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Sub-dividing paddocks

canoetrpr
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Apr 10, 2007, 6:32 PM

Post #1 of 5 (457 views)
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Sub-dividing paddocks	Can't Post

Hi folks, newbie here - hope I can get some advice from you on this.

I've currently got about 11-12 acres in pasture divided into two paddocks - rear is 8 to 9 acres and front is about 3 to 3.5 acres.
My pastures and barn are going to be rented out to a neighbour who has 3 ponies and 2 horses. However she plans on keeping them separated (2 horses together and 3 ponies together)
I'm wondering if I should go ahead and subdivide my pastures further to allow for paddocks to get a rest and for me to be able to safely mow, harrow etc. with my tractor in a paddock without horses there.
The smaller front pasture is actually more productive than the larger rear one and it would be easier to get water to two paddocks if I were to sub-divide the front paddock into two 1.5 acre paddocks.
I could (also) sub-divide the back larger pasture into two 4 acre paddocks but I'd need to come up with a solution for how to get water to the rear of the two paddocks.
My questions are:
- Will two 1.5 acre paddocks be too small for two horses (or three ponies) provided that the animals are being rotated through them. I'm reasonably confident that my land can support the stocking rate (horses will have hay for 6 mo in the winter) but I'm not sure that 1.5 acre is adequate for two horses or three ponies to have enough room to be comfortable and to not completely wreck the grass if it is wet in the spring / fall.
- How do the rest of you manage to get water to your furthest paddocks if you are practicing rotational grazing? Rotational grazing sounded good until I started thinking about getting water to all the paddocks!
I'd have to run a hose for about 700 feet and I'm not sure to be honest that I'd have enough water pressure if I did!
Will appreciate your thoughts!

tallyho8
New Member

Apr 14, 2007, 1:51 AM

Post #2 of 5 (453 views)
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Re: [canoetrpr] Sub-dividing paddocks [In reply to]	Can't Post

I have run a hose over 1000 feet to my back pasture to fill water troughs with no problem. Sure, the pressure is lower, but I am just filling a trough, not fighting a fire.

(This post was edited by tallyho8 on Apr 14, 2007, 1:52 AM)

boboren
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May 8, 2007, 4:45 PM

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Re: [canoetrpr] Sub-dividing paddocks [In reply to]	Can't Post

We have two horses and about 2.5 acres of pasture. I have divided it up into 3 areas. Actually, 2.5 acres is not enough, in my opinion, for two horses. I have seeded both areas about 3 weeks ago. In another 3 weeks, I will let them start grazing one of the areas and then after 10 days to 2 weeks, I will put them in the other area and let the first one grow back. Right now I am feeding them hay only. Last year they grazed all the grass too low and I was not fast enough or knowledgable enough to get part or all of it seeded before winter.

I may end up opening another area so that I have more areas to move them to while the others have a chance to grow back properly.

Bob Oren
Semper Fi

canoetrpr
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May 15, 2007, 10:25 PM

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Re: [boboren] Sub-dividing paddocks [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Bob:

A fellow Schutzhunder here. I have a pet GSD who I started with and got her BH. She's just being a pet right now. My current working dog is a Belgian - Terv actually .... but really a long haired Mal a couple of generations up :-). We just got our BH last weekend and now on towards SCH 1.

The GSD on your avatar looks really really nice. You are breeding working lines I presume?

boboren
Member

May 16, 2007, 6:25 PM

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Re: [canoetrpr] Sub-dividing paddocks [In reply to]	Can't Post

Canoetpr,

Yes, we breed working lines and also show lines. The dog in the picture is Joschy. He is a grand-son of the great Yoschy from Germany. Joschy is a really good Schutzhund dog. He tracks well and hits like a ton of bricks.

Thanks for your comments about him. Yes, he really is a nice looking dog. We are using him as a stud dog now. A litter of 6 puppies from him are due this Friday or Saturday. We have one show dog puppy that is not sold yet. She is 6 weeks old.

We belong to Blitzburg Hundesport Club and we train at our home just about every Sunday.

Do you plan to go on to Sch. 3 with your dog?

How is your separation of paddock areas coming along?

Bob Oren
Semper Fi

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