Bedford Joy
Well-Known Member
How much space in acres do you consider a good size for three 15.2 TB horses? Would 3 acres be enough?
How much paddock space per horse?
- Thread starter Bedford Joy
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Goldenstar
Well-Known Member
Ok if stabled part of the time in work and fed all year round if not good doers , but for 24/7 turnout I would want six acres but it depends on the type of land
swilliam
Well-Known Member
Not really enough if they're going to live out all the time, but could be managed with care, I think. Plenty if they're going to be in.
Polos Mum
Well-Known Member
Entirely dependent on the quality of the grazing and what additional forrage you're happy to give them. On lovely ancient pasture on chalk downs somewhere that drains nicely and grows good quality grass and you could build a winter turnout (with woodchip base) pen for several months of the year - possibly, with lots of hay probably all year round.
On heavy clay thats overgrazed already which they are given free rein over - it would be a mud pit in months.
Old fashioned guidlelines is 2 acres for the first horse then 1 for each additional one.
This terrible summer/ winter - I've just managed to keep 2 on 12 acres!!! and fed 250 bales of hay.
On heavy clay thats overgrazed already which they are given free rein over - it would be a mud pit in months.
Old fashioned guidlelines is 2 acres for the first horse then 1 for each additional one.
This terrible summer/ winter - I've just managed to keep 2 on 12 acres!!! and fed 250 bales of hay.
Toby_Zaphod
Well-Known Member
It used to be said that you should have 1.5 acres for the first horse & 1 acre for each horse after that. This, I believe, is for horses that are brought in at night. If you are wanting to keep them out 24/7 then I think you really need double that?
Pipkin
Well-Known Member
Depends on the land, I've had 4 on 3 acres, stabled at night during winter. Managed for 2 years, then moved to somewhere with 20 acres and still bloody hard
micramadam
Well-Known Member
Have no idea what rule they apply over here. Seems more like as many as possible as land is at a premium. Most are stabled most of the time with limited turn out 
We have been lucky with our yard. Turn out all year round, not 24/7 but near enough in the summer.
We have been lucky with our yard. Turn out all year round, not 24/7 but near enough in the summer.FairyLights
Well-Known Member
6 acres minimum
s4sugar
Well-Known Member
Depends if you expect the land to feed them or just for nibbles and leg stretching.
For the former it could be three to six acres depending on soil type. For the later an acre could be enough depending on shape.
For the former it could be three to six acres depending on soil type. For the later an acre could be enough depending on shape.
CazD
Well-Known Member
I keep a 15hh, 14.1hh, 13.3hh and a 12hh on 2.5 acres with no problems. They are out 24/7 in the summer. in the winter they are only stabled overnight when the weather is really bad and we have a hardstanding area to save the ground and feed hay on. Its hard work keeping the land in good shape - but it can be done.
Enfys
Well-Known Member
Perfectly adequate for turnout, or even out full time, but, depending on the horses, and the soil type, probably not enough to sustain them with the grazing alone, if you are prepared to feed forage when needed throughout the year, then yes it will do just fine.
Night-Mare
Member
For feeding up no not enough, for turnout yes with hay/haylege given in winter
I go with the 1.5acre for the first and an acre after that to which you hald an acre shy but that's for horses stabled partly as others have said.
I had 10 acres spread over three fields and with one I had an abundance of grass, even with my 5 acre paddock flooding every winter I just used the other two, but with two I found the grass struggled over winter in the back two paddocks, just goes to show the difference one horse can make.
I go with the 1.5acre for the first and an acre after that to which you hald an acre shy but that's for horses stabled partly as others have said.
I had 10 acres spread over three fields and with one I had an abundance of grass, even with my 5 acre paddock flooding every winter I just used the other two, but with two I found the grass struggled over winter in the back two paddocks, just goes to show the difference one horse can make.
L&M
Well-Known Member
We are lucky to have well draining and fertile paddocks. With these advantages, I find that each 1 acre paddock can support 1 horse, providing the horse is in during the day in the summer, and in overnight in the winter.
In the summer the 1 acre paddocks are divided into 2 with electric fencing and rested and rotated. In the winter the horse has access to the whole paddock to prevent it getting poached.
On poorer grazing I would want at least 1.5 - 2 acres per horse. As others have said there are many variables to consider, so hard to give a hard and fast rule.
In the summer the 1 acre paddocks are divided into 2 with electric fencing and rested and rotated. In the winter the horse has access to the whole paddock to prevent it getting poached.
On poorer grazing I would want at least 1.5 - 2 acres per horse. As others have said there are many variables to consider, so hard to give a hard and fast rule.
Most yards round here dont have even an acre per horse !
L&M
Well-Known Member
Another thing to consider is how quiet the horses are in the field - one of mine can trash 1 acre in matter of hours in deep winter, whereas the other you wouldn't know it had been turned out!
CazD
Well-Known Member
I only feed hay through the winter - summer time we have too much grass and have to mow and/or strip graze. They are all very good doers though.
Rose Folly
Well-Known Member
Have always gone on the old rule: 2.5 acres for the first horse and an acre per horse thereafter.
Merlin11
Well-Known Member
I have 3 on about 6 acres and need to feed hay for almost half the year. They are out 24/7 though. 3 acres would have to be managed carefully and you would need to feed a lot of hay.