Paddock Paradise Track

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KatieLovesJames

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Does anybody have any experience of the Paddock Paradise Track system or similar? I thought it would be a great idea for fatties/laminitics to keep them naturally moving through interesting/varied terrain as I am not a fan of keeping horses in small square paddocks with no stimuli, although PPT seems to be promoted only for barefoot horses.
Your thoughts please....
 
I think its a good idea, certainly in theory. I think you could do it in a normal field with rubble and different stimuli.

It is promoted for barefoot horses you're right, but I would thnk it is also ideal for fatties and laminitics too. My concern about them is to always make sure the track is wide enough and the corners shallow enough for them to be able to escape should a field mate pick a fight with them :)
 
yup - used it with mine a few times when grass was too much in her field

works a treat - fitter healthier horse at the end - mine was for fat horse rather than for barefoot natural trimming - although she was barefoot at the time but i didn't put hardcore down etc

btw - when i told peeps who enquired about my 'track' and i called it "paddock paradise system" and explained its basics from a barefoot perspective people's eyes glazed over and the wrote it off as a hippy fad.....

when i called it a "fatty track" and said i'd rather my horse walking than stood in a tiny patch they all thought it sounded a fab idea ;)
 
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Yes thanks had thought about it being about 6metres wide with shallow loops.
I have about 30 acres to run it round including a woodland a couple of ponds lots of hedges and den areas etc
Haha ok fatty track it is :-) I don't have any barefooters so was a little concerned about peoples reactions.
Thanks!
 
KatieLovesJames said:
Haha ok fatty track it is :-) I don't have any barefooters so was a little concerned about peoples reactions.
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yes - its amazing how different ways of describing it makes people respond in entirely different ways ;)
i'd still use it with her now fully shod if i needed to = i think its a far better management option than a tiny little paddock that restricts movement to almost nothing - which is fighting a loosing battle imho
 
Yes, I just think its so unatural for them. Mine currently live in 10 acre or 4 acre fields with ponds and trees in each one to try and let them be horses but I have realised it would be better to run them round the track not just for them but also because it would stil enable me to rest and cut haylage off the middles! Guess we will have to try and see, the thought of putting in all those posts though ....
 
My mules get fat just looking at grass and I don't wish to revert to any of the other options I've seen (Muzzles,stabling,tiny paddocks etc)they have the freedom to wander round the field edge(certainly don't drive them round it)and are quite happy fit and healthy.The goats graze in the middle and get peace :)
 
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Reading this just gave me a light bulb moment, so thank you! My shetty was on the edge of a lami attack last thurs. Got him shut in, soaking hay etc etc, the heat in his feet has gone as have the digital pulses. Have a grazed off patch for him to go out on, but reading this made me remember what I've seen of track systems and I think it might help him if I do a little track system for him on his turnout area.
He'll be able to get to his shelter etc but will sadly be on his own, so a track system might just encourage him to move more instead of standing around sulking.

Sorry to hijack your thread, :o what do you think?? :)
 
I have one that runs around a large pond; it has very high banks and provides lots of shelter and shade. Its about 8 ft wide.

They are great if you can provide different surfaces, but mine is just grass and not usable in the winter as its on clay soil :(
 
Tennessee said:
Reading this just gave me a light bulb moment, so thank you! My shetty was on the edge of a lami attack last thurs. Got him shut in, soaking hay etc etc, the heat in his feet has gone as have the digital pulses. Have a grazed off patch for him to go out on, but reading this made me remember what I've seen of track systems and I think it might help him if I do a little track system for him on his turnout area.
He'll be able to get to his shelter etc but will sadly be on his own, so a track system might just encourage him to move more instead of standing around sulking.

Sorry to hijack your thread, :o what do you think?? :)
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Great idea.:D
 
Tennessee said:
Reading this just gave me a light bulb moment, so thank you! My shetty was on the edge of a lami attack last thurs. Got him shut in, soaking hay etc etc, the heat in his feet has gone as have the digital pulses. Have a grazed off patch for him to go out on, but reading this made me remember what I've seen of track systems and I think it might help him if I do a little track system for him on his turnout area.
He'll be able to get to his shelter etc but will sadly be on his own, so a track system might just encourage him to move more instead of standing around sulking.

Sorry to hijack your thread, :o what do you think?? :)
Click to expand...

Yes agree, fab idea!
Thanks for all the links guys.
My lot aren't barefoot though and the track system seems to be being talked about mostly by barefoot peeps. Its actually for a livery yard so a real mixture!
 
My friend and I have talked about doing this with our four acre field but don't know if it would work with this size. Our theory was to electric fence it off all the way round and have the fattie on the track and the oldie has all the middle. We're not going to do it until the spring and the ground is dryer.

I think it would be much better than strip grazing ie he'd get more exercise but any thoughts much appreciated! Xx
 
Completely agree that it is better than strip grazing, your fatty will definitely move about more than being confined to a tiny boring area, lots more fencing to put up though!
 
Had one round a five acre field - it was great. One of the things that made it work was that each side of the track had something different to offer the horses; shelter, cows to look at; a road with street lighting (they liked to camp under the lights at night); a big hedge to nibble at. It was also on the side of the hill and they loved galloping up the steep side.

Don't make the track too wide or the horses just treat it like a paddock and stop moving so much.
 
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