About natural track systems
Natural Track horse boarding is founded on how horses move in their natural environment. In the wild, horses rarely suffer from laminitis or navicular hoof problems. Why? Because they're continually moving from place to place eating high-quality, low-sugar and low-starch forage.
The benefits of Natural Track boarding (also known as Paddock Paradise designed by Jaime Jackson) include
- Stimulated horses with fewer vices
- More movement for the horse's overall health
- Easier grazing management
In a Natural Track system, horse necessities are placed at different locations throughout the track. At Boone Run, the water is located in the shelter at the barn and there are hay feeders placed periodically throughout the track.
The horses walk, trot and canter on varied footing, which promotes the "wild horse trim" — the natural wear of the horse's hoof over miles of walking each day.
Our hay is high in fibre and low in sugar. Each feeder is equipped with a slow feeding hay net that recreates the same internal benefits of a horse grazing for hours per day.
Healthy horses
Great for horses...
Recovering from laminitis
In rehabilitation work
Experiencing sensitive feet
and all the others too!
The elements
Hills and trails
Disbursed feeders
Disbursed feeders
Hills and other natural terrain keep horses moving from one necessity to another. The extra movement is great for all kinds of horses! From laminitic rehabs and arthritic horses, to even performance horses trying to stay fit! The average horse on track travels 11-14km a day (depending on the season) while a pastured horse only travels 4-5km a day.
Disbursed feeders
Disbursed feeders
Disbursed feeders
Horses travel from feeder to feeder. The hay feeders use slow-feed nets that are constantly full of low-sugar hay that is similar to the sparse stemmy grass that wild horses thrive on. Much of the grass seen in horse pastures today is lush and green, designed to fatten up cattle and other livestock. Horses were never designed to eat such sugar-laden forage, hence the chronic laminitis and other soundness issues in many horses today.
Track footing
Disbursed feeders
Natural obstacles
The track is fully surfaced, which prevents mud and gives the horses a dry spot to stand all year round. There is varied footing along the track from soft sand to sleep on to chips and dust. “A” gravel and pea stone textures help gradually toughen feet up. This environment simulates the varied terrain horses encounter and thrive on in the wild.
Natural obstacles
All-weather shelter
Natural obstacles
Natural obstacles not only give the horses objects to navigate around, but also add curiosities in their days.
Space to run
All-weather shelter
All-weather shelter
The track system offers horses room and long stretches to trot or canter without access to lush sugary grass. Tiny dry lots with no room to run and nothing to spark their interest are a thing of the past at Boone Run!
All-weather shelter
All-weather shelter
All-weather shelter
All the horses have access to a massive 50’ by 100’ shelter with addition natural shelter along the track.