Studying Track Movement

This new section is dedicated to finding ways of increasing spontaneous movement by horses along their turnout tracks. Motive variables might include paddock design, slow feeders and their placement, other methods of feeding, mineral stations, items of interest along the track, activity stations (rolling, sunbathing etc.), and so forth. Look for updates soon, or feel free to add your own pictures and observations. ~ JoAnn Johnson (tangledmanes)

This new section is dedicated to finding ways of increasing spontaneous movement by horses along their turnout tracks. Motive variables might include paddock design, slow feeders and their placement, other methods of feeding, mineral stations, items of interest along the track, activity stations (rolling, sunbathing etc.), and so forth. Look for updates soon, or feel free to add your own pictures and observations. ~ JoAnn Johnson (tangledmanes)

Study confirms that 24/7 turnout alone (even without the extra benefits of Paddock Paradise) keeps horses at least as fit as riding! See Hoofmaiden's blog.

Study confirms that 24/7 turnout alone (even without the extra benefits of Paddock Paradise) keeps horses at least as fit as riding! See Hoofmaiden's blog.

New academic study indicating that track fencing alone does not increase horse movement: Australian Brumby Research Unit. Click on "GPS Tracking" under "Scope of the Research" to read about the GPS collar they designed, the study methods and goals. "The Horse" article about University of Queensland's Brumby (wild horse) GPS tracking study: Australian Brumby Research Could Apply to Laminitis Their earlier domestic horse GPS study (abstract at http://www.wildhorseresearch.com/Documents/abstract-tracking.htm ), concluded: "The unit was tested on domestic horses in a range of paddock sizes and designs. The distance moved by newborn foals was similar to their dams, with total distance traveled dependent on paddock size. Paddock design did not significantly affect distance, but the open paddock design tended to promote greater movement than more complicated paddock designs, including the popular "racetrack" design. Feral horses traveled significantly greater daily distances than domestic horses. The consequences of limiting domestic horse movements by confinement may have a negative impact on general health, fitness and foot health."

New academic study indicating that track fencing alone does not increase horse movement:
Australian Brumby Research Unit. Click on "GPS Tracking" under "Scope of the Research" to read about the GPS collar they designed, the study methods and goals.

"The Horse" article about University of Queensland's Brumby (wild horse) GPS tracking study:
Australian Brumby Research Could Apply to Laminitis

Their earlier domestic horse GPS study (abstract at http://www.wildhorseresearch.com/Documents/abstract-tracking.htm ), concluded:
"The unit was tested on domestic horses in a range of paddock sizes and designs. The distance moved by newborn foals was similar to their dams, with total distance traveled dependent on paddock size. Paddock design did not significantly affect distance, but the open paddock design tended to promote greater movement than more complicated paddock designs, including the popular "racetrack" design. Feral horses traveled significantly greater daily distances than domestic horses. The consequences of limiting domestic horse movements by confinement may have a negative impact on general health, fitness and foot health."

New U.S. GPS Movement Study being developed and planned.
Purchase of DVD "The Desert Brumby" will offset the costs of the equipment and software.

U.S. GPS MOVEMENT STUDY
At the High Mountain Equine facility in Kentucky we are pursueing research on the movements of horses in various horse keeping situations and evaluating how this impacts the surrounding environment, the horses health, the resources necessary and the financial impact this can have on horse owners. We will be utilizing equipment and software developed at the Australian Brumby Research Unit and implemented by Dr. Pollit and Brian Hampson (Phd student) who are also studying the impact the environment has on the Horse hoof. While their research has been primarily on feral horses, some study was done on domesticated horses and their movement. We feel these beginning studies warrant a further investigation, especially as more and more horse owners are pursuing providing their horses with a more natural environment and providing as much as we can in captivity what captivity itself has removed or changed.

We look forward to partnering with others in this pursuit of data and knowledge and most importantly wisdom to become better stewards of the land, resources and majestic animals in our care. We hope some of you will volunteer your facilities and horses to be studied. We would love to incorporate a variety of farms and layouts into the data to find what may be optimal for the horse and land owner.

At this time High Mountain Equine is selling the DVD filmed and developed by Dr. Pollit and Brian Hampson in the wilds of Australia titled "The Desert Brumby". The cost of the video including shipping will be $45 dollars, any amount over that is greatly appreciated. To save on the shipping cost from Australia to the US, we will accumulate orders into a group and have them shipped together to our location. We will then separate them and ship them directly to you. IF you have a rush need please just inform us. We will strive to have no order wait for more than 7 days to be on its way from Australia. Our next order deadline is: March 15th, 2010

Please visit the RESEARCH page on this site: http://thehighmountain.com. Thank you for your support of both domesticated and feral horse research!

