddocks opened for grazing, then migrate back down the track for the evening....... equicentral believe if you have a central feeding/water area with access to separate grazing paddocks your herd will migrate between them every 3-4 hours causing more movement and better lifestyles.
They all live on a track approx. 3-5mtrs wide and 1km length circuit. It covers around 1.5acres, has feeding stations around the track and 2 grazing 'pods' at either end. I have 2 internal grazing paddocks about 2acres each that the herd have opened alternatively for about 4hrs each day, some go to graze and some don't.
my land is naturally very sheltered and wet, with shrubs, trees, bramble, blackberry, plums, strawberries, raspberries, elderberries, which are all now entwined around my outer fences so the herd can self select. They have wet areas for mud baths with wild garlic, and other herbs that prefer damp ground. during dry times we have dust areas for bathing, they have 7 slow feeders around the track and a selection of mineral blocks in the tree line. I am now in the process of adding gravel to some areas and will continue to add rubble, hardcore etc to encourage good hoof growth. This also helps with drainage around the land.
A 'track system' has a continuous circuit that they would move round consistently, although I have this I find my herd naturally use an 'equicentral system', most likely due to our expectations of them. They spend their nights in the bottom sheltered grazing area, they migrate up either side of the track within an hour of us being around and gather in the open feeding area for hay. We work with them, play groom etc. They have the paddocks opened for grazing, then migrate back down the track for the evening....... equicentral believe if you have a central feeding/water area with access to separate grazing paddocks your herd will migrate between them every 3-4 hours causing more movement and better lifestyles.
Janovich
Member
- Location
- Lancashire
Couldn't have explained the PP system better @RandomsRanch and I admire you for putting so much time and effort (and £'s!) into this way of keeping horses (and Llamas and goats!).
It's good use of land in my humble opinion and with a bit of thought and effort, a lot of places could do very much the same and have healthier and happier horses all round.
My boy's feet are rock hard now (he's been barefoot for over 10 years now) as he still gets to do a lot of what you describe where he is now, which is a big plus for us.
It's good use of land in my humble opinion and with a bit of thought and effort, a lot of places could do very much the same and have healthier and happier horses all round.
My boy's feet are rock hard now (he's been barefoot for over 10 years now) as he still gets to do a lot of what you describe where he is now, which is a big plus for us.