Ben, Ebs and 'Paddock Paradise' 1 week in...

Queenbee

Queenbee

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Thought I'd post a bit of an update on my track system adventure. It has only been a week but all is going really well. We worked out that their field is about 2 1/2 acres and with the width of the track they have access to about half an acre at the moment. A week in and they are using the track properly, the top long track is a dust bowl with stony areas and the rest is grass. Whilst Ebony was a bit more on the fat side it was also a bit misleading because on too much grass she becomes full of gas and swells like a barrel, that is all gone! Some of you may know that whilst I have nothing against shoes, I have been endeavouring to keep her without shoes, and she was a bit footy, I knew that a lot of this was to do with the fact that she had not been on stony or hard surfaces for ages but I was getting worried because although she was standing ok she didn't look comfy on the stones in her field even without my weight. A week on, she is totally bright and shows no discomfort in there and her tummy is deflated... result! I have noticed that whilst they do move around a lot, they spend a lot of time just 'hangin' at the water butt or next to Raz their neighbour, so next plans are to put some stuff to encourage them down the bottom a bit more. Little Ben is using the dust track as his personalised race track and everyone has noticed that he has changed in shape this week, his bum is working more, again... result! He has also kept his fly mask on.

This weekend I am making a hay barrel with holes for them, I will weight it down and pop it in one of the corners of the track, I am also off to buy a salt lick for the other bottom corner and amazon are selling giant spacehoppers for a tenner so I am treating ben to a new toy :D Ebs is also going to go on cinammon (and probably magnesium) as a result of the 'footy horses post, but she is also leaps and bounds better.

I can't help but wonder what all this extra exercise equates to on a weekly basis, in terms of x amount of hacking or schooling. I am very impressed with this and am really really enjoying planning the layout. If anyone is considering I can strongly recommend it. My horses have improved in a week and they are even pooing in set areas as opposed to all over the shop, RESULT!
 
I have my Mctimoney practitioner coming in 2 weeks, I can't wait to see what she thinks. To see the benefits in a 2 yr olds physiology is fantastic, I mean, you can't lunge or free school them so it is really hard to build them up without mile and miles of walking in hand (which is not practical) And to see ebony coming over the track without bitching about the stones is great, It will really improve our hacks, I hate making her go barefoot over stoney ground, hopefully soon this will be a thing of the past! I can't wait to see ben with his space hopper. He borrowed Raz's exercise ball the other day and was picking it up with his teeth (its not pumped up very solid) and he loves tossing his tub trugs around and playing with footballs so I know he will love it and it is a bit more robust than an exercise ball. I will be posting pictures!
 
Great news you are seeing benefits so soon. I believe the extra movement is so important to all horses. Good on you for giving it a go.

I find them forming stud piles fascinating too, I do wonder if it is a sign they are feeling more like 'horses' and therefore displaying more natural behaviours... if so that can only be good in my book too. :)
 
amandap said:
Great news you are seeing benefits so soon. I believe the extra movement is so important to all horses. Good on you for giving it a go.

I find them forming stud piles fascinating too, I do wonder if it is a sign they are feeling more like 'horses' and therefore displaying more natural behaviours... if so that can only be good in my book too. :)
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I know! I couldn't believe it.... a pile about 75 cm in diameter instead of EVERYWHERE! LOL! Flipping ace side effect, interesting that this is not just my observation, If Id have known this would happen I would have done it years ago! :D, Tempted to fix a pedometer to Ben and see just how much he moves over a week and then do the same with my friends conventionally kept horse.
 
Sadly mine don't use a stud pile all the time when on track. lol
I'd love pedometer readings and would love to compare stabled v tracked v field horses etc. Wonder if someone will do a study?

I also love your observations about your youngster, I believe movement is so very important for youngsters and foals development.
 
amandap said:
Sadly mine don't use a stud pile all the time when on track. lol
I'd love pedometer readings and would love to compare stabled v tracked v field horses etc. Wonder if someone will do a study?

I also love your observations about your youngster, I believe movement is so very important for youngsters and foals development.
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I can do that :) My friend is moving 2 youngsters to my stables for a few days that are going to be boxed 24/7 whilst she teaches them to be handled. I also have a friend where mine are at livery who restricts hers in a very small paddock, the owner of the yard allows full roam and mine are track grazed. I may set something up over the weekend. Would be really interesting to see the results I agree.

Mine make a number of piles, 2 up top long track 2 down! they have never been so tidy!
 
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