Managing turnout paddocks

Flibble

Flibble

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Cant you just feel a zillion posts coming on just so glad I won the Euro Lottery at least I can dictate this to my handsome bronzed Male Secretary
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Oops that red wine was stronger than I thought OK

Well fenced fields split into turnout paddocks of approx 1 acre something (missed the something) how to manage best for all year round T/O how often to poo pick etcera!!
 
I assume you have one 1 acre paddock all year round?

When I had this, I split the field into 3 with electric fencing. The bit furtherest from the gate (approximately half the field) was for summer grazing. This could also be split into 2 and rotated until all the grass was eaten down, then would graze the whole thing together.

The bit nearest to the gate was split in 2 and was slightly smaller than the summer paddock. I would graze one half for a month, then the other half for another month and then the whole of it together for about 3 months but would also hay it.

I moved hay and water around each of the paddocks so one area didnt get poached.

I would poo pick every day if possible, and on weekends the fields would be completely cleared. It doesnt take long as the paddocks are so small. If possible, would have the field rolled at the end of winter.

This was just enough to have all day turnout in winter (8am - 6pm) and 12-14 hrs of turnout in summer, but I did have to hay the fields for about 3-4 months in winter. It was fine for me though, my priority is turnout rather than grazing (although grass would be nice!).
 
Thanks I must admit my priority is the turnout in fresh air with other horses to talk to. I'll print off your plan and see how it compares.

Yes the paddocks are just over an acre any idea what this measures in square yards or metres I am not good at thinking in acreage.
 
1 acre = 4840 square yards

It really depends on how the field is laid out, i.e. a square or rectangle etc but the idea is that the winter bit should be the closest to the gate, so the summer bit gets fully rested and not trampled on in winter. The winter bit will get trashed, but if you try and move hay and water around it shouldnt be too bad. And of course you can get that bit rolled and it will be rested when you are on the summer bit again.

I think I had mine on the summer bit for about 7ish months and the winter bit 5ish months. There wasnt a single day that he didnt go out.
 
iv got 4 acres split in to 4 paddocks, and have 2 groups of 2 horses.....they each have a winter paddock at the top of the slope, so it drains well, and a summer paddock at the bottom,as it doesnt matter about drainage in summer.
i have a narrow walk way up the centre of the field so i am able to access all 4 paddocks without having to walk through any of the others.

they get poo picked every day and i move hay piles around to a different spot each day. i usually only have to hay during snow, but the prolonged cold has killed the grass off rather this year so if it doesnt pick up soon i will end up haying the winter paddocks march and april before they swap to the summer paddock May time.
 
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