By Alayne Renee Blickle

Sometimes the kindest thing you can do for your pastures is to create “sacrifice areas” where horses can be comfortably confined.

Creating Safe Barriers

 
Use the safest fencing you can for your paddocks. While wood fencing is attractive, in a confinement area, wood often offers the temptation for chewing. Whatever type of fencing you choose, you may want to reinforce it with some type of electric tape or hotwire as a “psychological barrier.” Horses are hard on fences and will test most types but tend to respect electric fencing.

Building corners and walls should be safe with no protruding objects where the horse could get hurt, like bolt ends, nails, boards, or the tops of metal T-posts. Also watch out for the corners of roofs and the bottom edges of metal building. There should be no wires or cords hanging in the paddock and absolutely no junk, garbage or machinery.

Keep in mind that gates on fences need to be adequately sized for the types of truck deliveries you expect (such as gravel, hogfuel, hay, etc.).

Other chore-efficient aspects you can add to your perfect paddock include good outdoor lighting. This is best installed during the warm summer months, but is most appreciated during the dark, cold, rainy and snowy winter months.

Proper lighting helps you get your winter manure management chores done sooner and more efficiently-leaving less manure behind to turn into muck over the winter.

Chore-efficient equipment will also help with your perfect paddock. There is nothing worse then cleaning a stall and paddock with a manure fork with broken and missing tines-except perhaps working outside while freezing.

Invest in a useful, wooden-handled (easier to grip in the cold) manure fork that will help you get the job done quickly and easily-as well as a warm, insulated waterproof jacket, wool hat and insulated, waterproof gloves with grips.

Remember, even though your horses can move around in their paddocks, they still need regular exercise. Be sure to plan for and maintain a regular exercise program for your horse.

Also remember to begin springtime grazing gradually– too much pasture can cause serious problems, especially in the spring when grasses are green and lush. Begin pasture grazing time with your horse gradually, starting with about an hour at a time, and working up to several hours over a period of weeks. If you have any questions on this, consult your veterinarian for his recommendations.

By utilizing a confinement area as outlined, you will have less mud and run-off, less dust, fewer flies and reduced odors, as well as healthier pastures. All this means healthier horses, fewer vet bills, less money spent on supplemental feed, a place that’s easier for you to care for, and a horse property that’s pleasant to look at and easier to enjoy-and a cleaner environment for all. That’s perfect!

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