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Location: Slow Feeding Horses on Paddock Paradise Tracks
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| shooflypets | Decomposed Granite | 0 | Apr 27 2012, 1:19 PM EDT by shooflypets | ||||
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Thread started: Apr 27 2012, 1:19 PM EDT
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We need to re-do the paddocks, as they are unusable as they are---deep, muddy, poor drainage. I've been advised that DG (decomposed granite) is an excellent material to use. Opinions?
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| Horseartist | New Hay Feeder | 0 | Jan 15 2012, 11:00 PM EST by Horseartist | ||||
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Thread started: Jan 15 2012, 11:00 PM EST
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I set up a new feeder made from hockey barrier netting. I board and the barn owner has started to build a shelter in my horse's paddock. It's been slow going, so only 3 posts are in so far. I went ahead and put up a wall for my feeder.
http://www.akalranch.com/2012/01/new-hay-feeder/ I could see putting feeders like this in a couple of places on a track using two poles and an A framed roof to shield the hay from rain. It would provide a bit of shelter from rain for the horses as well as a wind break. |
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| cat77 | Small mesh hay nets | 0 | Dec 5 2011, 1:34 PM EST by cat77 | ||||
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Thread started: Dec 5 2011, 1:34 PM EST
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I purchased several nets in 2009 and 2010 from Smith Bro. I wanted to buy some more but have found out that the nets have changed. They no longer have the ring on the bottom, even though the web site says it does. I had heard of another place that sold these nets and that the quality was not as good as the ones that I originally bought. So I was wondering if anyone has bought any of these newer ones and been able to compare the quality to the older ones? If so, are they as good or better or poor quality?
Thanks, Suzie |
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| waymire | free feeding horses wont eat supplements | 12 | Aug 2 2011, 7:53 PM EDT by waymire | ||||
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Thread started: Jul 28 2011, 4:36 AM EDT
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hello all,
I have been reading the posts here with great interest and am in the process of changing my horses way of life. We purchased a property with an established boarding stable three years ago. It was a horses nightmare. After trying to rehab the business we finally closed the stable to the public, we are in a low income area and the people here are just not willing to care for their horses in a manner that I can live with. I have one boarder left that I have given notice to, when he leaves I will be remodeling the property to a pp track. For the time being, i have established two open areas for my own six horses with 24hr access to pasture and shelter and free feeding of grass and hay (regular hay for one group and chops for the other which consists of my "weaker" horses). Almost every one of my horses is a rescue, and all but one has an "issue" which requires the use of some sort of supplement (one is IR, one has anxiety/agression issues, two are arthritic, and one has ulcers). Since the change in their feeding and housing, they are much happier and content, but I cannot get them to eat their supplements now. I tie them separately and offer each their own bucket to ensure each gets what they need. Currently I am feeding only the absolute necessary supplements (normally I also feed an electrolyte, vitamin and mineral, and msm) and I mix them in a small amount (about a cup or two) of whole grain sweet feed. This is the only grain in their diet. Before they would wolf them down, now most of them just simply aren't interested. Of the three that are eating the least amount, one has severe arthritis in both front ankles, one is IR, and the other has the anxiety issue... they NEED these supplements. My anxious horse is already showing problems, with three panic attacks on the tie just tonight, one last night. None before when he was getting his meds. Any suggestions would be helpful. I cannot buy slow feeders locally.
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| willowchurch | coyotes | 5 | Feb 3 2011, 11:07 AM EST by Takelababy | ||||
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Thread started: Jan 21 2011, 12:33 PM EST
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There has been a fair amount of press around coyote sightings and attacks in Nova Scotia. I don't know how much is fear-mongering, but it seems that coyotes and wolves have interbred and produced a larger breed of coyote that hunts in packs and has less fear of humans. Are horses in danger from coyotes/wolves? I will not be putting more than two horses out in the PP. And since I am in the design stage, I am wondering if I should keep it smaller and within sight of my cabin, or whether they would be safe making their own trails in the woods. I have a long, skinny, 25 acre parcel with the first 5 acres consisting of tumbledown house, old pasture, pond and my cabin. Then there is the back 20 acres that is growing up from being clearcut 12 years ago - but it does have a still-fairly-passable track looping through it made for the logging trucks, which would lend itself to PP but then I would not see the horses much or know it they are in trouble.
The neighbours have not mentioned coyotes as a danger, but have said there is plenty of black bear, but I don't think bear will worry horses? Would much appreciate your collective thoughts! BTW: what do I do with the "tag" box when starting a new thread? Bronwen
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Keyword tags:
barefoot
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paddock paradise track
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| Sparrow01 | what to do with frozen hay nets!!!!!! | 9 | Jan 22 2011, 12:00 PM EST by Takelababy | ||||
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Thread started: Nov 27 2010, 2:01 PM EST
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Ok, so I have had my hay nets since spring and therefor no issues with getting them open or filled. And have finally found a system that I like, the horses seem to like, and was working. HOWEVER, now that winter is settling into Upstate NY (and we've had a VERY WET fall), I have gone out to fill the three bale-sized nets I have only to find them, in a frozen solid ball of netting and mud. Arggg..... I mean I could hardly get the end opened up to put more hay in it b/c the rope that is woven around the opening that keeps the net closed was stiff and unbending. Also, on one of our colder nights, I woke up to go out and fill the nets - they were all almost empty, had been in the wet mud the day before, and now were literally solid balls of frozen netting.
