31/05/2025
🐴 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 — 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒅𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒆? 🌱
In recent years, track systems, also commonly referred to as ‘Paddock Paradise’, have been popping up on more and more horse properties. These systems utilize a looping track or path, often around the perimeter of a field or property, instead of a traditional rectangular or square open paddock. Using 6’ to 20’ alleys, often with multiple feeding stations placed along the path, track systems are intentionally designed to keep horses moving and allow them to explore and interact with their surroundings in different ways.
But how do these setups actually stack up against the more familiar and traditional paddock system? Let’s explore what each setup brings to the table and what the evidence and experience are starting to tell us. 👇
⚖️ 𝐖𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭
Horses on a track system lost an average of 23.5 lbs (10.67 kg) between July and late September, while those in a traditional paddock gained an average of 15 lbs (6.8 kg). This suggests that the increased movement encouraged by the track design may help with managing body condition, an important consideration for good health, especially for horses with metabolic comditions.
📚Cameron et al., 2025
🧠 𝐁𝐞𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐫
Horses on a track moved more, traveled further, and engaged in fewer overt agonistic behaviors when compared to a horses on a strip grazing system
📚 Kirton et al., 2025
Another study found that horses on a track system were more likely to graze in close proximity, mimicking the collective foraging behavior observed in feral horse populations. These subtle social and behavioral differences may have meaningful implications for welfare.
📚 Greening et al., 2017
🦶 𝐇𝐨𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡
When foot health, condition, and growth were assessed by a farrier, horses on the track system either maintained or improved hoof health, while those in the paddock system either maintained or showed a decline. However, the sample size was very small (six horses on the track and two in the paddock) so while these findings are interesting, they should be interpreted cautiously until more research evaluates this topic with a larger sample size.
📚 Cameron et al., 2025
🌍 𝐄𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬
Track systems have been shown to decrease soil quality due to the concentrated traffic patterns they create. These changes were mainly limited to the top 8 inches (0.2 m) of soil, and could be reduced, but not entirely prevented, by using paddock grids
📚 Hiltebrand et al., 2025
Another study found reduced vegetative biomass and greater sediment deposition from runoff, both related to increased erosion. However, these differences compared a track system to pasture and did not evaluate changes in a conventional paddock system, which likely has similar traffic as a track.
📚 Farmer et al., 2023
More research is needed to further explore the environmental implications of tracks and paddocks with heavy traffic, however, providing footing with exceptional drainage, such as gravel or high traffic pads, may help reduce the rate of erosion.
🔍 𝐒𝐨, 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲?
Track systems appear to offer clear benefits in terms of movement, weight management, and behavior, with promising signs for hoof health, but they also come with trade-offs, particularly when it comes to environmental impact and maintenance needs.
For horses that cannot graze freely, especially those with metabolic conditions, track systems can be a valuable management tool. By restricting access to lush pasture while still promoting movement and enrichment, they provide a way to support these horses' physical and mental health without compromising their dietary needs.
Whether a track system or a traditional paddock is the better choice depends on your horses, your land, and your goals. What matters most is that the turnout environment supports natural behaviors, social needs, and overall health, whatever form that takes on your property.
💬 𝑯𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒓 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒂 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒔𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒎? 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒊𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒔? I’d love to hear your experiences below! 👇
📚 𝐀 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡
I was surprised by how limited the published research on track systems still is, especially given how widely they’re being adopted. I’ve recently been in discussions with a local barn about conducting a pilot study to evaluate track systems further, particularly their impact on movement and behavior. If you're passionate about evidence-based horse care, there will be opportunities to donate to support this research, follow this page to stay informed and updated as this project unfolds!
Cheers,
Dr. DeBoer
PC: I also have to thank my amazing horse friend, Terri Strandmo, for being willing to share beautiful pictures of her track system for me to use!
Cameron L, Challinor M, Armstrong S, Kennedy A, Hollister S, Fletcher K. Tracking the Track: The Impact of Different Grazing Strategies on Managing Equine Obesity. Animals. 2025 Mar 19;15(6):874.
Kirton R, Sandford I, Raffan E, Hallsworth S, Burman OH, Morgan R. The impact of restricted grazing systems on the behaviour and welfare of ponies. Equine Veterinary Journal. 2025 May;57(3):737-44.
Hiltebrand C, Keller T, Bachmann Rieder I, Doetterl S. Changes in soil quality on horse paddock trails and the influence of paddock grids. Soil Use and Management. 2025 Jan;41(1):e70028.
Greening L, Williams J, Mitson K. A preliminary investigation comparing the frequency of grazing and movement behaviour between a track paddock system and a conventional paddock system. In13th International Conference of the International Society of Equitation Science 2017 Nov.
Farmer J, Costin K, Duberstein J, Callaway T, Abrams A, Wassel B, Toal K, Duberstein K. Environmental Impacts and Daily Voluntary Movement of Horses Housed in Pasture Tracks as Compared to Conventional Pasture Housing. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. 2023. 124:104400.
