TPO
Well-Known Member
I've got 3 on just over 5 acres. The "big" fieldnis approx 3 acres and the rest is sectioned into 3 paddocks and a paddock that surrounds the shed and leads to big field in one direction and 3 paddocks in the other.
It has been a nightmare to manage! Previous owner sowed it with clover and the drainage (old clay drains) have been blocked so lakes form very easily.
My dad has spent almost 2yrs finding and unblocking/repairing drains and laying new ones.
This year the "big" field is being ploughed and reseeded. So they'll be spending a long time on the other 3 paddocks with hay.
We've tried a track system, and it didn't work. They stood at the hay stations and wouldn't eat the foggage/standing hay.
This year they've been in the big field since Nov and been hayed from about 4wks in. Field is completely trashed and they'll be staying in it s long as possible, until seeding time, to give the paddocks a chance to grow.
They come in at night in winter and are generally in a few hours during the day in warmer months out of the flies.
I've got around 2k of mud slabs which have helped immensely but don't go nearly far enough.
Mine are all barefoot too, not that it appears to have saved the ground any!
It blows my mind people managing horses on really small acreages.
We now try to use the equicentral system so more rotating of grazing areas and periods to rest it. Poo picking all summer too and usually Harrow when appropriate too.
It has been a nightmare to manage! Previous owner sowed it with clover and the drainage (old clay drains) have been blocked so lakes form very easily.
My dad has spent almost 2yrs finding and unblocking/repairing drains and laying new ones.
This year the "big" field is being ploughed and reseeded. So they'll be spending a long time on the other 3 paddocks with hay.
We've tried a track system, and it didn't work. They stood at the hay stations and wouldn't eat the foggage/standing hay.
This year they've been in the big field since Nov and been hayed from about 4wks in. Field is completely trashed and they'll be staying in it s long as possible, until seeding time, to give the paddocks a chance to grow.
They come in at night in winter and are generally in a few hours during the day in warmer months out of the flies.
I've got around 2k of mud slabs which have helped immensely but don't go nearly far enough.
Mine are all barefoot too, not that it appears to have saved the ground any!
It blows my mind people managing horses on really small acreages.
We now try to use the equicentral system so more rotating of grazing areas and periods to rest it. Poo picking all summer too and usually Harrow when appropriate too.
