The Paddock Paradise track system is a layout designed to promote continuous movement, social interaction, and natural foraging behaviors in horses. Drawing inspiration from wild herd dynamics, this system fosters physical and psychological health for all equines.
By implementing a track system or ‘Paddock Paradise’ we can improve our horses’ health by restricting the intake of inappropriate grass while encouraging more movement by spreading resources apart.
A track enables you to grow grass hay for forage (in the middle) and keep pastures in good shape for rotational grazing.
It can even act as a firebreak around the perimeter of your property.
A track allows you to cater for horses with varying needs such as older horses or mares with foals who can graze in the middle of the track while still moving with their herd mates within the track.
Six more benefits of a track system
Stimulating Environment: Encourages social and mental engagement.
Weight Management: Helps with laminitis and Equine Metabolic Syndrome.
Improved Hoof Health: Strengthens hooves and promotes self-trimming.
Paddock Paradise track systems have been set up worldwide with horse owners using their imagination to provide a stimulating environment for their horses. By incorporating herd living, appropriate feeding practices, and barefoot hoof care, we can give our equines a healthier, happier life.
The posts below explain how a ‘Paddock Paradise’ track or combined system can work for you.
Paddock Paradise Articles
Hybrid Horse Keeping – Equicentral and Tracks combined-There are many ways to achieve what you want and just as many opinions on what is best when it comes to keeping your horses! With so many variables and as each individual situation is different, it’s good to keep an open mind about horse-keeping models. So let’s look at how a combination of two […]
Aiming for self-trimming horse hooves-By Cynthia Cooper What is a self-trimming horse? They aren’t trained to use farrier tools on themselves that’s for sure! A self-trimming horse is a barefoot horse that wears their hooves naturally, without the intervention of tools to maintain soundness and good hoof function. All wild horses are self-trimming with their hooves varying according to […]
Diagram example of a track around a 10 acre pasture.-This is a broad overview of a Paddock Paradise track system showing how to include the main components for safety and horse health. Thanks to the Australian Equine Barefoot Movement for permission to use this diagram. You can find many more examples of tracks on my Paddock Track board on Pinterest here.
Alyssa’s Paddock Paradise Experience-OK, well it started off being about water. I was aware of the Jaime Jackson paddock paradise concept, because I had done some reading, and heard others talk about it, but I always assumed it would be too difficult or too expensive, and I wasn’t really sure what the benefits would be other than warm […]
Leigh Martin from Mountain River in Tasmania writes about his track…-We have set up track about 4months ago I guess, been working well, in fact I think its could be the best thing we have ever done for our horses. We are lucky in that the perimiter of our property (about 1.5klm) is where most of our trees are and our dam and bush areas. […]
Gps Tracking Results:-Another ‘project’ of mine is to find better ways of providing a more natural environment for my horses to live in, that fulfils their physical and emotional needs. This led me to offering my two herds to be part of a study on how much movement a horse does in a typical daily domestic situation. […]
My Paddock Paradise-Jaime Jackson’s book, Paddock Paradise inspired me to implement a new approach to keeping my horses that encourages more movement and in the spring/summer, will enable me to control grazing so laminitis events are kept under control. My Track I constructed an inner electric fence around the perimeter of my 10-acre paddock to form a […]
2 thoughts on “Paddock Paradise Track System”
VICKI CRAIG
I have a concern about my horses eating trees..on the paddock, in the run in..I’ve tried wire, oils, cinnamon, etc..Also, what are thoughts of round bales on the tracks during winter months?
It’s quite natural for horses to want to eat trees but if you don’t want them to eat particular trees, it’s best to fence them off with electric, or completely enclose the tree in a solid wire cage.
Try providing your horses with logs of safe to eat branches like willow, poplar and birch to satisfy their chewing urge. Sometimes they will want to chew trees to get more roughage so be sure you’re providing grass hay daily or 24/7. Also, giving them a mineral supplement that is high in copper and zinc can alleviate tree chewing.
I use round bales for my horses on track all winter – it’s their only source of roughage so they have them 24/7 in round bale nets like these: https://www.naturalhorseworldstore.com/round-bale-haysaver-net-australia/
To keep the bale from soaking up water I sit them on a pallet. If your bale isn’t being consumed within a week you may need to provide some cover for it with a tarp or roof of some sort. Here’s an idea: https://naturalhorseworld.com/round-bale-slowfeeder-nets/
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I have a concern about my horses eating trees..on the paddock, in the run in..I’ve tried wire, oils, cinnamon, etc..Also, what are thoughts of round bales on the tracks during winter months?
It’s quite natural for horses to want to eat trees but if you don’t want them to eat particular trees, it’s best to fence them off with electric, or completely enclose the tree in a solid wire cage.
Try providing your horses with logs of safe to eat branches like willow, poplar and birch to satisfy their chewing urge. Sometimes they will want to chew trees to get more roughage so be sure you’re providing grass hay daily or 24/7. Also, giving them a mineral supplement that is high in copper and zinc can alleviate tree chewing.
I use round bales for my horses on track all winter – it’s their only source of roughage so they have them 24/7 in round bale nets like these: https://www.naturalhorseworldstore.com/round-bale-haysaver-net-australia/
To keep the bale from soaking up water I sit them on a pallet. If your bale isn’t being consumed within a week you may need to provide some cover for it with a tarp or roof of some sort. Here’s an idea: https://naturalhorseworld.com/round-bale-slowfeeder-nets/