We have 50 acres more or less fenced for 7-8 horses (2 Belgians, 2-3 Icelandics, 1 Paint, 1 Paso Fino, 1 Fjord). There's a small barn/run-in surrounded by a circular horse wire fence, it's about an acre (we call it the hub). At the opposite end of the circle (inside) and downhill from the barn is a spring fed stock tank. Around the stock tank and up top next to the barn where the hay basket feeders are, we've placed crusher run rock . As I mentioned before, we have Stable-grid under the gates and as the barn/stall flooring. On either side of the hub are 20+ acre, very hilly pastures with gates into the hub. We let them run in one section for about 1-3 months then switch them to the other side. About 1/2 of the area is pasture (fescue, orchard grass, clover), not irrigated or maintained other that mowing some of the more noxious weeds before they go to seed. The other part is rock, and steep, brushy, woods. They just graze April-May through Sept. or October when the pasture quits growing. After that they get close to free feed hay and graze the dried grasses, except during the occasional times we have snow.
The Paso Fino is the only one who's had trouble (one bout of laminitis). She wears a grazing muzzle almost full-time in the Spring and Fall, and nights the rest of the time but still benefits from exercise with the herd. My Fjord got chunky this year and will probably wear a muzzle 1/2 day Spring through Fall, although I'll be riding her next year and the additional exercise will help. Cherie Western North Carolina Lilja, Roka (Icelandics)and Tyra (Fjord)
