Track systems for horses and track liveries are not a new idea, but they are growing in popularity as more people recognise the benefits to their horses from a track lifestyle.
Paddock Paradise is one of the best known types of track systems for horses. The idea is that horses are provided with an environment closer to their natural habitat than simply grazing in an open field.
A track system is not only for horses with medical complaints such as laminitis and EMS, but is often successfully used for all different types of horses. This article explores how and why you may want to start your own track for your horse.
What is a horse track system?
A horse track system is exactly as it sounds; a track set up to encourage horses to move and forage in a more natural manner. The paddock paradise system is probably the best known.
What is track livery?
With track systems getting more popular, track liveries are beginning to appear around the country. This is simply the same as a normal livery, but the horses live on a track rather than being in small sectioned off paddocks. Many track liveries prefer their horses to be unshod due to injury risks, and the linked belief that barefoot is a healthier way for a horse to live. Each livery yard will have it’s own rules and restrictions though, so it’s always wise to check.
Track system grazing horses, benefits are as follows:
- encourages movement
- hoof health can be improved when using various track surfaces
- can help horses who suffer from EMS or laminitis
- removes the necessity to use grazing muzzles
- can be set up on most plots of land
- even small acreages are included
- the central sections have many uses, including hay growing for winter forage/foggage
These are only some of the benefits that proponents of a track system will tell you about.
There are no hard and fast rules about setting up a track, it is only limited by the land available and your imagination.
Track system grazing horses
How does a horse track work?
The idea is to increase movement which in turn leads to happier and healthier horses. Track system grazing horses are often moving far more than their field-bound counterparts. A study by the Dutch Hollow Acres site showed that movement increased by over 100% (source) when moving horses onto a track. This is obviously beneficial to all horses, but especially those that need a little help keeping their weight down, or need regular movement to keep arthritis at bay.
How do I set up a track system?
Horse track layout
The horse track layout can be as complicated or as simple as you like. It is only limited by the following factors:
- amount of land
- layout of land
- your imagination
- money for surfacing (if you want to surface) and enrichment
- number of horses you intend to keep on the track
- the amount of work you want to do to set up initially
If you start by using plastic fence posts with tape (and electrify if needed) you can see how your horses enjoy the track experience and hone your layout plans before putting anything permanent in. Here are a few useful links:
Personally I prefer wide tape to electric rope as its more visible and I’ve heard too many horror stories about rope causing injuries to horses. However, many people use tape very successfully so it’s very much a personal choice.
The best advice is to spend time before planning your track system, just looking at how your horse/s use the space as it is currently. Is there a particular spot that they sleep in? Have they already got ‘paths’ that they use regularly? If so, incorporate these areas and movements into your design.
Horse track system ideas
A simple track system could just consist of an electric fence around the perimeter of the field, at say 3m width.
A couple of things to think about for your horse track layout:
- place hay stations at intervals around the track so that the horse need to forage for food
- place the water away from the hay stations to encourage movement
- make the hay station areas wider so that horses can eat in peace without any being bullied
- have a hardstanding area for when it’s wet so that mud fever and other ailments are avoided
- ensure that there is shelter at some point, a hedge, or a man made ‘run-in’ as long as there is plenty of space to avoid horses lower down the pecking order being pinned into a corner
- add enrichment areas such as mounds, hanging treat balls, sand pits, and/or logs to step over and move around
- have a larger area where horses can roll or sleep – REM sleep is necessary for your horse’s health
- add a herb garden (see Herbs for horses for ideas)
More intricate systems will involve figures of eights, or several ‘decision moments’ where the horse can choose the direction that they go in. With these tracks remember to have a few gateways so that you can open or shut sections as required. This will help control grass intake during the spring grass growth, or allow areas to rest if they’ve become overgrazed. Make sure that fresh water is available however you choose to organise any rotation.
Does my track have to be grass?
You can surface your track in any way you see fit, as long as it’s safe for the horse. Tracks often have sections through woodland where available as this provides necessary shade and shelter and has the added bonus of often being naturally devoid of grass.
How do I graze my horses?
