Blue Heron FarmThis is a featured page

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Blue Heron Farm Paddock Paradise, located in
Middle Tennessee, south of Nashville.

Blue Heron Farm (Whole Property)

WHOLE PROPERTY MAP



This is the entire property, outlined in green. Although I own 34 acres, most of it is within the huge tract of woodland (owned by others) behind my place). Hunting goes on there much of the year, and it's not safe to run tracks too far into the woods for that reason. So my forays away from the original fenced area (Arena, Brook, and Alpine Meadow pastures) have been restricted to the Woodlot (which is ALMOST done) and the proposed Track in the Woods (see part 1).

Note the sections marked in the map to the left. Parts 1-4 correspond to the more detailed maps below.

I have not had to do a lot of forced tracking with electric due to the natural topography of the property. Because it is long and skinny, and because the creek and hills provide natural barriers, the horses "track" naturally.

Below is a more recent map, which I rotated to make it easier to read. Shows where there is currently gravel or rock and where there will be minerals once I get the protected dispensers made. It also shows a possible alternative for the proposed track in the woods. There are a number of "ifs" involved here, due to topography, but I would love to connect the Alpine Meadow up with the Brook and Arena pastures if I can!

Blue Heron Paddock Paradise


Join me on a Virtual Tour of the Brook Pasture/Arena Pasture Paddock Paradise (further description and maps below).



Part I--Arena Pasture and Proposed Woods Track
PART 1: The Arena Pasture

Although the arena is not fenced, it helps make a natural track for this area. The horses go there for dust baths, but otherwise usually move around the outside.

The chute leading from the Brook Pasture (at bottom) to the Arena Pasture (top) is always open. The horses move through the chute, around the outside of the arena, drink from the creek, and then cross the creek to the little "Island" in the creek bend, where there are a number of trees. The yellow jags mark a natural barrier -- a cliff above the creek. When the fence picks up again, it leads to a water gate (white lines across creek) and then through a gate back to the Brook Pasture.

The light blue marks the track I hope to make into the woods and hills in the future. That area is still close enough to the road to be safe from hunters.



Former boarder drinks from the creek (cliff to left)


This is baby Rhys, a former boarder, drinking from the creek at the point where the horses move from the Arena Pasture to the Island. The natural cliff is behind him.

The creek is solid rock with very little silt. I find that because of this, and because the horses have access to much of the creek (rather than only small portions for crossing), environmental damage is very minimal.

In natural settings, horses get their feet wet every time they drink. For Paddock Paradises without natural water, just dig a large, shallow hole, line with gravel, put your water trough in it, and flood daily with water.





Part 2-Brook Pasture with Run-in Shed


Part 2: The Brook Pasture

Here you can see the rest of the Brook Pasture, including the 12X18 run-in shed.

Note: These satellite images were apparently taken in late Summer 2007, when we experienced the worst drought in 50 years. Although I rarely have a lot of grass (due to poor, rocky soil), this WAS a little extreme!










Brook Pasture proposed track




I've thought of tracking the Brook Pasture, but the horses seem to move almost constantly because of the pull of the Arena Pasture/Chute/Island, so it does not seem necessary. I may eventually put in a section of fence running from near the run-in to the opposite corner to force them around.

Or I may do THIS. It would help hold grass/soil and even though they're already moving a lot, it would encourage even more movement.







Brook Pasture with Run-in shed (seen from house end)
This is the run-in shed in the Brook Pasture, looking from the gate near the house towards the Arena Pasture. This is early Spring. Every winter the Brook Pasture turns to mud, but I am hoping to prevent that in future by:

(1) Keeping the horses in the Woodlot area in winter (See Part 4),

(2) Using slow feeders for hay instead of tossing it on the ground where it ends up churned in.

The run-in shed is a metal-roofed carport (Carolina Carports). It is 12X18 feet. I decided not to put on sides largely because here in Tennessee I am more concerned about the horses getting too warm in summer than I am their getting cold in winter. When the weather is very bad, I usually put them in the Barn Lot/Woodlot area (where the run-in is more substantial).


