Is it worth making a mini track?

[Not_so_brave_anymore]

Situation: pony came down with laminitis on a small (1/3 acre) bareish paddock. They now have an L shape strip/track of actual bare mud (which was the mega trashed bit along the fence lines from the winter). Probs 55-60m in total.

The issue is they don't really move along this strip much at all. Water in one corner, shelter down the far end, and I usually scatter the hay as thinly as I can all around the strip in order to best mimic grazing. But they basically walk very slowly all the way down once and then very slowly back up again, hoovering all the hay, and then stand dozing for the rest of the day ?

Would it be worth extending this into a circular track? Does a full loop really keeping them moving forwards? My worries are a) because it's a long thin paddock, a track all the way around the edge wouldn't be much less area than the amount they had when she got laminitis, b) cost of buying another 50m worth of electric posts/tape, c) ponies are not as thin as I'd like, but they're fully sound just now, and I'm terrified that the extra grass would negate the extra movement and I'd actually trigger another bout of laminitis ?

Someone please just tell me what to do?!!

 

[ponynutz]

Don't take my advice to heart, I don't have too much experience but seeing as nobody has answered yet I thought I'd share my two-pence.

When we want to keep ours moving around in the winter when they're in the sand paddock as opposed to the field, we do similar to you, spreading the hay out, but fill haynets. So there'll be maybe eight smaller haynets rather than four big ones, and we feed twice a day - so four in the morning and four in the afternoon - and spread them around the paddock (tied to the fence). Keeps them moving and stops the hay from getting hoovered up.

Possibly not super helpful because obviously with haynets there's some standing around, but perhaps better than nothing especially if you can't constantly be replenishing the hay?

 

[awelshandawarmblood]

I had an L shape and then made it into a full hoop - its only about 2/3 of an acre I'd say & we have x2 15hh horses on it & they move loads more! They love a good hooley around the edge like the wall of death too! Both are laminitis prone but can stay out 24/7 on this as the grass is kept so short. As long as you keep the track wide enough for both of them to get away from each other & thin enough they cant 'camp out' getting fat, it'll be fine. Ours have a shelter with a bald patch outside so thats their larger area for chilling/lying down. We only track it in the spring/summer - we gradually reduce the loop to get the grown on bits grazed off for winter once the autumn flush is gone, they then have trickle nets in the shelter as they live out 24/7. Good luck!

 

[ester]

Always yes! I've had a 3 acre track and a tiny track in a small paddock for one.

 

[Floofball]

Yes, I found my lad moved more and I used the middle foggage in winter. I always strip grazed onto the track, so you can still control their intake whilst increasing their area - good luck with them ??

 

[windand rain]

We have a circular track blocked at the water end so to get a drink the have to come around the full circle to get food they have to go full circle the other way. The laminitic gallops round from the grass end to the water end full tilt when his tiny feed appears. If he is already near the water he has to gallop round the other way. With this system he can eat grass has no hay and has not had laminitiss snce it was introduced some 5 years ago. I am being very careful getting them onto it this year as the contractor was late coming to fertilize and weedkill it all so it is being stripped grazed to get them onto it. they are both veterans and both natives

 

[Casey76]

Yes, I put a perimeter track on a 1/3 acre field for 2 horses and they were constantly moving around looking for grass to eat.

 

[meleeka]

I am being very careful getting them onto it this year as the contractor was late coming to fertilize and weedkill it all so it is being stripped grazed to get them onto it. they are both veterans and both natives

Doesn’t fertiliser just make the grass richer? I’m genuinely curious as I’ve spent years trying to get my grass to be poor enough for the fatties and just assumed good grass = higher risk of laminitis.

 

[windand rain]

Our land is almost sea sand so needs fertiliser to grow at all and we need a good 2 inches of cover to reduce the risk of sand colic. The idea is to keep the grass long enough not to disappear but not too long or rich for the ponies. We poo pick daily as the track is round less than an acre and that also robs the land of nutrients. We don't feed hay as grass is 90% water hay is 90% nutrient so in theory they get a lot less food by eating grass. This is the first time we have had to strip graze onto it as usually it is very short after winter so its a bit of a balancing act. I wouldn't fertilise if the land would naturally support growth or on rich or clay soil. Fingers crossed it works in spite of the late start Ponies were winter thin to start so have a bit of lea way to start with. I dont feed hay much in winter either they live out 24/7 on foggage strip grazed at about a meter square per pony per 24 hours they drop summer weight and are very slim going into spring and summer. They are both pretty much retired although the old girl still hacks out a couple of times a week including enjoying a good gallop. The laminitic one starts spring with visible ribs and by start of winter is covered. I tape measure his center neck circumference weekly and from historical records know if his measurement exceeds 85cm he is fat enough and cannot afford to gain anymore or he risks a relapse. If this happens his grass is further restricted and his oat chaff feeds are upped
As I said it is a very fine balancing act

 

[SEL]

I track for 3 around 1.5 acres. It was opened up slowly in spring because the field floods and the grass after our warm wet winter was ridiculous. One wears a muzzle until it is eaten down.

I do think it helps. Their soaked hay is put at the furthest end so they at least have to walk up there to get it. If i move the fence then I move it at that end too.

 

[Not_so_brave_anymore]

OK, that's pretty unanimous! I'll give it a go.... ????

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I would put your hay out in piles spread around the track so that they actually have to move between the piles to eat.

 

[Antw23uk]

I've a single slither up the side at the moment but once we've cut for hay (pray for sun and dry everyone please) Im going to put it to an L shape to get to the shelter and then try and strip graze a track round the rest into a loop. I think you are definitely doing the right thing.

 

[J&S]

I make my acreage into a big U then they have to keep going/coming back to find a bite.

 

[Pippin and Poppy]

Another yes for a track!
We have one for the Spring and Summer. Its a circuit around their Winter grazing and they have to come off it and up to the yard for shelter and water, so even that makes them move more than just being in a paddock. When I call them, they have to go around rather than straight across and that tends to make them come faster!

 

[GoldenWillow]

Whilst I agree that a round track would help movement if making it increases the area of grazing too much I'd be very cautious, especially as what you are currently doing is working. I also have a long thin paddock and to track all the way around it would give them far you much grazing even with a narrower than ideal track. What I have is a small paddock either end connected by a track with shelter, water and hay in different parts. Whilst they don't move as much as on a citprcular track I think it's the best I can do. If there is too much grass or they're getting fatter I shut off or make smaller one end paddock.

 

[Not_so_brave_anymore]

Track plans on hold- I trialled not soaking the hay for 2 days, and we've got raised pulses this evening. So I'm sticking with bare earth and soaked hay for the time being, with as much walking in hand as possible. Sigh.

 

[windand rain]

Oh dear sorry to hear that. maybe it needs a big weight drop and if cushings medication before trying again