Any suggestions as to what to do when the weather is wet, rainy, then freezing? Or what to do in the middle of winter when it is 10 degrees out!? Not sure how I am going to get the hay in the nets when they are hard as a rock. :o/ THANKS! Jane
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| willowchurch | Coyotes | 0 | Jan 21 2011, 12:57 PM EST by willowchurch | ||||
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Thread started: Jan 21 2011, 12:57 PM EST
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There have been quite a few reports lately of coyote sightings and attacks on humans in Nova Scotia. I don't know how much is fear-mongering. What is being said is that coyotes have interbred with wolves, producing a breed that is bigger and which hunts in packs and has less fear of humans. Do you think that horses on a PP would be at risk? Since I am in the design stages of my PP, I am wondering if I should keep it smaller, on an old pasture, and within sight of my cabin or whether the two horses would be fine having access to the back 20 acres. This is growing up after being logged 12 years ago, so it is quite scrubby but there is a still-somewhat-passable track looping through made for the logging trucks. But out of sight and I would have no way of knowing if they were in trouble.
This is a definitely rural area, with not many people around as farming has been in decline. The neighbours have not mentioned coyotes as a potential problem, only that black bear are around. Do bear worry horses? There have not been reports of bears ever hurting humans in Nova Scotia. I am not much of a worry-wart usually, but I don't want to put the horses in danger! Any thoughts much appreciated. Bronwen |
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| SarahMerry | Hello :) | 0 | Oct 12 2010, 3:41 PM EDT by SarahMerry | ||||
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Thread started: Oct 12 2010, 3:41 PM EDT
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I'm a new member. I've come to this site many times for slow feeder ideas. I love all the different examples and information on slow feeders. I have made a few slow feeders myself. I will try to post pictures.
I'm also a Licensed 1 star Parelli Instructor in Southern California. check out my website for examples of my slow feeders and natural horse info. www.sarahkmerry.com Thanks Sarah |
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| thestral | Hello! | 2 | Jul 18 2010, 5:02 PM EDT by Hubbardshorses | ||||
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Thread started: Jul 11 2010, 7:56 AM EDT
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Hi I'm new!
Live in the UK, 3 horses currently on livery but we have our house on the market and are looking to buy somewhere with a few acres. I've been researching what is going to be best for the horse and PP is the way forward for us. I've just LOVED looking through everyone's posts, blogs, photos, ideas etc. It's been really inspirational so I just wanted to say thank you very much! And watch this space!
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| woman_in_shoe | Very Important to read this time of year!!! | 1 | Jul 18 2010, 3:43 PM EDT by tangledmanes | ||||
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Thread started: Jul 17 2010, 11:48 AM EDT
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Just found this article on a clicker training page.
Please read it! http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=16625
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| WindyMare | Want to start my own Paddock Paradise and looking for advice | 15 | Nov 3 2009, 8:55 PM EST by SpottedTApps | ||||
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Thread started: Oct 25 2009, 1:27 AM EDT
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I work at a horse ranch in the mountains above Santa Barbara. We want to start our own P.P. in order to get our horses exercised and mentally engaged without needing us there to do that. We have up to six horses at a time who would be on the track, and we have 2 acres to work with. We have some questions to those people who have a P.P. already in action before we start out so that we have a better idea of what we are getting into.
1.) How many horses do you have on your track? How long is your track? 2.) How long does it take to feed? How often do you feed? 3.) How many feeders do you have per “parking spot”? 4.) If the horses run out of food, do they stop moving around the track? 5.) How do you deal with manure clean-up? Any feedback on this would be great. We really want to make this work. Thanks!
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| MarkeyMark | Just to say Hello | 2 | Aug 27 2009, 3:56 PM EDT by SpottedTApps | ||||
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Thread started: Aug 25 2009, 3:57 PM EDT
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What a great site! I thought I was the only one in the UK who had ever heard of paddock paradise, - OK I know I'm not, but sometimes it feels like it. I live in Cornwall in the UK about a mile from the beach and I have four horses who are all barefoot, two always have been, two who are rescue horses. My horses always live in a herd, never come in and eat only a high fibre -sorry USA fiber, diet. Having admitted this much is probably enough to get me hunted down by red coated people with dogs but there you go. Looking forward to some great ideas on PP. - Mark
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| KrisHughes | Slow Feeders | 3 | Apr 27 2009, 9:49 AM EDT by SpottedTApps | ||||
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Thread started: Apr 26 2009, 1:13 PM EDT
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I haven't explored the site fully, or read many old posts, so apologies if I am covering old ground!
The problem I see with slow feeders is that they are static! So having one or two doesn't keep your horses moving, which is a big part of the track mentality. However, I am a realist, and also know that if you scatter hay on your track in windy weather, it will probably be wasted. The solutions that have worked for me are to created tying points on any posts or trees on my track, where I can hang (as low as possible) a small mesh net. The areas that lack hanging points I fill in with tires. No, I don't put the hay in the tires, I tie a piece of rope around the tire, and then tie a net to that. I don't use tractor tires, just large pick-up sized ones. The great thing is they are easy to move about, so I can keep the horses guessing and avoid certain areas don't get too footworn, muddy, etc. The horses do drag the tires around a little, but not far, and rarely push them under the track fence. Kris
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