Equine Track Systems and Predators
/A client asked if she could realistically keep an equine on a small acreage. I suggested she look at track systems, also called Paddock Paradise by Jamie Jackson. She then expressed concern about coyotes and other large predators with a pony in a track system. Having lived with large predators myself and experimented with a track system, I realized I had more questions than answers for my client, and I needed to do some research.
A Fell Pony on my alpine pony track in Colorado, using deep snow as virtual fencing.
One of the first courses I took after moving to Colorado many years ago was about keeping livestock on small acreage in Colorado. I immediately learned that what’s possible in other parts of the country regarding livestock isn’t possible in the dry climate of the Rockies. Seven acres of pasture may support two horses in Minnesota, but in parts of Colorado seven acres only provides 17 grazing days in an entire year! Getting creative with how those acres are used, then, is imperative to keeping both equines and the landscape healthy. That’s where a paddock paradise or track system can help.
As a Colorado State University Cooperative Extension document says, “Wild horses travel great distances along familiar tracks each day, and paddock paradise tries to mimic this using a track system.… The design can be as simple as running temporary fence along the perimeter fence of a pasture to create a narrow alleyway for animals to move within.” (1) I used the concept to increase movement of my ponies during the winter months using snow banks as fence as shown in the picture (click here to read more). I found it improved both their mental and physical health.
In Colorado, we had coyotes, mountain lions and towards the end of my time there, wolves. Because my tracks were never fenced narrowly, I never worried about these predators because I figured the ponies had room to move if they needed to get away or position themselves for a well-placed kick or stomp. On a narrow, fenced track, though, after my client asked, I wondered if predators could cause problems when their coping strategies are constrained by closely spaced fences. Remember that dogs are also predators and can cause problems for equines.
The first thing my research turned up is that people have generally found that horses and large ponies like the Fell can take care of themselves well enough that predators won’t bother them. Smaller ponies and miniature horses, on the other hand, may need to be stalled at night to keep them safe when large predator pressure is high.
The other key point was to use electric fencing initially to build the track system. A few of the reasons include:
Electric fence can be relatively easily and economically changed if the design isn’t quite right for the situation. Permanent fence can then be built when the equines and predators have revealed their patterns of coexistence.
When sufficiently provoked, equines will take out an electric fence to get themselves to safety if they have to, providing valuable feedback to us as stewards. I had this happen once when a tree fell down. The ponies weren’t injured when they were startled and took out the fence, and the fence was relatively easily repaired. The ponies still respected the fence thereafter, probably because it was only the first pony through the fence that endured the shock; the others just followed.
Electric fence can be configured to effectively shock some predators.
One feature of a paddock paradise design that I think would be helpful when planning to co-exist with predators is to incorporate a paddock or wide spot in the track where the ponies could run to if needed to more effectively deliver a kick or stomp. Often people incorporate a corral at the barn into their track or a wide spot where they feed hay or leave minerals so the herd can gather briefly there.
One person with experience with equines co-existing with coyotes said they encourage their male dogs to urinate along the track boundary to discourage coyotes from entering the track. They also use chain link fence and electric fence to discourage entry. Another person uses wind chimes and electric fence.
My mind is eased now, having heard that there are ways to build track systems that allow coexistence with resident predators. I am grateful for how easily good information emerges on the subject with an internet search!
1) https://sam.extension.colostate.edu/topics/pasture-range/paddock-paradise-track-system-for-horses
© Jenifer Morrissey, 2022
