How to use fields on DIY livery

[webble]

I am in an area that is short of livery yards vs horse population and am very lucky that despite the weather this winter we have only kept in maybe 4 or 5 days since Christmas and that has been due to high winds or heavy rain where we just didnt want to turn out. We are on individual grazing and each horse has 2 paddocks each. I have just moved to different paddocks which are more suitable for me (closer to other horses and hedges to snack on) and am wondering how best to use them. I have a larger one that is 0.7 acre hedged on two sides with a few trees in a corner which means its reasonable dry, the gateway gets poached but doesnt go over the fetlock at its worst, the second field is 0.3 acre and a square paddock electric fenced on all sides

I am considering halving the large field and doing 2 weeks on each of the three areas like another livery has done, or using just my small field for a few months over summer then accepting the big one will get trashed over winter and putting hay out. Any helpful suggestions? Our grazing is fairly big and dry compared to other yards in the area so will be turning out most days even if only til 2pm

 

[dorsetladette]

I'd probably set it up similar to you so you had 3 paddocks to use on rotation.
Be aware you'll need the hedges for shade in summer and then for shelter in winter so it's likely the bigger of the two paddocks is going to be used a lot more than the other.

That is a small area for a decent sized horse, but it can be made to work with added hay etc.

 

[AmberThePony]

Is it just for one horse?
I would likely keep the driest part of the larger field fenced off for winter, use during early summer but rest over autumn to allow for good grass coverage.
Then alternate between the smaller paddock and the other half.
Only concern would be shade in smaller one during summer.
ETA- could give hay on the small one during spring and then strip graze larger one, moving two fences so part is always resting.

 

[webble]

Yes 1 horse 15 hands, will put hay out and the hedge and trees are well positioned. Not too worried about shade as he seems to like the heat (chose to stand in full sun when we had 40c the other year) and if it gets very hot I might bring in in the day and t/o at night