paddock paradise on clay

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snowstormII

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Is it possible for paddock paradise to work on wet British clay? I have 2 horses on 2 acres and we are very wet here. I am liking the theory of PP but I don't want to condemn my horses to living on a track of ankle deep mud!! Likewise I don't have limitless funds to improve the field drainage. Is it an idea I should admire from afar?
 
It might depend on how much time you are willing to give it. I don't have clay, but do have very wet ground when it rains - literally water flowing down the field - but it dries once the rain has gone. I just have a basic track which gets moved slightly, or widened or narrowed, according to the weather conditions. So far I still have them on a track but may open up the whole field if it gets too bad, just trying to preserve my central grazing as long as I can so they have grass for a couple more months. I have 2, unshod, on 1.5 acres on a hill in Scotland.
I do have a couple of drier areas under the big trees, and for winter this is where their main feeder sits as it doesn't poach at all. Other haynets will be tied around the field, and water is the opposite side.
It is more work than just chucking them out in a field, but they really love it and are a lot happier, healthier and move so much more. Yesterday my girlie galloped halfway round the field just to get a drink, then trit-trotted back up in her own time :-D
 
I'm not on clay but have lots of springs coming up through the ground. I've recently just allowed them into the proper field, but more out of my laziness than anything else. So mine are on track mid april - mid nov. I've added stone to the worst bits and its a work in progress so hopefully in a few years it will be perfect.

For the summer months the horses were trim and relatively fit from all the moving. They looked years younger with their slim trim physique. Its the best thing I ever did. Agree with Dollyanna, it is more work, but the visible difference in the horses is amazing.
 
I'm on clay and a hill (2 acres) and had a track for the first time this summer. Didn't think this would work in winter knowing my field so have split the top section off where the field shelter is. Horse is in bottom section by day, its been rested all summer so very well covered and no mud. He comes 'in' to the top section at night for feed and hay unless it's hammering down raining in which case I leave the gate open so he can use the shelter. Companion pony does same (with muzzle) or stays in his small paddock at top. Top section looking a bit churned up in places but at least each end of the field is uninhabited for half the day. A track would be fetlock deep on mud by now!
 
Admire it from afar. If you're on clay like mine you'll have trenches within days! Roll on the 'slightly drier' season!

ETS if you're not on heavy clay yourself, it's really difficult to understand how horrible the land can get. Parts of my land are so bad I've almost got a tractor stuck in it!
 
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In a word, no!

I'm on heavy clay, and have a track system set up around the perimeter of the field. However it's only in use from spring until autumn. Currently it resembles a clayey-poached ice rink and that's from them being on it just a couple of times since it got wet. Mine recovers over winter and serves its purpose over the drier months, but would never work all year round.

I think even with a huge amount of money thrown at it to create surfaces, it wouldn't last - everything sinks!
 
I was on a yard with a track last winter - on heavy clay. It was knee deep in thick, sticky mud as soon as the weather turned, and then froze solid - absolutely lethal!
 
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