Paddock track grazing on clay?

[pottamus]

Hi for those of you on clay that have a track system around your fields...how does it stand up in winter?
My OH is not happy about the idea but I wanted to give it a go this year when I move my lad onto a new field. It is a rectangle field surrounded by hedge and trees on both sides but is clay. The total field is about 1.5 acres and it will be for one horse.

 

[TTK]

I'm on heavy clay and let them have as much land as possible in winter to spread the wear. My neighbour has a track system and it is 2 foot deep of claggy mud and is revolting. I wouldn't do it, not on clay.

 

[Goldenstar]

I dont have a true track but a long thin strip going through two fields.
Its clay I don't use it in winter.

 

[touchstone]

My track isn't on particularly heavy ground, but I still find it ploughs up over winter if left in the same place. I solve it by gradually moving one side of the track in over time so that the remaining area in the middle is grazed. The beauty of it is its flexibility, I can move one side or all of them and just use part or all of the field so that it is rested and doesn't get ploughed up. I usually have the whole field in use by the end of winter, but you can adapt it to to whatever you want.

 

[AngieandBen]

Split the field up; half acre for spring/smmer, then do a track around this and strip graze it down. Leave the one to grow for winter. Even with just one horse on it it will churn up on clay