How to Create a Track System for Horses: A Guide to Healthier, Happier Herds
As natural horse care advocates, we share our tips for creating a horse track system that doesn’t have to blow the budget. In this blog, we look at some brilliant budget ideas to create a track system for horses, whether you are a horse owner or a livery business. We cover the basics, from explaining what a track system is to how to build the perfect track for horses, important considerations and everything else you need to know about installing your own system.
What Is a Horse Track System?
A horse track system, sometimes referred to as a ‘paddock paradise’, is a planned layout of fencing, paths, and natural features, which help mimic a wild horse’s natural movement patterns. Unlike traditional paddocks or pastures, a track system encourages domesticated horses to walk, graze, and interact with their environment throughout the day, improving both their physical health and mental well-being. A track system also avoids the problems of spring grass colic and other health issues.
Why Build a Track System for Your Horses?
Building a system results in healthier horses because it mimics their natural behaviour. Unlike field turnout, which is the more common domesticated environment for our horses, tracks offer a wide range of health benefits.
- Improved Hoof Health: Constant movement promotes natural wear and better circulation.
- Weight Management: Increases movement, which helps reduce the risk of laminitis, obesity, and other metabolic-related conditions, such as EMS with restricted grazing.
- Mental Stimulation: Horses love to explore a varied terrain, browse different forage areas, and engage in herd dynamics, providing an enriched environment. Different kinds of food placed along the track encourage foraging. These vary from haynets to herb troughs to mimic horses’s natural behaviour.
- Greater Efficient Land Use: Helps preserve central grazing areas while maintaining healthier pastures for domestic horses.
Key Questions to Ask Before You Begin
Before you start building a paddock paradise, you need to ask yourself several questions;
- How much land do I have available?
- What type of soil and terrain do I have?
- How many horses will be using the track?
- What is my budget for a perimeter fence and footing materials?
- Do I need to accommodate different horse ages or health needs?
Answering these questions is a good starting point in creating a natural environment and helps you design a system that accommodates both your property and horses.
Step-by-Step: How to Design a Horse Track System
1. How to make a Track System
Look at a Google Earth view of your property and make a drawing of your land. Identify natural features like trees, any water sources, and also elevation changes. Rather than thinking about removing this natural habitat, use these to your advantage. Horses enjoy variation, and it also helps remove unwanted behaviour, promotes hoof strength and improves coordination.
2. Plan the Perimeter Track
Most systems run along the outer edge of the fields, often forming a loop. Make sure the track is wide enough, ideally 10–20 feet, to allow free movement and social interaction. You should consider how many horses will be using the track to ensure there is enough space for the herd to travel and allow extra room on the corners to avoid sharp turns and narrow openings, which could cause issues with more horses. You can use temporary fencing (such as electric tape) if you’re still experimenting and want to check that the track works well before installing permanent fencing.
3. Create Points of Interest
Your paddock paradise should include “attractions” which encourage movement. If your herd has everything it needs in one area, it may be more sedentary and ultimately, you want to encourage continuous movement for optimal health. These features should include:
- Water troughs
- Hay feeding stations
- Salt/mineral licks
- Natural shade or large open-fronted field shelters
- Scratching posts
- Obstacle features like logs or gentle slopes
4. What is the Best Surface for a Horse Track System?
A mix of surfaces keeps hooves conditioned. Natural materials such as dirt, gravel, sand, and wood chippings are commonly used. However, assess your ground conditions and remember that any track that requires groundwork may well be subject to planning permissions. Experts often recommend Natural dirt tracks, but an assessment of the natural habitat is best considered on a case-by-case basis.
5. Rotate and Rest Central Areas
Track systems are fantastic for protecting pasture as they limit grazing to specific zones. You can rotate access to central pastures to allow regrowth while keeping horses moving. As a rule of thumb, many track owners will slowly transition their horses over to central grazing in fields over the winter months to rest the tracks. You can still boost equine health by creating a stimulating environment in your winter paddock and restrict grazing with this approach to horse management.
How Much Does a Track System Cost?
Costs vary widely depending on materials and land conditions. A basic DIY track using electric fencing and natural terrain can be under £1,000. More permanent set-ups with post-and-rail fencing, gravel footing, and built-in shelters can cost several thousand dollars. However, companies such as Abbotts View Livery offer consultancy services, which can help you save money and help assist with budget planning, providing suggestions on the best temporary surfaces tailored to your individual needs.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
There are a few common mistakes to avoid in creating your basic track. These include choosing the wrong surfaces or missing key elements. Here are a few;
- Too Narrow Paths: Narrow tracks can cause conflict and blockages in natural herd movement, leading to injury and stress. Ensure food areas have plenty of space and access for the entire herd to avoid the risk of injury and food aggression.
- Lack of Shelter or Water Access: Make sure these essentials are accessible from the track and ensure there is more than one option in your track to ensure all the herd can access these elements.
- Not Planning Drainage: Even if you plan to use familiar tracks only in the summer months, consider drainage and surface options in those high-traffic areas. Resting points and areas with feeding and watering stations are likely to become poached ground in wet weather.
- Not Investing in Adequate Fencing for Horses: It’s not just expensive competition horses that require quality fencing in their fields; everyone benefits from safe and secure fencing for horses. Avoid accidents and escapees with quality fencing options and regularly check for any damages.
FAQs About Horse Track Systems:
How much land do you need for a horse track system? You can create a track system from as little as 1–2 acres if thoughtfully designed. Use creative curves and loops to maximise horse movement.
Is a track system good for older or injured horses? Yes, with some modifications. Ensure that surfaces gradually change and your horse track system is wide enough for easy navigation. Again, obtaining expert advice regarding common health issues and individual requirements is advisable if you are looking to offer a track system livery.
Can I keep multiple horses in a track system? Absolutely. Track systems are designed for herd living, and social interaction is one of their key benefits, alongside promoting natural movement, hoof health, and encompassing optimal health.
Final Thoughts: A Better Way to Manage Horses
Installing a track system for your paddock paradise not only transforms how your horses live by bringing them closer to their natural behaviours and improving their health and happiness but with careful planning, horse owners with even the most modest set-ups can reap the benefits of this low-maintenance, high-reward set-up.