How do I graze my horses if my track is surfaced? Is a valid question when considering a track system. As long as horses have access to forage, they don’t need to be in a paddock of lush grass. Indeed, for many horses this is the reason for many health issues. If you want to use a surfaced track system, but also want to provide grass, then there is no rule to say you can’t have the best of both worlds. The way that most tracks are designed means that there are middle ‘paddocks’ where you can allow your horse to graze for periods of time to suit your needs.
Many people who use the track system surface them fully. However, local planning laws may forbid this, and, especially for larger tracks, this can be prohibitively expensive.
Horses that do not require restricted grazing will benefit from a track system simply by increasing the amount of movement they make during the day. If the track needs to be rested at any point then moving them into the middle paddocks should provide enough grass (depending upon size) or foggage during winter until the grass on the track has recovered.
Muddy tracks
Tracks can be difficult to maintain during the winter, especially if you live in a temperate climate with plenty of rain. With a short track, mud can overtake the whole area within weeks. This is why having a hardstanding is a very good idea. If you’re able to feed hay on this area then so much the better, as mud fever and bacterial infections will be far reduced.
Horse track layout; If you are able to, Jelka mats and Mud control mats can be incredibly helpful. They’re not cheap, but can be laid straight onto mud in many circumstances (check your individual circumstances with the manufacturers). As they are removable no planning permission is usually required, and if you’re on rented ground you can take them with you should you move. You can use them anywhere to provide a mud free area for your horse to feed, rest, or simply get out of the mud.
If you have the land space to have a larger track, and don’t have too many horses, then shutting sections and opening others can hold the mud at bay for longer, just remember to vary your hay station locations as these will be where the horses congregate most.
Hay on tracks
Track grazing for horses
Track grazing for horses often means providing hay. With fully surfaced tracks, or those with little grass, you will need to provide hay at various points along the track, and away from the water to increase your horse’s movement. This hay can be put up on posts in hay nets, or can be placed loose on the ground. Depending upon the access and number of horses, even bales can be left out an intervals and netted appropriately as necessary.
Just make sure you check the hay regularly to make sure if hasn’t blown away, got trampled into the mud, or gone mouldy in heat/wet weather.
Horse track enrichment
There are many ways to add enrichment to your horse track.
See if you can add these to your horse’s environment:
- Logs: Adding logs for horses to navigate around, jump over should they wish, or simply scratch against are an easy addition to your track. Just check to make sure that the tree is not one that is poisonous to horses
- Treat ball: If you have wire panel fencing you could add treat balls filled with goodies for your horse to play with around the track. This won’t work with tracks made from electric fencing as the ball can simply roll underneath which will lead to a frustrated horse at best, or broken posts and a large vets bill at worst!
- Mound: Especially if your pasture is flat, adding a mound for climbing will be fun for your horse and good for their muscles
- Sand pit: Arena sand, of washed river sand is probably the best to use. Builders sand can be too coarse for hooves, and will result in a yellow coat! Sand pits are great for rolling in and sleeping in, although care should be taken in it’s placement or you might end up with horses bypassing it in favour of other areas
- Gravel: Even if you want a grass track, areas of different surface add interest for your horse. Smooth gravel, rather than sharp gravel with pointed edges is recommended.
- Herb garden: Planting a herb garden for your horse can help them self medicate with herbs they instinctively know that they need for their health. These can be around the edges, in tyres or raised beds, or straight into the ground. Some protection should be used to stop the horses eating right down to the ground, otherwise your herb garden may not last too long!
There are so many different ways to enrich the environment. Even going as far as hiding carrots in trees on the track and putting in a pond or water feature for the horses enjoyment.
Other grazing systems
Track systems are not the only way to manage your land, or keep your horse healthy. There are other options such as:
- Strip grazing
- Rotational grazing
- Equicentral grazing system
Each of these is slightly different and works on preserving the land in different ways.
Conclusion
There is no one right way to house and graze your horse. Everyone’s horse and circumstances are different and we’re all trying to make our horses the healthiest and happiest they can be. A track system can be as long or as short as you want it to be, and arranged however you feel is best for you and your horses.