Brook Pasture in late Spring



This is the Brook Pasture again, also from the gate near the house, in late Spring after I reseeded. Obviously this would not be appropriate for an insulin-resistant horse! My TB, Peregrine (the grey, now sadly at the Rainbow Bridge) was a very hard keeper and he appreciated the grass. Destiny (the chestnut, a draft X) and her new friend Maggie (Haflinger) do not need lush grass and this year I won't bother keeping them off it long enough for it to get to this point. It only lasts a month or 2 anyway, given the soil and the droughts we have been having.






Meeting the new boy"



Another photo of the Brook Pasture. This is from several years ago, and shows Destiny (chestnut) with boarders Gwen and Rhys (bays), and shows more or less what the BP looks like most of the time (very sparse grass, and rocky!).

This picture shows the gate going from the Brook Pasture to the "chute" leading to the Arena Pasture. It's closed in this picture only because we were introducing Rhys to the herd and needed to contain the horses to prevent problems.





Foraging in winter



And here are Maggie (L) and Destiny, Blue Heron Farm's current residents, foraging in wintertime. It snows here occasionally, but mostly what we get is mud, frozen, rutted mud, and then more mud. ;-)

I'm excited about using slow feeders for many reasons, but getting the hay out of the mud is high on my list!












Here is a little video showing Destiny and Maggie coming from the Island, through the creek, and into the Brook Pasture.

YEEE HAW!!!















Part 3-House, Barn, and Alpine Meadow

Part 3: House, Barn, and Alpine Meadow

Behind the house, across the creek and up a hill, is the Alpine Meadow. It's small, and difficult to connect up to the other turnouts due to topographical restrictions, but it's a nice alternative for good weather. There is grass there, but it's never lush. The first day I saw the place, we walked up the hill and into the pasture and it just seemed like an Alpine Meadow to me.

I'm in the process now of bumping the fence out into the "branch" (the small creeklet coming down from the hills), as getting water up there is difficult and after all, the branch is right there!

You can also see the barn and Barn Lot in this shot. More on that below.




Part 4-Barn, Barn Lot, and Woodlot
Part 4: Barn, Barn Lot, and Woodlot

Here you see the barn, which is a wonderful old tobacco barn, the Barn Lot behind it (with run-in under the barn), and the new Woodlot (entirely in the woods) that connects up to that. Again, the white lines over the creek are swinging water gates.

The curving red line in the Woodlot is a section of fence I put in at a very steep drop-off to the creek. It serves the dual purposes of preventing accidents and forcing the horses to "track" around it.

Again, the yellow jags indicate a cliff that creates a natural barrier.

I still have a little work to do on this area, so the horses have not yet been out on it, but I'll update when they are. I expect them to make many of their own tracks through the woods.


Barn lot facing back of barn

This is the barn, seen from the Barn Lot. The run-in is the open area on the right. What you cannot see in the photo is another potential run-in area on the left, which I will probably begin to use soon. My plan is to open that area up into the stalls (now unused) for a larger, more protected run-in area they can access if they choose.

The Barn Lot itself is primarily sand.




FUTURE PROJECTS:

My main projects right now are completing the Woodlot and taking care of bumping out the Alpine Meadow into the creek. I'm also going to using slow-feeders on the track, and am working on a plan to get loose minerals and salt out of the run-in sheds and onto the track by making protected mineral feeders. Check my Paddock Paradise Blog for updates.

Eventually, I hope to move the Barn Lot run-in to the top part of the barn (and use what is now the run-in for vehicle storage). And someday I VERY much hope to get an ATV. Looking at my long, skinny, creek-laden property, I'm sure you can see why!


pawsplus
pawsplus 		Latest page update: made by pawsplus , Aug 12 2009, 4:42 PM EDT (about this update About This Update pawsplus added photo - pawsplus

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Wildridge Wow...Blue Heron Farm Page 1 Apr 22 2009, 9:45 AM EDT by pawsplus
Thread started: Apr 21 2009, 10:37 PM EDT  Watch
Elilzabeth, I've been so busy trying to figure out all the camera challenges, how to use this wonderful site & try updating my page, I had not stopped by your page lately. It is awsome...very well layed out, informative & just a pleasure to look at and read. You have done an outstanding job. Way to go girl. Can't wait to see it one day in person....it is so beautiful on line. I'm in love with your rock bottom creek...so cool. Ann (now I've got to check out your blog!)
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