Monica Meer’s Wisconsin Paddock Paradise
April 27, 2006
Monica is located in Genesee, Wisconsin and besides being a gifted artist, she is certified as an Equine Sports Massage Therapist and is certified through AANHCP as a Natural Hoof Trimmer.
Monica is building a low-cost Paradise Paddock for her horses and is creating a photo log of the process. You can also visit her homepage at The Natural Hoof for wonderful information on hoof care.
December 13, 2006 at 11:53 pm
Hi,
We are getting ready to develop a Paddock Paradise for our horses, and I would love to be in touch with others who are doing this. I am wondering about the length of the circuit in relation to the number of horses. We will have 6 horses on the track. We do not have vast space, but think this is such an awesome idea.
Thanks,
Katie
December 22, 2006 at 4:53 pm
Hi Katie,
I currently have 5 horses on my track. The Paddock Paradise concept is possible on just about any size of acreage.
One downside I have experienced recently is due to the fact that my track is on a smaller parcel and I have run into some problems this winter with the footing.
With the higher traffic that this number of horses can produce, as soon as we started to get some heavy rains they quickly turned my track into mud. The soil on the track is clay so it dries out very quickly, but it also tends to really dry out hooves too. I have my sections of gravel which is holding up nicley and this is where I feed during these really wet times. I plan on covering the rest of the track with a variety of stone. This has been my only obstacle up to this point.
I will be posting an update on my web site soon to show this problem and my solutions so others can continue to learn from my experiences.
Good luck, and keep us posted on your progress.
Monica
http://www.thenaturalhoof.com
January 19, 2007 at 6:12 pm
Hi Monica,
I hear you are coming next week to my area. I lost your phone number. Please call my cell above and let me know if there is time for me.
Warren
February 24, 2007 at 5:30 pm
I am currently trying to figure out how I can set up a track on my 5+ acres of pasture. Would have 3 on the track…our ground is sand (Minnesota)…mostly flat but after seeing some pictures on these blogs, I think I can also work in treed area.
Also, in Jaime Jackson’s book there was a reference to a Pasture Paradise website…does it exist? I haven’t actually found one…or maybe these blogs are it.
I will have to wait for the ground to thaw out before actually pursuing this project but I think it looks like a great idea. Will keep searching for more people who have tried it.
Thanks.
May 15, 2007 at 6:37 pm
Hi all:
I just finished reading Jackson’s book and am quickly trying to re-think my whole idea about fencing in the two weeks I have before the fencers come to install my brand new fence! I am new to horsekeeping but this is a life-long dream–to have my own horses and my own place to keep them. One issue for me is budget. What kind of fencing have folks been using? I am considering 5 strands of Endurasoft (Premier) for a perimeter but I was wondering is I could get away with two strands of something else inside? tape? rope? I also have two dairy goats and chickens. I’m also a little concerned about the amount of bare ground in this system. I live on 20 acres of reconstructed prairie and I don’t want to create bare soil that could be eroded and then wash soil into our little creek. I’m also concerned about damaging the water quality of our little creek (very muddy and with weak, dirt sides) by allowing horses into it although the idea of having them in the woods and by the creek makes me smile. Any thoughts? Anyone near Northfield, Minnesota that I could come visit and see how it’s done? Thanks for any help or thoughts you might have!
Chris
May 17, 2007 at 4:01 am
Hi, We have our track completed (at least for now) and 6 horses are on it. It is great! They do tend to congregate at the gate (probably due to still getting grain and being fed there by the barn owners) but they do move around a good bit, as well. The best part is the pond–we no longer have to monitor the water! I agree with you about the footing, but so far it has not been too bad. They were not on it in winter, though. We have a bunch of rock and stone in one area and I am delighted with the footing there and the effect it has on their hooves (all 6 are barefoot). Norm and Sandy Brown (barn owners) have been generous in letting us try this and it has relieved their pasture. Norm did all the work to make it happen.
October 15, 2007 at 5:48 am
Hi,
I live in Adelaide, Australia and the idea has found it’s way here. I am about to set this up and I was worried about the erosion issue as well, but our ground is limestone and flat so we should be ok. I only have one horse and 5 alpacas and wonder if they will move each other on.
Comments and suggestions welcome.
January 15, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Hi,
I live in Minnesota and am considering bringing my ywo horses home (they are at a stable). I wonder what conderations there are winter on a track? Have you run into any difficulties with extreme cold or snow?
April 11, 2008 at 6:19 pm
i would like to have monica’s number to see if she can work with my horse. i live in northern part of illinois next to wis.border i met a lady that you work with her horse up by don bar. she is very impressed with what you did for here horse. so please email me back with your number.
thank you
marianne
April 12, 2008 at 3:36 pm
To add some further information for those who have left comments; All issues with my track so far have been weather related.
My track has held up very nicely over the years. The gravel stayed put and still prvides a firm surface in wet times. I did not do any prep work prior to laying down the stone, so there is some grass poking through. There is one section that the horses prefer to use as their “potty” place, so cleaning it up can be a challenge and it tends to cake into the stone. It still offers a firm surface, just not as abrasive any longer.
The top soil has eroded away and I find that I have lots of sand on the track now. I am happy with this, since it is more abrasive and natural for their hooves than the dirt.
The track still gets muddy during the wet season and I have not added feeders. Although, I am considering it only for waste reasons. I would prefer ground feeders for dental health, but I fear that they would end up all over the place. I have very playful and curious horses. I have not figured out the best solution.
Weather related issues are the rain and the wind. I simply canot feed on the track in very windy conditions. The hay blows away. I have an arena that my horses have access to for shelter. It holds them all comfortably. I have round pen panels set up inside to make a small circular corral. I have purchased 7 or 8 hay bags with the small holes. I hang them all around the panels. This cuts down on waste and keeps them really busy. they have to work for their food and due to the size of the corral keeps them from soiling their food. The nets have to hange low enough for dental reasons, but not too low that they play and get caught up in them. The feeders would be best, but it is a very costly investment. Something I will most likely do when we move to our larger property. Maybe on our larger property it won’t be as much of an issue and we can continue to feed on the ground regardless.
The only incentive for the horses to move is the food, so it must be spread all around the track or they will “park” themselves and you will lose the benefit of the track. We walk the track with food 3 to 4 times daily, no matter what condition the track is in, including ice. A little scary at times, but they seem to find their way around.
The only time we will feed in the barn is when the weather is too rough to feed around the track. If it is a blizzard and the hay will get covered too fast, a very cold, rainy, windy, day, or really, really, sloppy conditions.
Since we feed on the track regularly, even when we feed in the arena, the horses will wander around the track looking for food, and will ususally find some scraps.
So far, the track is very successful. My horses are moving, they are not obese, and they appear more harmonious and happy. The “boys” are playing constantly and when they feel like it or get stirred up, they charge around the track and kick up their heels.
These are totally different responses than I would have ever gotten from simply pasturing my horses. Their weight consistency and metabolism being the biggest reward. With the constant movement, there are huge rewards.
Now, my next adventure….Equine Dental!
April 12, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Hi Marianne,
You can reach me at 262-370-8100 or through my web site at http://www.thenaturalhoof.com