Track grazing systems?

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poiuytrewq

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I'm considering trying out a track round my field this summer rather than my usual strip grazing.
I have approx 3 acres which has good natural shelter all round (time of day dependant)
2 little ponies and a horse all of whom need really quite strict limited grazing in summer. I thought this way may save them the boredom of a small square patch, give them definite accessible shelter at all times of day and maybe save the constant work of moving fencing and lugging water across to the part of the field they are grazing.
I'm thinking it's probably going to be fairly costly to start up so don't want to jump straight in before knowing it is best!
How wide would I make the track? Would it be best perhaps split into two, then tracked around each half?
I then figured out two ridden horses could graze the middle area and if one was ridden the other would be able to be close to the others wherever they happen to be.
Anyone else graze like this and have any tips or info I should take into account?
Thanks
 
My summer field is about an acre and a bit.
I do a track with electric fencing (just 1 strand on short polyposts so not too expensive), about 5 strides wide and a bit more on the corners; there are 3 in there and I don't want anyone getting trapped in a narrow bit.
They stay on that until the grass on the track is eaten off and the middle is stalky and scraggy, then I move the fence in a bit at a time as in strip grazing.
 
Our field was much the same size, with 2 on, a 14.2 and a 15 hander, we erred on making the track a sensible width to start and wide corners because they aren't always best buds.
When we set it up the first year they had one side first and we slowly stripped all the way round, following year we set it up a bit earlier/had more used ground/pony was in work and not so fat so they had some more.

Our grass grows super quick (I discovered on moving to wiltshire where it didn't quite how quick!) so the track was plenty moving the fence in and out to give extra when required, we would leave them on that, make hay off the middle and then in winter they had the foggage in the middle.

In wiltshire with slower grass growth I am not sure hay off the middle would work.

This was the first strip

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This was a wider bit as winter grazed
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this was later in the summer, it was a wet one, but also how much growth there is post hay cutting in the middle which will protect the ground in winter as low lying and wet clay.

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This is the 'wider' bit after hay cutting- we left it wide until that point as have no school so ride in the field- you can see it has been narrowed.

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Because we didn't want to put any more permanent posts in we used hotline metal corner posts x4 to strain it and they have worked well but you really need to get the into the ground before it gets too hard!

This is the squirt on his own personal mini track in wilts, it looks wider than it was probs 1/2 - 3/4 acre paddock. Once that grass was gone there though there was little regrowth once we hit actual summer as little soil depth and once dry not a lot going on.
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Go for it!I put a track around the edge of a smaller field than yours every spring which stays up until the ground gets wet and slippery(it has a slope to it). I make it about 10 feet wide but bigger at the corners which is usually where the hay goes on the floor. One mare is a bully so I don't like the track to be too narrow. When the fence comes down I strip graze the middle. I use temporary electric fencing on a mains fencer but they do get out occasionally.I poo pick every day which is easy because there is very little grass.My land is rented so don't want the expense of permanent fencing.It is quite useful having a dominant mare as she keeps the other 2 moving most of the time.Great system.You can make a figure of eight track or 2 tracks inside one another if you have enough fencing.
 
I have a track on two acres for two natives and a mini. I start it in spring when the mud has gone and strip graze the middle when the weather starts to cool down. It's amazing the amount of weight they lose over those summer months solely down to the track. They still have plenty of hay. I use plastic posts with two strands of electric and have a figure 8 with the stables in the middle which they use a lot to sleep in. The narrowest bit is roughly 8ft.
 
Mm, sounds good.
There is a house just down the road who do it which is what made me think.
In fact I'd wondered about knocking on their door and asking them about it! (Is that ok?!)
The hotline corner posts are a good idea. I'll have a look at those.
I can use plastic posts but can't get away with one strip of wire unfortunately as I have a little Shetland who is a limbo pro and a 16.2 who hops over 😫
Then a little Welsh who watches jealously ;)
 
Absolutely knock and ask if you can chat about it, I'm pretty sure they would chat your ears off about it and be pleased as punch you asked (I know I would but I chat to everyone!) I was thinking about it but worried I didnt have enough land. I currently have three paddocks post and rail on just shy of 3 acres but if you guys have done it then I'm going to go for it as well. I might downsize to 2 large paddocks rather than two small, one big as that would be easier to take hay off them I guess?

