Tackling mud in paddocks

Hello! With planning, a few well-judged investments and some persistence, you really can keep the mud at bay. In many parts of the country the paddocks turn very muddy at certain times of year. Here are a few tips for keeping paddocks in good order and not losing your boots when you fetch the horse:

• Surface and gravel the high-traffic areas around the gate, feeding and water troughs. It costs a bit but is well worth the investment.
• Match the number of horses in each paddock to the ground conditions. Remember that both the size and the make-up of the herd affect how much the horses churn up and wear the ground. Aim for a sensible number of field companions that get on well together.
• Place feed and water in sensible spots around the paddock, so the horses are encouraged to move about and so that everything does not happen at the gateway, where the ground usually takes the heaviest wear.
• Share the job of poo-picking the paddocks often, ideally every day. Mud plus droppings is even worse than mud alone.
• Where you can, plan how the paddocks are used so they are not worn unnecessarily when it is very wet and muddy out.

Good luck!