tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2113210295764288330.post3209636065595618732..comments2024-01-27T06:46:56.744-06:00Comments on Paradigm Farms Horse Retirement: Thoughts on FencingMelissa-ParadigmFarmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274830693649851658noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2113210295764288330.post-73924874198893911712009-11-05T17:55:36.139-06:002009-11-05T17:55:36.139-06:00Java's mom;
We use 6 paddocks with sacrifice ...Java's mom;<br /><br />We use 6 paddocks with sacrifice areas in most of them for when it gets muddy in the winter. We have a grand total of 40 horses...all but three of them retirees, on just more than 100 acres. In our part of the world mud is not nearly the concern it is in the NE and southern Canada, although it gets plenty muddy at times. There is some growth on our grasses 12 months of the year although from Christmas until the end of February we alternate between growing periods and dormant periods depending heavily on what the temperature has done the past few days. Two and a half acres per horse on our type of land is about the maximum stocking density if one is going to count on grazing to supply most of the nutrition. This land per horse allocation could be reduced considerably by practicing a modified form of rotational grazing. It could also be reduced considerably if the capability of the land was higher (ie deeper soils and less slopes), hence my propensity/fetish for flood plain land ! :) <br /><br />Our biggest concern down here is summer drought...not so much because it doesn't rain...it does, but evapotranspiration rates are very high in July/August leading to a water deficit.Jasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09092424684260339977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2113210295764288330.post-33077010212989418122009-11-05T08:08:38.758-06:002009-11-05T08:08:38.758-06:00As you know we have Centaur, and have had Java rol...As you know we have Centaur, and have had Java roll into in, legs on the wrong sides, kick it, rub her eye on it, lot of things that wood would pose a problem for a horse and it has been great. What is a little "interesting" is when someone comes to look at the barn and they think it can break, stretch like silly putty, or cut their legs. I'm not that good at being diplomatic, but I explain the safety, etc. Some people just don't understand it. That's OK. SO if it helps to make you feel better, there are pros and cons to it all. <br /><br />And: do you guys use mostly two paddocks (one mares, one geldings) and do you ever need a sacrafice paddock or are your pastures so large and growing season so long (jealous) that you don't need them? Or, maybe you rotate the two groups over more than two paddocks so one is resting. SOrry long comment, but I'm wondering... and you'll be helping me with a decision here for another paddock we are to install... thank you.Java's Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08053015366363203873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2113210295764288330.post-14345789089884661902009-11-04T09:28:18.413-06:002009-11-04T09:28:18.413-06:00Why can't you have electric fencing? I agree t...Why can't you have electric fencing? I agree the board fencing is nice looking but a pain in the butt! I love our electric fence; it really does the job :)Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12314973421591276840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2113210295764288330.post-42799632900708132252009-11-04T05:08:00.906-06:002009-11-04T05:08:00.906-06:00I'm not a big fan of wood either, although it ...I'm not a big fan of wood either, although it works well for perimeter fencing. No climb small-mesh wire is very good, and diamond mesh is even better although too expensive except for small areas. We do internal subdivision of our pastures with electric tape and it works very well. I'm also intrigued by the wide-strand electric tape that comes in rolls and looks like board fencing when it's up - it's attractive and very low maintenance although it requires reinforced corner posts and isn't suitable for rolling terrain - it works better on the flat.<br /><br />Thanks for the pictures of the happy horses!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com