How exciting talking about spring and summer ... bring it on :)
 
We made a figure of eight track around our 3 acre field last summer so we had two big middle circles that were ungrazed. We rounded all the corners so no-one could get trapped and left a few bigger lounging areas for group snoozing. We hayed them all through the summer. The horses were fitter and slimmer than I have ever had them despite not being in hard work. Our trackers said they were doing about 20km a day round the track and to watch them they were moving much more purposefully than when in a square strip grazed field. They did a lot of running round it too! I loved having the track and will definitely do it again this year.
 
I'm going to go for it this year with 2 on 2 acres of clay soil (also in Wiltshire, Ester!). The 2 acres are 2 long thin paddocks in line, divided by a bridge over a stream. I mean really long and thin - 20-25m at their widest, but probably 300m long, so just by putting a single strand straight down the middle I have a long wide track. I'll actually put in two big long ovals though, one in each paddowk, to make a fig of 8 with the bridge in the middle. At the house end is an all weather turnout, and the stable yard with 2 stables I keep open. We are begging hardcore and gradually laying a track out across one side of the first paddock, so that come next winter they can run up and down on that to the bridge end, where it tends to stay dry.

We have been in this property for 2 years and totally renovated the house, re - roofed the stables, and put in a load of raised beds- this year it's polytunnel, fencing, and finally getting a grazing track up and running. Sometimes I think I'm too old for this game!
 
Landcruiser said:
I'm going to go for it this year with 2 on 2 acres of clay soil (also in Wiltshire, Ester!). The 2 acres are 2 long thin paddocks in line, divided by a bridge over a stream. I mean really long and thin - 20-25m at their widest, but probably 300m long, so just by putting a single strand straight down the middle I have a long wide track. I'll actually put in two big long ovals though, one in each paddowk, to make a fig of 8 with the bridge in the middle. At the house end is an all weather turnout, and the stable yard with 2 stables I keep open. We are begging hardcore and gradually laying a track out across one side of the first paddock, so that come next winter they can run up and down on that to the bridge end, where it tends to stay dry.

We have been in this property for 2 years and totally renovated the house, re - roofed the stables, and put in a load of raised beds- this year it's polytunnel, fencing, and finally getting a grazing track up and running. Sometimes I think I'm too old for this game!
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We are putting our polytunnel and raised beds in at the moment :)
 
I'd love to do this, but our smaller field is 5 hilly acres that we split down the middle in summer with tape. Only way would then be to put a big circle in the middle of that to make them walk around. I think it would take a lot of fencing though!
 
I was thinking of trying a track system, but looking at this I think my track would be so narrow it wouldn't be safe, in order to limit the grass enough for her to keep trim.
I may experiment, starting off with a strip as usual and then just extending one side to make a track....but I suspect she may still end up with either too much grass or too narrow a track.
 
Oh I wish more livery yards would adhere to this kind of system. I loved it and moved to a particular yard as the yard i was on at the time 'restricted their turnout' in Winter (advertised as AYT everyday)...it became soooo restricted it was just NOT fair on my horse to endure so many hours in a stable. This place was a fair few miles away from me because the track system was in place, but the health of my horse was/is paramount and so i voted with my feet and moved him asap.

The above posters show that it's possible to do this system, even if you've only got a small amount of acreage...and honestly, it's so much more beneficial to their health and well being overall (and their feet!)....well that's my personal opinion, as i guess some will disagree. However, until you've tried this turnout regime,..well,..what can i say,... give it a go,..i think you'll kinda like it...and so will the horses i bet too!

Unfortunately for me and my horse, we had to leave the yard as it became clear to me that the establishment wasn't running to my liking (but that's another story!).

I do miss the track system and like i've said,...i really wish other yards would read up on this system and use it, especially when they've got the acreage to make a big track and utilize the land in a much better and proactive way for everyone,..horses and humans!
 
little_critter said:
I was thinking of trying a track system, but looking at this I think my track would be so narrow it wouldn't be safe, in order to limit the grass enough for her to keep trim.
I may experiment, starting off with a strip as usual and then just extending one side to make a track....but I suspect she may still end up with either too much grass or too narrow a track.
Click to expand...

have you only one? The width used really is just to give enough escape room for any arguments. As I said the first year we did it we put the track up and then stripped round it for a couple of months before it became a big loop. There may be extra grass from normal strip grazing but there is extra movement too - our field is out the back of the house it was fascinating to see.

