What are acceptable dimensions for a dry lot for individual turnout? Would it be more ideal for narrower but longer? Or more square-ish? Probably plan on a few hrs of grazing a day, with the rest in dry lot w metabolically safe hay.
Can’t do track system (ours play hard
too much grass and have lost my battle with muzzles.
Considering that every horse is different, what has worked for us is to have a good fence between horses is important.
That there is sufficient width for horses to feel safe from others, that is some horses are fine in 12’ runs, most stress there and need at least 16’, figuring 20’ minimum is best.
Once we talk about lot size, the bigger the better.
I read a long ago study that had several long individual turnout pens for horses that were, remembering the pictures, about 40’ by 300’+ long.
The studies did show that when horses were turned out they raced each other for a few minutes, then settled to graze a bit and mostly stood there, some close to others, some more by themselves.
They never determined if any one size or shape made a difference, who the horses were, if young, older, mares, worked regularly, all that keep changing how they “lived” on different turnouts, if individually or in groups of any size.
Our old Cushings horse lived 8+ years seemingly happy by himself in our pens by the barn and walking out to the pen we built for him that was 80’ wide and 400’ long, next to where our pastured horses would come and go by all day long.
He never seemed to fret over them, would at times walk along the fence with them, in our out, or watch them, not excited about what they were up to, other than the rare cold morning when all ran a bit playing.
In our SW semi-desert, our grasses are not lush generally, so we can use more ground for dry lot, not worry too much grass will grow there.
OP may have to limit size if lush grass grows most anywhere in her area.
Study your horse in different situations to determine what makes him comfortable and remember, better build portable, so you can remodel if his needs or yours change.
We use portable panels where we can.
This is our old horse coming in to eat, happy to have his world all to himself, no competition, no sharing needed for him:
Thanks for all the info. I am thinking of digging up the grass/dirt/clay and making a durable crush and run topped w stone dust type surface that would alleviate concerns for mud. Not sure if that’s even feasible long term.
How do you get panels to stay? I was thinking permanent fence w electric tape over top so horses can’t reach over.
Tentatively thinking 25’ x200’, but maybe needs to be wider. I guess longer makes sense so they can run/jog for a stretch if they feel like it as opposed to walking in circles in a more square-ish turnout.
How many horses would be in this space?
1 horse per 25x200 space. I plan to have 3x (25x200 feet).
To keep your footing long term you will have to keep the hay and manure cleaned up. (How much depends on your climate and soil conditions.)
More space is better.
More space means more chance for vegetation to grow that you will have to tend to (kill).
Less space means more foot traffic so vegetation is less likely to grow.
25’ x 200’ is quite long and narrow but should work.
According to what I remember of those old studies, the 25’x200 feet would work as a minimum for drylot pens just fine.
There are many places where space is tight and horses live in small pens all the time and do ok.
You can add, change it later if you need to, if you make it adjustable.
For horse traps, we in places use regular woven wire with a pipe on top for more permanent fencing.
We have a post pounder for all kinds of posts, t-post, pipe post, so we can easily change any fence by pulling posts and pounding them somewhere else to attach whatever fencing we want to use.
The sky is the limit on what you want to use, just be sure horses on both sides will be safe if they get into the fence.
If horses are just standing there all day they may have different requirements than if they are taken out regularly and get to work also, training or competing or just doing other most days.
Important if you will have horses on both sides of a fence that the fence be horse proof for your goals.
in the big horse barn, where performance horses train, we don’t want them with bite marks.
We made the fences between runs, stalls are 16’ wide, 16’ x 5’ panels out of horse welded wire, 2" x 4", with a 2’ pipe top, middle and bottom, where horses can interact but not chew on each other, eat manes or tails, etc.
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