Doing some farm planning for an upcoming move. I’m looking for a bit of advise.
Is there an optimal size and shape for a dry lot for 2-3 horses?
I’d really like to see my horses out grazing 24/7. Even with grazing muzzles (which I personally hate) they need to be out of the pastures at least part of the day.
The dry lot will have a run-in. The horses are fairly active. A leggy 16.2 warmblood and the easily bored 14.3 mustang.
I’d say as big as possible, nice if they can gallop a bit, but obviously you don’t want to sacrifice too much pasture. If I had limited space I might make dry lot double use as arena.
since we use our paddocks as storage of the horses we have the paddocks rather small…we have three 45 ft by 25 ft adjoining paddocks … if they need or want to run around we have a 20 meter round pen …we can put one or two (if buddies) in a paddock
The horses are usually in the paddocks during the afternoon to stay in the shade
So much is ‘it depends.’ I have a shoebox shaped pasture where one narrow end is the barnyard. I am about to create an L on the right side and half of the back because it’s shady, sloped, and so heavily treed that very little grows anyway. It will be no narrower than 70’ anywhere, because one gelding can be a bit snakey. The sharp 90 degree angle will be configured to more of a ( rather than an L because safety. They will have enough room for zooming, naps, a sand pit for rolling, and such.
My 3 and a donkey get along very well, but I want no trapped corners. Also, arenas aren’t for turnout. Just. No.
My current set up includes my dressage arena, it works well. With the grass strip that is about 20’ all around the arena it gives them a bit of grass.
I’m trying to figure out if I’m going to the expense of putting in a proper arena. With the precise grading and “picky” footing it gets pricey fast. My current dry lot has what we call around here road rock, covered with geotextile covered with what we call ag lime (ground limestone). It packs down very well and drains perfectly. The cost is less than putting in all of that plus proper footing on top.
I just drew that size on my property map to see how it fits. I could easily have three or four side by side. I like that yours are adjoining. The horses could play next to each other with no possibility of someone getting trapped. If I plan this correctly I could use gates to separate the run in into two areas for the playful boys and the third would be for the donkeys.
I know I know, but it’s such a money saver to set it up for double duty. I’ve contemplated not having an arena, I’m not competing any more, but, well how does one school? I’m spoiled.
70’ is about 20 meters 
I’ve been thinking about how to eliminated sharp corners…
You’ve all given me inspiration. Here’s my first go (each square is 10’):
Right 10 feet got a bit cut off in the pic.
The setup you drew looks good to me. I would want to make it wide enough that a horse can roll and I would consider using fencing that is less likely to trap stray horse legs during a roll or over the fence play.
we often use an empty paddock in between an occupied paddock to separate playful horses, also works well as an isolation paddock for a new or visiting horse
The round pen is not connected to nor near the paddocks so can be used for isolation or separations
Agree, each little square is 10’. The left and right sides of the run in are open. I think it’s all open enough for rolling.
I’ve always used v-mesh with electric on the top between paddocks. I’m going to see if I can get away with horse guard tape. I’ve not used that in such a small space but I’ve used it for years in other areas.
Good points. I’m hoping I won’t need an isolation paddock but if necessary I could use corral panels and set it up at a distance. I have the panels and will bring them with me when I move.
We will use the isolation paddock for any new horse or a returning horse that has been off the property. Such as when Socrates has been taken to a show where there a thousand other horses we just keep him separated for a while to make sure he has not brought in something.
Regarding v-mesh, there are v-mesh fences around us that were put up in the 1950s that are still in great condition.
Before I thought about moving I put up new v-mesh only because the posts rotted after 30 years. If I didn’t reconfigure things I probably could have reused it. Good stuff.
I have 30’ long runs off each stall. These open to an honest to goodness dry lot, no grass, that about 100’ by 200’. On either side of the dry lot is a gate that opens to a grass paddock. I have to greatly restrict grazing in the spring due to metabolic issues with one horse.
The runs have a base of limestone screenings which helps control the mud.
I like that set up. I’m a fan of 24/7 access to the outside world.
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