Turnout Area Movement Data

Open Pasture Turnout Size	Turnout Track Size and Width	Average Distance Traveled per Day	Reported By

9800 acre feral area		11.12 miles per day	Australian Brumby Research Unit
39 acre pasture		4.47 miles per day	Australian Brumby Research Unit
9.8 acre pasture		3.79 miles per day	Australian Brumby Research Unit
1 acre pasture		2.92 miles per day	Australian Brumby Research Unit
20x20 foot paddock		0.68 miles per day	Australian Brumby Research Unit

Certainly in our part of the country, allowing horses free access to pasture will turn even quite a large acreage into a drylot within a few months. So I KNOW that my horses move more than most people's around here, because their horses live in pens! So for us the question is not "Do they move more on track?" but "Which features does a track system need to encourage enough movement.". Kris Hughes

Certainly in our part of the country, allowing horses free access to pasture will turn even quite a large acreage into a drylot within a few months. So I KNOW that my horses move more than most people's around here, because their horses live in pens! So for us the question is not "Do they move more on track?" but "Which features does a track system need to encourage enough movement.". Kris Hughes

Feeding Strategies for Maximizing Track Movement

The video on the right is an example of my SMHN slow feeders grouped together, but spaced apart just enough to encourage the horses to mill about and swap feeding stations. These feeders contain only about six pounds of hay apiece, so are not large all-day slow feeders. There are more feeder stations placed around the turnout track. They would generally leave this feeder station when the nets are about half empty and go around the track to check out the other SMHNs. ~ JoAnn

The video on the right is an example of my SMHN slow feeders grouped together, but spaced apart just enough to encourage the horses to mill about and swap feeding stations. These feeders contain only about six pounds of hay apiece, so are not large all-day slow feeders. There are more feeder stations placed around the turnout track. They would generally leave this feeder station when the nets are about half empty and go around the track to check out the other SMHNs. ~ JoAnn

Click to visit Tangledmanes "Satisfeeding" page. (Multiple SMHNs last 24 hours and encourage movement.)

Click to visit Tangledmanes "Satisfeeding" page.

(Multiple SMHNs last 24 hours and encourage movement.)

ChristinaSchumacher	Latest page update: made by ChristinaSchumacher , Mar 6 2010, 11:28 AM EST (about this update About This Update order deadline for 2nd order - ChristinaSchumacher 2 words added 2 words deleted view changes - complete history)
	Keyword tags: studying track movement More Info: links to this page

Threads for this page

Takelababy

no track in my pasture

Jun 6 2011, 6:33 PM EDT by Takelababy

Thread started: Jun 3 2011, 11:05 PM EDT Watch

I don't have a track but have had numerous opportunities to study how much my horses move. Except for snooze times they are constantly moving as they graze. In winter they get plenty of exercise digging for grass under the snow even tho they have plenty of hay. I have two large round bales bro't in for two horses and they are spaced at least a few hundred yards apart. This in itself keeps the horses walking between bales. The bales are also as far a possible from the water source. On 3 acres I would say my horses walk at least 3 mi over a 24 hr period. I don't have a track, my small pastures are side by side with openings along one end so the horses can move from the farthest field to the water which is in the first field.

Do you find this valuable?

Keyword tags:

Post reply

Show Last Reply

ChristinaSchumacher

Urgent Mirian B!! in Canada

Apr 17 2010, 6:19 PM EDT by hoofhealth13

Thread started: Mar 29 2010, 7:08 PM EDT Watch

Mirain I need to hear from you. My hard drive went out and i lost all emails til its replaced. Your dvd came back and said invalid address. So I need you to email me so I can get it on the web and confirm the address. Please email me at thehighmountain@iglide.net and I'll do webmail. Now we know why you didn't get yours. :) SORRY!
Please emai or call. I'm hoping you'll see this message.

Do you find this valuable?

Keyword tags:

Post reply

Show Last Reply

ChristinaSchumacher

1st DVD's on their way, arrive in 1 week

Mar 30 2010, 1:51 PM EDT by ChristinaSchumacher

Thread started: Feb 17 2010, 8:20 PM EST Watch

Hi. To everyone who ordered in the first shipment. They are on their way. Should arrive in 1 week here and then I'll get them right out to you. Except Marja, yours will come straight to Neverland. :) I mean netherlands.....
Thanks for your order!!! Helping horses thru research!!!
If anyone else wants to order just contact me and we'll get another shipment out.

no track in my pasture	Urgent Mirian B!! in Canada	1st DVD's on their way, arrive in 1 week
Order your "Desert Brumby" video by Monday!	Research Data by Brumby Research Unit - paddock configuration/movement	US GPS movement Study and Brumby info
Hi All regarding track movement

Studying Track Movement

Threads for this page

Related Content