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[Hormonal Filly]

Having recently moved yards, my mare went into a 3 acre field (been grazed all winter) with 2 others but they had strange routines and it wasn't working out.

The YO has said to move next door, into 4 acre rested summer field with 8 mares. The grass is really rich, previous dairy farm. 4 of us have made paddocks within it due to 3 of them having lami previously.

My mare is a really good doer so being in a small paddock is a good idea for now, only about 0.2 acres it feels small. Especially because shes recovering from a joint operation which she recently made blow up from getting stressed. I'm able to extend the paddock out into the field, to make it about half a acre total.

Is that a big enough space for summer? I do like the idea of her out with friends, equally don't want her to get fat/lami. Shes an ideal weight at the moment due to a long box rest stint. I could let her out into the herd once the grass has been eaten down, but then I'm unable to give hay in the field if we have another desert summer although I do usually bring in during the day.

Thoughts appreciated.

 

[fankino04]

Could you suggest to the other liveries that instead of individual paddocks you do a track system so they are on limited grazing still but with more space to move and still get to have company?

 

[MuddyMonster]

This is what I do with mine.

The YO let's us with fatties/metabolic horses section off individual bits of the field for individual horses.

Mine usually ends up dividing his time between main field when the grass is eaten down, individual pen & stabled but it is weather dependent. Last year he did a fair bit of almost 24/7 turn out with the herd but he's on individual turn out at the moment as the grass is growing like crazy.

For me, it's not 100% what I'd want in an ideal world but it's an OK compromise for Spring/Summer as he always company next to him, even if he's separated.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Could you suggest to the other liveries that instead of individual paddocks you do a track system so they are on limited grazing still but with more space to move and still get to have company?

In a ideal world it would be great, but he has his own 2 oldies and a youngster he wants on the grass.

Thanks @MuddyMonster, the grass is just so rich at the moment!

 

[Peglo]

Could you make the track around the outside of the field and leave the middle for YO’s horses with the grass?

I had mine on a long track idea last summer. I then needed to take them off the winter field to let it rest for a month or 2 so put them in the summer paddock. It’s a small square field and Tali put on weight quite quickly just because of the lack of movement. She probably had more grass in the track area but much more room to gallop and move and it definitely encouraged them to move.
Although annoying she put on weight it was such a good learning opportunity and now have plans in place for this summer.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Could you make the track around the outside of the field and leave the middle for YO’s horses with the grass?

Unfortunately not an option, YO wants his 2 oldies on the grass as well as another livery.