Jano too many YOs also keen on paddocks looking nice over being functional for horses IME too, a track round the edge doesn't appeal to some. The yard I was at didn't usually even allow strip grazing, everything was muzzled. I said I wasn't muzzling if he was on his own (I didn't mind if it meant he had company) and got on well with the YO and given that he then had to have time off shortly after I was very pleased I had set it up. I don't imagine it will be allowed again, YO hubby couldn't wait to go and top the middle I am sure!

Ps I won't lie they are a nightmare to set up on day one!
 
It is quite exciting doing spring talk yes :)
I'm a bit concerned mine will still get too much grass unless it's too narrow. Two of them currently share a stable and they have shared with the third also in the past (not all 3 at once) so hope I won't really have to worry about scrapping.
It will also be so much easier for me as these 3 can have dry hay together so it's hassle free. The field isn't at home and I admit I've not even seen it since moving them out before Christmas! Might have a wander down and step it out to get a rough idea on fencing needed
 
I have a 3 acre field and use a track system during the dry months. I suppose their is an initial outlay for fencing if you don't already have some, but I didn't find it to expensive.

I try and keep them off the perimeter as much as possible during Winter so that it doesn't get poached.

I actually find that in Spring using the whole track is too much grazing for my welshies so I tend to use an L-shape along 2 sides until they've eaten it down a bit.

I have the water trough in one corner of the field and the field shelter is directly opposite so that tends to ensure that they use the entire track.

It works really well and keeps them fit and well muscled on their hindquarters (my field is also on a slope which helps). Also helps keep weight down. :)
 
ester said:
have you only one? The width used really is just to give enough escape room for any arguments. As I said the first year we did it we put the track up and then stripped round it for a couple of months before it became a big loop. There may be extra grass from normal strip grazing but there is extra movement too - our field is out the back of the house it was fascinating to see.

Jano too many YOs also keen on paddocks looking nice over being functional for horses IME too, a track round the edge doesn't appeal to some. The yard I was at didn't usually even allow strip grazing, everything was muzzled. I said I wasn't muzzling if he was on his own (I didn't mind if it meant he had company) and got on well with the YO and given that he then had to have time off shortly after I was very pleased I had set it up. I don't imagine it will be allowed again, YO hubby couldn't wait to go and top the middle I am sure!

Ps I won't lie they are a nightmare to set up on day one!
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Yes - just the one, but I want to give her enough space to be able to turn around!
Well - I can but try.
 
I track my 2.5acre field in the summer, from about April til November when they move to winter grazing. Last year for the first time I tracked the entire field from the beginning in concentric circles, with the openings into the next circle at different points of the track so they have to walk around to get in or out. Water and shade are on the outside track at opposite sides. Hay when needed was scattered in the middle or tied to the outside in small nets. They have amazing graze feeders that get chucked in to the second ring and roll down the field - so if it goes under a fence they have to trot round to get to the next track to get back to playing!
It works really well, needed hardly any supplemental feeding this year, just when it was really dry for a couple of weeks, and they stay fit and muscled up. They definitely move a lot more than when it was just a square field - one in particular loves galloping round and round which he can do because he never hits an edge - in a square field he tended to just run across the field.
My tracks can be quite narrow, only 5-6ft in places, but corners are always wide and rounded - don't make sharp corners. The very centre is a grazing area, like a tiny paddock. The joy of this system is that if the grass does go mad or bits needs resting then I can just clip the fence across the relevant gateway for a while.
The joy of tracks using a whole field is that the fence doesn't need to be substantial - you are not restricting them from anything, so they don't tend to challenge the fencing. Littlies would need a strand at their height, but they just keep moving rather than trying to go through the fence - there is no need, it is all theirs anyway.
 
