Small paddock plans

[Bobthecob15]

We bought a house before Christmas with a small paddock, 0.9 of an acre but once we have put up a stable/small hay barn shed and associated structures it will work out around 0.75 acres. Our plans over the next year or so is to get the whole thing fenced as currently the old fencing has either gone or is falling down. Ideally our plan is to have our 12.2 pony on there who is currently elsewhere on livery once he's pretty much retired.. and get a small companion pony for him. He is a good doer, has actually put on weight the last few weeks with the grass coming through

Would this be enough grazing? We'd strip graze and would aim to have in at night and obviously lots of hay etc... he currently has 2 small paddocks he grazes in, his winter one is small, less than a quarter of an acre and his summer one is about half an acre. So he's used to small grazing areas. I should also add we are working on our neighbours to sell us a bit of their larger 3 acre paddock next door they don't use it for anything so I'm ever hopeful!

Land is not clay, it's not particularly boggy or anything and slightly sloping. Thanks ❤

 

[rabatsa]

As long as you are happy buying in forage then there should be no problems using your field for two small ponies.

 

[Abacus]

It may be ok but might be bare and a bit muddy in winter. I have a half acre paddock I sometimes use if a new one arrives or something needs to be easy access. It definitely gets muddy after just a few days of wet weather as they trample over the same bits constantly.

Would you consider making a turnout area in some of it for the worst weather?

Maybe the neighbours would rent you a bit if they don’t want to sell?

 

[Bobthecob15]

Would you consider making a turnout area in some of it for the worst weather?

Maybe the neighbours would rent you a bit if they don’t want to sell?

Yes that's a good idea.

Sadly no because their field isn't fenced either! It's basically a big paddock backing onto their garden/workshop with a footpath down one side of it.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

If it’s for good doers put a track around the edge. My summer paddock (clay) is an acre and I keep a 14.1 and 15hh on it from April until the end of October. The middle grows enough to give them a small strip each night and they have a slice of hay as well. Neither of them looked thin.

 

[cauda equina]

It sounds plenty big enough for 2 smalls but you might have to see it as turnout rather than grazing

 

[Bobthecob15]

Thanks guys that was my thinking x

 

[Jellymoon]

Yes, def big enough, with hay. What might make life easier thought would be a fenced area in front of your stables they can use in the winter incase the field gets really muddy. You could use mud mats or concrete it, or tarmac planings etc

 

[Bobthecob15]

Yes, def big enough, with hay. What might make life easier thought would be a fenced area in front of your stables they can use in the winter incase the field gets really muddy. You could use mud mats or concrete it, or tarmac planings etc

Thanks we were thinking mud mats etc too.

 

[Highmileagecob]

If you ride out on the 12.2 pony, you may find you need two companion ponies. Would it be worth considering offering a livery to a similar sized pony, thereby providing a companion to ride with, shared costs, and an extra pair of hands, just in case?

 

[Bobthecob15]

If you ride out on the 12.2 pony, you may find you need two companion ponies. Would it be worth considering offering a livery to a similar sized pony, thereby providing a companion to ride with, shared costs, and an extra pair of hands, just in case?

Yes I had considered that but I think it will be for his retirement mainly x