Dry Hoof Pond
Stella flies across the dry hoof pond on our paddock paradise track in Alabama. Now that we've seen (last summer) how well the hoof pond helps to condition their hooves, we are about to re-build it with larger logs to better contain the water. Dirt would work its way under the tarp liner when framed with the small logs now lying under the fenceline.
JoAnn Johnson April 29, 2010

Log Framed Hoof Pond

The hoof soaking station on my Paddock Paradise has been revised to include a log frame to support the edges of the tarp which lines it. The first hoof pond was a smaller, shallower crater along a narrow part of the track, covered with a 10'x12' tarp and about two inches of water. That worked wonders for getting them used to crossing a water obstacle on their own.

But Stella, Jewel, and Ally kept pushing the edge of the tarp down into the water, causing it to trickle out of the hoof pond. They were using a couple of different methods to try avoiding getting their hooves wet. Stella would put her front feet on the very edge, or step halfway down onto the "wall" of the pond -- either of which would pull down the tarp along the path of travel. Ally saw her opportunity to partially skirt the edge of the hoof pond by trying to walk along the inside edge. Don't tell the others, but our inner fence isn't electrified yet. Nobody tried skirting the pond next to the outer, hot, fence line.

The log frame (though still a work in progress) allows the top edges to be directly above the bottom edges, eliminating the sloping side that Stella was so tempted to step on.

I also re-set the closest fence post inward, narrowing the track to about ten feet wide over the water crossing. That removed Ally's "ally" alongside the inner fence. :-)

The video shows Ally and Jewel crossing the log framed hoof pond to get their morning hay cube meal. (Also on You Tube)

JoAnn Johnson
August 22, 2009




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Hoof Pond Installed

The new water crossing seems to be fairly popular with Stella, Jewel, and Ally.

It must feel good to walk through, as the ground here is dry and sandy. I know it's going to help moisturize their hooves.

The horses have a choice of walking through it, jumping over it, or going all the way around to the other side along the fenced Paddock Paradise trail.

I'd like to enlarge the hoof pond just a little more -- the 10x12' tarp has one edge folded under in this video, but I'll dig another two feet to spread the whole tarp soon. Currently the water crossing is about six feet across, and using the whole tarp will make it about eight feet across.

To get them used to the idea, I spread a smaller tarp across the track with a little water in it for a day. Everybody went across on their own. Then I enlarged the flat spot, covered it with the bigger tarp, and filled with about four inches of water.

JoAnn Johnson
July 28, 2009



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