potto
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I have a large spotty and the privilage once of the most beautiful big Ass!
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Post by potto on Jun 17, 2008 22:31:50 GMT 1
;D I have read this book by Jamie ermmm (..... will edit when i remember) called Paradise Paddocks about rearranging paddocks to help your horses, hooves and weight.. general welfare imitating their lives in the wild. I wonder if anyone else has been crazy enough to try this in the uk and found it successful, particularly in smaller spaces? Hmmm i thought about this... i pay for livery on a farm... well not an ideal scenario... but with 2 geldings in a couple of rectangular paddocks one of which with a tendancy to overeat, underexercise and get foot problems. With permission from the farmer i have rearranged some fencing and got a now circular runway paddock a bit like having a roundabout! The horses going round and round, to bits of interest, the water trough, the poo piles, hay, the scratching posts, salt licks, the mares, the dusty rolling patches, the hedge, the trees and shade..... and much less grass...... The farmer is happy... because in theory i am paying the same and grazing his land less meaning he can use the middle for making hay, which i will then buy back off him!!!! The other people at the livery are looking on in astonishment at the new maze wondering what will be next....... I have to say i am wondering my self..... I am waiting to see over the next few days to see if the horses will like it or not and if it really starts to work and if i can see a difference in there levels of activity and movement.... It is suppose to reduce the likelihood of injuries/ligament strains etc, improve muscle buildup, reduce excess weight and improve their hooves. (Although some aspects like rocky terrain stated in Jamies book... useful for hoof hardening i am missing in my paddock) Yes i would be really really interested to know if any of you have tried similar crazy interpretations... thanks...
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jinglejoys
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Post by jinglejoys on Jun 17, 2008 22:54:34 GMT 1
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Post by jen1 on Jun 17, 2008 23:06:28 GMT 1
ive just had a proper purpose made track its the first of many tracks going in, ive got the harder surface for those who can take it, the naxt one will be sand, the one after that is going to be a mixture including grass,and dry soil as i have now , buggar when it rains but hey ho, there will be a track for most kind of horses, the new track feeds into a purpose built communal barn for eating and the water will be situated half way round, pat of the track will have titbits of fodder to keep them moving and eating, il see if i can upload some pics, we are opening up as a natural livery yard along side of the more traditional,stable tyoe of livery, so even in winter the stable kept horses can be turned out daily onto there track and save my field, think we have to get away from grass as being a full time feed iin summer, if i had to use fields for fodder i wish livery yards would keep very long grass to chomp on in winter if you see what i mean.
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breezy
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Post by breezy on Jun 18, 2008 0:05:26 GMT 1
I think that EMW are trying this as well this year aren't they?
I don't do it, but have always noticed that my horses benefit from my winter paddock which is about 2 1/2 acres, but has a maximum width of 20m - its old railway land, so they really do have to walk a long way to get from one end to the other. There is also lots of gravel areas and some concrete from old sleepers, the soil is mainly organic matter so it doesn't get muddy and drains straight away. The grass that grows on it is not good grass and there is a lot of herby stuff and lots of trees. Its wonderful!!
I can't use it much in the summer though as there is a long patch of horsetails that I don't want being eaten. The field doesn't look pretty, but its a fab field!
Bx
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Post by jill on Jun 18, 2008 7:20:48 GMT 1
Yes, Elaine has done it at the Herefordshire Sanctuary and says it has made a huge difference, especially to the native ponies. I'm sure she will be only too happy to fill you in on it, or you can read a couple of threads on it on the EMW forum here equinemarketwatch.myfreeforum.org/forum2.php&sid=01abe1013549fd3a69f393b0c03390ffThere will be a trimmer who trained with the UK rep of Jaime Jackson at the Open Day for anyone who wants to get more info - and Elaine is so enthusiastic, she will talk you through it I'm sure.
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Post by Catrin on Jun 18, 2008 7:44:57 GMT 1
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Post by fluffypony on Jun 18, 2008 7:56:34 GMT 1
Hi, I have just started to fence off my track My lami prone boys at the moment have very restricted grazing in a corner of their 5 acre field and I have started a track off of this around the rest of the field! Am doing it in stages though so that they don't get too much grass at once and because of simple fencings costs ;D When the whole track is open for them, eaten down, then I shall go about gradually adding surfaces for them, sand, pea shingle, bark....do these sound ok? Below is a photo of the start of their track leading from their mini paddock. Would love to see photos of other people's? Jen, I am really loving the sound of your yard with its new school and track, I would move from kent for livery at yours lol! ;D The farmer wants to top the middle of my field, not make hay from it, just top it once. Would it be better for me to ask him to just leave it so I had some roomier winter turnout on very long hay length grass if the track gets too muddy? I am not sure he would let me as he thinks it looks messy but it would be worth an ask if it would be better for the boys.
