Track Systems

[Alterration]

I would run an inner strand of electric off the barbed wire at the very least with either offsets or run the track “double inside” - meaning use posts on both sides keeping them both off the barbed wire AND the opposite side.

Most people use some sort of step in post and tape or electric rope. Whatever you do, ensure you have emergency breakaways on them. If you make your track more of a curve you may be able to get away with all step ins (so make an oval inside of your square/rectangle).

You don’t say how many horses you have but I like two feeding stations at the very least to reduce competition and crowding. I’ve got 8 horses on my track and that works well for us.

[lizloveshorses]

Thanks @trubandloki and @Alterration! I have 5 horses (3 boarders and two of my own) and there is electric on the inside of my barbed wire fence that’s not currently hot but I will hook it up for the track system. I like the idea of doing a curve, I’ll plan on two circular-ish loops to make more of a figure 8 shape.

Alterration - can you tell me more about the emergency breakaways?

Also has anyone bought the Horse Track System book by Amy Dell?

[Alterration]

Here’s an example of a type for rope fence - https://litzclip.com/en/safety-link/

Rope fencing can tangle up a horse pretty well and cause nasty compression injuries, so things like these can help keep that from happening.

With 5 horses, I might be inclined to create two feeding stations. When it was just my 4 on property, when I put out the second feeding station I noticed a lot less conflict behavior.

I have that book - have you joined the track system and paddock paradise groups on Facebook? There are multiple of them, and they all are pretty good (so far as I can tell!)

[PaddockWood]

@lizloveshorses

Also has anyone bought the Horse Track System book by Amy Dell?

I have it and it’s very.well.done. Highly recommend. Did you know there is a Facebook group w some 70k members? Horse Track Systems I think it’s called.

[Horsecrazy3]

Just ordered it. I have a winter track system and have been planning to expand it to all year round. It sounds like a good reference book to get more ideas on how to design and enrich it.

[PaddockWood]

Yeah and go spend time on the Horse Track System group on Facebook. The group is very active and it is amazing what people are doing on this planet with track systems. Total inspiration.

[lizloveshorses]

The book arrives today! I’m quite excited to take a look. Some friends just gave me pound in fiberglass posts and wire, but I’m thinking I’d rather do polyrope or polywire for the visibility. I know I’ll have to do tposts at the corners. Does anyone have any experience with this type of wire? Thanks for the litzclips link, I’ll get some of those ordered as well.

I am also on the Horse Track System group on FB, I’ll probably start posting pictures there once I get things set up. We just got a huge snowstorm yesterday so it’ll be another few weeks before I can put posts in the ground!

[Horsecrazy3]

My book arrived today. Had a quick look through and have already gotten a few ideas for expanding my track. Also looked at the Horse Track System FB group and have rethought a track plan I was contemplating on trying.

[rulex]

@lizloveshorses

can you tell me more about the emergency breakaways?

The litz clips @Alterration recommended are a good option. I’ve personally had a really hard time finding any where I am but recently saw someone suggest using the metal rope connectors for the same purpose. Just tighten loose enough so the rope ends will come apart under tension.

I’ve started building a track off my main dry lot and letting the horses into it even though it doesn’t go anywhere yet. Eventually it will lead to a pasture. Right now it’s going through a strand of trees and brush and the horses are loving going in there to nibble and browse.

[lizloveshorses]

I set up mine and let horses out on it 2 weeks ago. Maybe I’m seeing things, but I think their overall condition is much better with the movement they’re getting. I went from 5 horses to 3 last weekend so there are parts that are super wide that I might move in, and I’m getting a better sense of how they’re using the landscape to move (or not move).

@rulex thanks for the great suggestion, I already have a couple of spots where I have rope connectors and I will loosen them so they can slide through in an emergency.

[Pico_Banana]

After laboring over improving my grass pastures last year for my three horses - two that do well on grass and one that needs a grazing muzzle plus exercise - my “always on a diet” girl has blown up like a tick. It’s probably that she’s mostly been out of work (she’s working through an issue plus my job is killing me), but for the last week she’s been only allowed to graze for one hour each morning, then is stuck in the dry lot with soaked hay. I’m handwalking and/or longing every day.

But we are all miserable, including the other two horses who are taking the separation worse than the one in solitary confinement.

So . . . I’m thinking about maybe trying a track system. I’d like to start modest and see how it does. I have a one acre grass pasture that is mostly rectangular. On a mild slope. It gets quite wet at the bottom of the slope. There’s a shedrow barn with an overhang on one side.

Has anyone does just a fence mirroring their perimeter fence on something as small as an acre?

Also, if the track starts out as grass (as mine is), how has that worked out? I’m torn as to what is the best thing to do. Mow the pasture grass short and supplement with hay? Or leave the grass and hope the additional exercise counteracts the grass? I would still have the option of keeping her on the dry lot for whatever part of the day I choose.

[gahorseygal]

Yes this is how I started. I think it was more like .75 acres and it was a loop. I ended up making it a figure eight after a year and really liked that. Now it’s back to a loop but inside of a 1.75 acre pasture. I let them eat the grass down while still supplying hay. They always have hay as an option.

The grass disappeared over the winter but has popped back up with all of the rain we have. The horses graze it a bit during the day but also still eat out of the haynets. At night they go out on the grass pasture. 2 eat freely and one is in a grazing muzzle. They are all a healthy weight!

[Pico_Banana]

@gahorseygal Thanks for the feedback! With three horses, how many hay nets do you put out?

[lizloveshorses]

A friend of mine had a setup that was .5 acre for her two horses and it worked great. In the summer, she would let them out onto the grass on the inside overnight. You could do that for the two that are good on grass and leave the other one on the track.

You will probably need to address the wet/boggy spots long term if you want to make the track a permanent feature.

If you’re worried about her blowing up on grass, let the other two out on the track alone for a week or so and let them eat it down before turning her out. I have hay in two corners to encourage my group to move even though there are still spots where grass comes through.