Track system/paddock paradise

I've been doing a track system for about three years now and wouldn't have it any other way! I have two quarter acre paddocks, the track goes around in a figure of eight and I strip graze into the middle. It lasts my two ponies right up to October without ever having to feed hay.

Never had a weight issue with them and it makes it much more interesting for them as we have lots of hedges/trees and a big pond too!
 
I have two, one on about 1 1/2 acres,the other on about 3. I wanted to be able to join them up but that hasn't happened yet. I haven't done any of the different surfaces a la Paddock paradise proper, I am not sure it would be a huge advantage to me really. I like the fact that the ponies are almost constantly moving and it has made a big difference to weight control. If the tracks get a bit too much grass I put the oldies on it for a few days and the extra movement works really well for them too. My middle sections are saved for the less good doers.
 
Ours went up about 8 weeks ago, round 3 acres.. they move loads more! :D

here's a pick from the other evening
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It is wider on the side which was the last grazed in winter and that is where they will go in the evenings while we hay make. Now it goes all the way round they are getting a small strip of grass in the evening. The palo gets an hour before Frank is allowed to join her.
 
I have my two on a track around the edge of a 3 acre field. The track is currently around three sides only though as I've fenced off the top bit to rest it for a wee while.

At the moment my boys get a bit of hay and most evenings I move one fence post or two to give them sme of the longer grass in the middle. I make the track narrower when I can to try and rest more and get the grass to re grow and to try and save on hay costs.
 
Thanks all, think we're on the right lines then. Our field is triangular and the big shire x will have one side and half the other and the pony and cob will have the rest of the other side and bottom.

The cob will then go onto another paddock that has lusher grass daily.

We plan to zig zag the fence line so we can move posts in and out to provide more grass. They'll have hay also xx
 
Ive seem a few of these systems and they seem to work well. Never seen the zig zag though and would have thought that it might not be a good idea as I was told that it takes the strength out of elctric fencing? would also look messy? maybejust me though!
 
FWIW I think the zigzag fence is weaker, I know mine would go through it. I have wooden posts on the corners and at random points on the straight sides to give extra strength. I also think the track needs to be a complete loop ideally. If I sit and watch mine the ones on the track are constantly moving whereas the ones in a 'normal' paddock just find a nice spot and munch, moving very little at all.
 
I wonder if supertrooper is meaning the zig zag as I think of it, ie strips of electric fencing that the horses have to go round at the ends, or just staggering the posts in and out to allow grass (rather than having a smooth straight line of fencing)

ours wouldn't go through a true zig zag, they are very good with fencing but I would worry about keeping the tape taut enough, I really hate/worry about loose tape. We have four of these http://www.hotline-fencing.co.uk/catalogue/line.aspx?lne_id=7a2c6d93-1958-4fa0-abbd-b5b25db7f491 to tension off rather than wooden stakes as we wanted to be able to move them a bit easier if needed for hay making etc.
 
I took it to mean staggering the posts, which I think would make it hard to get the fence taunt enough? I may be wrong. I would only do it in straight lines myself.
 
Before Millie got us banned from the summer fields I had one up, Olly was in the track as he is a fatso and Millie in the middle as she isn't! Easy way of managing 2 horses in one field with very different needs.
 
ester said:
ours wouldn't go through a true zig zag, they are very good with fencing but I would worry about keeping the tape taut enough, I really hate/worry about loose tape. We have four of these http://www.hotline-fencing.co.uk/catalogue/line.aspx?lne_id=7a2c6d93-1958-4fa0-abbd-b5b25db7f491 to tension off rather than wooden stakes as we wanted to be able to move them a bit easier if needed for hay making etc.
Click to expand...
I like those ester, are they pretty robust at their job in high winds and driving rain?
 
well they have survived since the beginning of April and we have had some pretty impressive rain and wind since :eek: trees down the lot ;) although our field as a whole is quite sheltered.

They come with egg insulators, we have 20 mm tape which starts and ends on one those (tie a loop and use it to fix) and then on the others we have just wrapped the tape around the egg a couple of times to tension it, seems to have worked well atm.
 
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