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EMW-UK
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Post by EMW-UK on Jun 18, 2008 9:01:58 GMT 1
We, at EMW Hherefordshire and Trustee Amy's yard just 8 miles away, are total deveotees to the sytem...the author is Jaime Jackson who is hoping to come and visit us in spring 2009. the system is amazing, it really works. We are looking into creating and manufacturing mobile surface beds for those who have rented property and want to introduce water splash/ gravel beds/ rocky beds/sand beds without having to change the ground structure. more on that to come... We are already using sand and slate and pea gravel with amazing results. The barer you can strip the ground base of your tracks the better - forget grass other than long grasses ( you don't really want fescue or clover type cow feed pasture) and get feeding long hay and or oat straw instead, taking it around the track so they ahve to move to eat, what horses were meant to do - not stand in one place gorging. In all of ours on the system we have noticed that within a couple of weeks of introduction the muscle tone and energy levels were so much improved, even in old Tanna at 43 years . Now we've got all of the paddocks on the system, adapting it to the needs of the oldies and fatties as needs be...more on that on the EMW forum Check out Jaime Jackson, it'll be the best move you ever make...and don't forget the little red Founder book.. for laminitis sufferers it will open up a whole new world of life without pain.. more info on Jaime's site but as Jill says come in through EMW forum...you can read loads there and see pics etc.. must fly 10 minutes ago i should have not been here! emw xx
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HFM
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Post by HFM on Jun 18, 2008 9:17:05 GMT 1
Hi, me and my neighbouring livery have set up 'goat runs' (as they have been called by other liveries!) this year. We dont have anything anyway near as exciting as barefoot tracks and rolling patches, but we have fenced off a corridor. They have a paddock section at one end with stables and trough and then a walkway all the way round. ATM they are not moving that much as the grass is so long they are sort of just lawnmowering through. But when they have a run about it tends to last longer as they have to go the around! we are very pleased as they are moving much more than when we strip graze. and once they have eaten the bulk of the grass down they should be moving much more. Although the first time we went to catch them was an experience! about 3 laps of the paddock! ;D
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Post by fluffypony on Jun 18, 2008 9:18:33 GMT 1
We are looking into creating and manufacturing mobile surface beds for those who have rented property and want to introduce water splash/ gravel beds/ rocky beds/sand beds without having to change the ground structure. more on that to come... xx They sound great, exactly what I need! What kind of sand are people using? And what kind of shingle/slate/anything else? I don't want to get the wrong sort if it could end up being damaging to their feet as opposed to helpful
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Post by fth on Jun 18, 2008 9:19:37 GMT 1
my friend put this into practice when her pony had a lami attack -- and even her 17 yr old "hard doer" arab is in FINE copndition -- they are moving around a LOT more and in much better shape than when they had the whole field
occasionally she puts the arab in the middle of the field to get more grass...always an option
Cahty
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Post by mandal on Jun 18, 2008 10:29:44 GMT 1
I don't think you can go wrong with pea gravel and sand fluffypony. I'm like you, my track is evolving as I've sooooo much grass here. I don't think mine will be useable in the winter as it will become bog! I can't afford to drain it more and resurface sadly. I have made a yard round one of the barns for winter quarters.
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booboo
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Post by booboo on Jun 18, 2008 10:37:18 GMT 1
This is all really interesting folks. I keep my horse at a livery yard but it makes me feel all excited about having my own place one day and trying out all of these things.
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Post by easyaspie on Jun 18, 2008 11:17:22 GMT 1
Hi I know that both Sarah Braithwaite (Wales) and Nic Barker (Devon) have paddock paradise systems. They are UKNHCP Timmers, Field Instructors and founders of the UKNHCP. To see their systems log on to www.uknhcp.org and then you can find their various links and blogs on the relevant pages. Good luck and yes, I do believe it works very well. EMW: I'd be interested to meet Jamie Jackson if he comes to visit in 2009, will it be open to the public?
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EMW-UK
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Post by EMW-UK on Jun 18, 2008 11:31:58 GMT 1
WE certainly hope so easyaspie. This system has to be the way forward for horse keeping in the UK. As laminitis tightens it's deadly hold on our equines we have to take a step outside the box and think about the horse not about the human. The system isn't infallable but it sure as h*ll works far better than strip grazing and smaller and smaller bare paddocks have ever done... emw xx
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