Paddock

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A sand paddock

Paddock (English from Old English pearroc , Middle English parroc - 'fence', 'paddock', 'pen') is a technical term that is also used in German-speaking countries for keeping horses . It describes the invariably grass-free, fenced, mostly paved run for horses .

function

Paddocks at the stable
Horse on a paddock

Paddocks are intended for horses during times when they are not allowed to graze , e.g. B. outside of the grazing season in winter , offer restricted mobility. They require relatively little cleaning effort. The horse is available to the rider in a short time. The paddock can be attached to the stable section and can be accessed by the horse at any time (paddock box), but like the pasture it can also be located near the stable so that the horse has to be brought to the paddock and brought back to the stable.

Both paddocks and on paddocks to horses should not stop alone. Due to the horse's need for social contact, several horses should be given access to a paddock at the same time.

A new variant of the paddock is the paddock trail , in which a paddock in the form of a 5 to 6 m wide path is laid around the available land (e.g. pastures or riding arena).

ground

Paddock with rubber pavement

Because of the heavy use, the floor of a paddock must be particularly hard-wearing. In many areas, paddocks with natural floors are becoming "mud paddocks". Therefore, it usually needs a special structure made up of several layers: a drainage laid under the sole is usually followed by a base layer of initially coarse material ( gravel , chippings) with increasingly finer grains , which is followed by a separating layer of paving, grass pavers or special mats . The finish is the footing made of sand . Depending on the area, z. B. in the Eifel instead of gravel and sand, lava is used as a base, separating and footing layer in various grain sizes. There is an increasing number of rubber or concrete composite paving on the paddocks attached directly to the stall.

Individual evidence

  1. Gerlinde Hoffmann: Orientation aid riding facilities & stable construction. FN-Verlag, 2009, p. 156.
  2. Key data horse. Book 1: Posture. 1st edition. Federal Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection, 2005, ISBN 3-88542-467-3 , p. 48.

Web links

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