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canoetrpr
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Reged: 08/13/05
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Posts: 18
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Loc: Ontario, Canada
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Sub-dividing paddocks
04/10/07 04:35 PM
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Hi folks - hope I can get some advice from you on this.
I've currently got about 11-12 acres in pasture divided into two paddocks - rear is 8 to 9 acres and front is about 3 to 3.5 acres.
My pastures and barn are going to be rented out to a neighbour who has 3 ponies and 2 horses. However she plans on keeping them separated (2 horses together and 3 ponies together)
I'm wondering if I should go ahead and subdivide my pastures further to allow for paddocks to get a rest and for me to be able to safely mow, harrow etc. with my tractor in a paddock without horses there.
The smaller front pasture is actually more productive than the larger rear one and it would be easier to get water to two paddocks if I were to sub-divide the front paddock into two 1.5 acre paddocks.
I could (also) sub-divide the back larger pasture into two 4 acre paddocks but I'd need to come up with a solution for how to get water to the rear of the two paddocks.
My questions are:
- Will two 1.5 acre paddocks be too small for two horses (or three ponies) provided that the animals are being rotated through them. I'm reasonably confident that my land can support the stocking rate (horses will have hay for 6 mo in the winter) but I'm not sure that 1.5 acre is adequate for two horses or three ponies to have enough room to be comfortable and to not completely wreck the grass if it is wet in the spring / fall.
- How do the rest of you manage to get water to your furthest paddocks if you are practicing rotational grazing? Rotational grazing sounded good until I started thinking about getting water to all the paddocks!
I'd have to run a hose for about 700 feet and I'm not sure to be honest that I'd have enough water pressure if I did!
Will appreciate your thoughts!
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Bird
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Reged: 09/12/02
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Posts: 1694
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Loc: Corinth, TX, USA
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Re: Sub-dividing paddocks
[re: canoetrpr]
04/10/07 05:49 PM
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In reply to:
Will two 1.5 acre paddocks be too small for two horses (or three ponies)
In my opinion, yes. Although you are admittedly in a different part of the world from me so maybe things are different there.
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jimbrown
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Reged: 08/06/04
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Posts: 384
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Loc: Tombstone, AZ
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Re: Sub-dividing paddocks
[re: canoetrpr]
04/10/07 06:42 PM
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Ahh here in Az 20 ac would be too small. But, the problem will not be what they eat which is what most people think about, but the fact that being horses/ponies they will constantly be on the move and stompt the grass down untill it is just dirt.Plus horses tend to pull the grass out of the ground by the roots. 1.5 ac is to small for anything except a corral area.
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Rozzy10
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Reged: 05/07/07
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Posts: 2
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Re: Sub-dividing paddocks
[re: canoetrpr]
05/07/07 06:57 AM
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Hi,
I am in a very different part of the world and we have highly productive ground. Two answers - if the ponies are able to rotate so the paddocks are not eaten right out particularly in the growing season and have supplement feed they will be OK. (there is a qualifying criteria there - will these be being worked) if they are being worked and get additional feed in the colder months then it will work.
If you want to access water without more infrastructure then run a narrow laneway to the water and have you paddocks all open onto that lane. a bit more fencing but this allows you to rotate through small areas allowing the grass to rest and recover and still only need one water source. I do not know if this will work where you are bit it works for all my small paddocks and holding areas. I have 300 goats, 10 ponies, 4 horses, 40 dexter cattle, 6 santa cattle, 6 brahma cross cattle, 200 damara sheep, 3 alpaccas, 4 italian sheep dogs, 20 turkey, 20 chickens 10 guinea fowl and I think that is about it. Oh and then there is the good old Australian Kelpie not much help but a great companion. Juggling and making spaces, shelter and feed is an art form here. I hope I have given you a couple of ideas. I do not try to make facilities in every space I make every space have access to central facilities. It saves money and time and maintenance. 
Roz
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miss_thenorth
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Reged: 10/17/07
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Posts: 37
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Loc: SW Ontario, Canada
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Re: Sub-dividing paddocks
[re: canoetrpr]
10/17/07 03:55 PM
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Hey there! I realize you posted this in April, but I'll throw in my 2 cents worth. i too, am in Ontario, and I was told an acre per horse for grazing. as for water, i would assume you have a hay wagon, and what you could get is a 450 gallon drum,(try a farm auction) put it up on your hay wagon, and have the two wtering stations close together, and use the drum to fill their watering barrels. you can get a bulk water card from the municipality, considering u are close to a bulk water station--where we live--water is $1.50 for 220 gallons. You could leave the wagon there until y ou need more water-or hay. Just a thought
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