How to keep horses with different needs on one track system

How do you accommodate the needs of different horses whilst keeping them all on one track system?

Paddock paradise track systems, if done with the original concept in mind, should all be incorporate what I call the 'basics'.

Regardless of whether your horse is a good doer, a poor doer, or struggles with metabolic issues, they should all start from the same point when approaching their needs. Look at this as the foundation for each horse in your herd or care, with room to then build upon with additional tools if required. Some horses will not need any additional support, feed, or help after supplying them with our foundation of 'basics', whilst others will. Regardless, they're starting from the same point and by doing so, we rule out a whole host of issues that are otherwise difficult to avoid or a nightmare to juggle.

The 3 main basics:

1. Remove all access to grass

Speaking as someone from the UK, by removing the grass on our track system, we are removing the biggest risk factor and cause of widespread inflammation. It doesn't matter if the horse in question if a Thoroughbred, a cob, a retired gentlemen or a poor doer, the grass is removed all the same and here's why.

The grass in many countries and climates that is readily available to us is not the same type of grass that the equine and their digestive system has evolved to thrive on. In my experience, the evidence of this is normally found in the event lines of their hooves, as well as cracking, splitting, chipping, white line separation, reoccurring abscesses, puffy eyes and sheath, obesity, metabolic fat pads, colic and so on.

Eradicating their access to grass, and other inflammatory sources, and replacing it with something more suitable is the first step in optimising whole horse health - a strong value of paddock paradise. Even if one horse doesn't appear to have issues with your grass, replacing it with something better suited puts everyone on a level playing ground and actively prevents future issues from arising. It also eliminates the need for reduced turnout, grazing muzzles and other preventative measures such as strip grazing.

2. Provide netted, ad lib hay

A continual source of netted hay should be provided on track at all times. Many owners fear providing hay in this way but through increased movement, herd living and an enriching environment, it is entirely possible for overweight, metabolic and food guarding horses to become an optimum weight, maintain said optimum weight and decrease anxiety or stress around forage.

Through providing adlib hay, we provide a continual source of high fibre with is essential for things like gut motility and reducing the risk of colic and ulcers, as well as decreasing the overall conflict, anxiety and stress amongst the herd. However, it's crucial to feed the right type of hay and in a way that mimics their natural behaviour of little but often mouthfuls, whilst moving from one place to the next. Horses that don't move or have nothing enriching to do besides eat will not successfully live on ad lib hay. Providing hay in some capacity is essential to the function of the track system and will have a knock-on affect to your horse's health.

If you want to learn more about feeding hay and hay stations, check out our free blog post here.

3. Movement

Regardless of size, age, breed or weight, movement is just as essential to horses as the air they breathe. Horses that are moving, living and eating in a species appropriate way will start healing towards or maintaining an ideal body weight, be it under or overweight. Movement builds muscle which is something that two horses at the complete opposite end of the weight scale still need to have. How they achieve that happy, middle medium is just slightly different. One will be gaining healthy weight and muscle, and one will be losing excess weight, and then gaining muscle – two very different needs executed with the same basics in place.

Movement also plays a key role in maintaining and optimising gut health, hoof health, fitness, and joint health. In particular, horses with arthritis, poor hoof health, stiffness, and those who are colic prone will also benefit from increased movement, as well as those in ridden work, who need to maintain their muscle and fitness.

Everything else:

Once the basics are there, it's much easier to assess individual needs and address them accordingly. Whilst it's important that all horses have access to a broad spec, high quality vitamin and mineral supplement, giving hard feed provides the perfect opportunity to add additional species appropriate items or increase the bucket size to cater to specific needs or medications.

You may find some horses will need rugging during certain times of the year whilst others may not. Some horses will need medication and a careful eye whilst some will be perfectly content on the bare minimum. Managing a large herd of horses with varying needs, complex or simple, is absolutely possible if the basics are there to work upwards from. When the basics are missing, it becomes a juggling act of managing often preventable problems and different management methods.

The proof is in the pudding

Here are a few examples from one of the herds living at PB Paddock Paradise Livery. This herd normally has 10-12 members and mostly houses retirements. However, we do have another herd of just ridden horses too.

Key points:

• All horses are barefoot and trimmed by the same hoof care practitioner

• All horses has a feed with a vitamin and mineral supplement and some salt

• Older horses or poor doers are fed a vitamin and mineral supplement with added protein

  
  

Buster is a 18 year old Cob x Warmblood who has lived on our track system for roughly 15 years. He has a carrier feed with MVA (vits & mins + extra protein). He has an old stifle injury from when he was a youngster and a 'natural' grown club foot to support him. He is occasionally ridden without issue.

Pops is a 22 year old Connemara x who has lived on our track system for 3 years. He is fed a slightly larger dinner with added sunflower seeds and MVA. He has a history of weight loss and laminitis. He is here on retirement livery. Through winter, he is rugged if needed.

Bisquit is a 21 year old shetland who has lived on our track system for 4 years. She is fed a carrier feed with MVA. She has a history of chronic laminitis and EMS.

Pixie is thought to be in her mid 20s and is standard bred. She is fed a carrier with MVA and is given painkillers on occasion to help manage her arthritis knees. She is given them a few days before trimming to optimise her comfort and if the ground suddenly goes very hard. She is retired and has been on our track system for roughly 10 years.

Glen is a 22 year old highland pony and has been with us since 2022. He was rehabilitated for EMS and poor hoof health initially and has lasting gut damage and Cushings. He is fed a slightly larger feed with MVA and added calories as he is prone to weight fluctuations. He is rugged in winter and clipped during the summer to help manage his temperature.