Paddock Paradise in Hampshire

by Pamela (Sway Hampshire)

It was very good to read Linda’s story because I was beginning to doubt whether anyone around Hampshire did anything like this.

My story began this winter with a pony having acute laminitis. I had thought about giving it a go before this happened, but never got around to it.
I have now.

I am lucky in that I have a track gravel in place already and only needed to extend it into the fields. The three ponies have access to a barn, some strip grazing and via the track to, two other fields. They have fresh grass at night and a little hay in the morning.

The laminitic pony is out all the time and has now started on a fitness regime.They are all much healthier because of all the walking they have to do to find any food, whether this is in the hedgerows or the grass.

They have a lot of natural shelter as well as the barn. There is a natural boggy area which is going to be made available to them later on. The barn has a chalk floor which is very good for their feet. My husband is going to put a beach shingle area in front of the barn so they have to walk on this to get into the barn; again the movement on the stones is good for their feet.

The laminitic pony has heart bar shoes on at the moment but bare behind;the other two are barefoot.

I am going to give it go this summer and see what the other seasons bring. I think I owe it to the lminitic pony to give her a chance.