I have 3 acres and 3 Welsh cob mares that do not get on! They all have tracks suited to their requirements and have meeting points where they can touch and mutually groom over the electric fence or argue as they did this morning! My laminitic has a shorter bare track but still enough space to gallop! They all live out 24/7 and hay and water are at opposite ends of each track to keep them moving. My 19 year old keeps herself fit on this system and can be hacked out occasionally without struggling! All it took was a lot of electric fence posts and tape. It also allows me to rest several sections of the land in the winter.
 
I have five acres and used to use this system, far easier and more effective than strip gazing or tiny paddocks, and I aslo then had the centre for them to graze on later in the year. Part of the success is down to the effect the constant walking has, eg having to walk to reach water to drink
 
i am very tempted to set this up in the spring. I have 4 on about 8 acres. It is horribly wet clay by river in the winter, but pretty dry in the summer. I have pretty poor quality grass which helps keep their weight down, but by autumn this year they were a bit too close to fat! I couldn't exercise them as heavily pregnant and this summer I wont have much time. They do cover some ground but track system sounds worth the initial set up. although concerned I would need a high voltage battery or they will just decide to get into the saved winter middle!
 
Mmmmm, I've been wondering how I could make this work with my set-up; I'm on mains electric fencing which means that I wouldn't be able (obviously) to move the fencer/energiser around, it would all need to be fixed in to the mains outlet point, I've tried to get my head around it, but TBH can't think of anything better than the system I'm using already where I've got 10 acres divvied up into portions, and move everyone around in rotation.
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
Mmmmm, I've been wondering how I could make this work with my set-up; I'm on mains electric fencing which means that I wouldn't be able (obviously) to move the fencer/energiser around, it would all need to be fixed in to the mains outlet point, I've tried to get my head around it, but TBH can't think of anything better than the system I'm using already where I've got 10 acres divvied up into portions, and move everyone around in rotation.
Click to expand...
Do you mean to get the electric to the inner fence?
Could you dig a little divit and pass a link under the ground in some pipe?
 
I have a track system on our 3.5 acres with an additional two cut through tracks going through the middle. The rest is divided into 6 grazing paddocks which they go into for a certain length of time per day. There is a mixture of dirt tracks, rocky areas and pea gravel on the track as well as a couple of larger areas for them to loaf around. The tracks are around 3m wide and all corners are rounded off. During storms I close off the bottom part of the track for a few days so as it doesn't get too trashed and muddy. The walk in shelter is in a different area to water and feeding stations. Personally I think it works well and is far more interesting environment for them compared to plain paddocks. Go for it. :)
 
I have a track around a 3.5-4 acre field. I set it up as soon as the ground has been harrowed and rolled, this year it is drier so I will get away with setting it up mid-march I hope. It stays up from then until it gets too wet - usually mid-late October. I allow access to half the remaining grass, then the other half around 6 weeks later. If I try to strip graze it when the ground gets wet they get very little grass and it ends up as mulch.

It works really well for my two horses, I feed barley straw as soon as the track goes up, then hay on top. They dont get loads of grass over summer as it is pretty well grazed but luckily I have hedgerows round 3 of the 4 sides of my field so they do get a decent amount of variety and tonnes of shelter.
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
Mmmmm, I've been wondering how I could make this work with my set-up; I'm on mains electric fencing which means that I wouldn't be able (obviously) to move the fencer/energiser around, it would all need to be fixed in to the mains outlet point, I've tried to get my head around it, but TBH can't think of anything better than the system I'm using already where I've got 10 acres divvied up into portions, and move everyone around in rotation.
Click to expand...

The main benefit of a track is increased movement which you don't get with small paddocks. To embrace the idea fully you'd also have areas of different terrain and all sorts of interesting things. I find a grass track best for weight control and limiting grass intake.
 
poiuytrewq said:
Do you mean to get the electric to the inner fence?
Could you dig a little divit and pass a link under the ground in some pipe?
Click to expand...

Run a strand of fence through blue water pipe. Our YO uses wire pig fencing and joins it to our electric tape at each end. Works fine!
 
I usually divide my summer field in half but have been thinking of doing a track system this year with the fatties on the outside track and the two that need extra grass going in the middle section. I'm lucky enough to have lots of natural shelter so that won't be an issue it's just a case of sorting a suitable second water source as it's a bit of a hike to the field when you're carrying water butts!
 
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