As equestrians, many of us daydream of having the perfect farm setup. The romantic notion of lush green spaces lined with white fences as far as the eye can see for our special companions to spend their downtime munching peacefully in the rays of the morning sun is hard not to fall in love with. However, the picturesque daydream of lush green pastures is not always the best choice for our horses or farm activities.
This is where dry lots come in! Dry lots are best described as a paddock area that is devoid of any vegetation. They come in various shapes and sizes with a variety of construction options depending on your individual location.
There are many advantages of having dry lots available to your horses and ponies, including:
Diet Control
With many of our horses and ponies being prone to weight gain and metabolic conditions when turned out in traditional grass pastures, the dry lot provides a great alternative for controlling your horse’s forage intake. These spaces provide a safe alternative for at risk horses to exercise, socialize, and stimulate their brains while enjoying the sunshine. In addition to the lack of forage by using slow feeders, and strategically placing shelters, feeding areas, entrainment (such as horse safe toys, scratching posts, etc) and water sources, you can help your horse maintain a healthy diet while promoting exercise and activity.
Pasture Management
Pasture management is an important aspect of good farm practices no matter how small or large your operation may be. The preservation of these green spaces is absolutely key to maintaining your prime source of naturally occuring forage. Dry lots can become a great alternative turnout space which can prevent the demise of your pastures. By using this dry turnout space you can prevent your pastures from being overeaten, turned to mud by wet weather, and may even provide you a much needed window to fertilize your forage areas without having to sacrifice your horses’ turnout routine.
Hoof Protection
With many of our horses hoof conditions resulting from dietary concerns and wet conditions, dry lots offer a great alternative to traditional turnout. Not only does it offer the dietary control mentioned in the section above, but with the right footing it can help regulate the moisture surrounding your horses, helping to prevent bruising to the sole, thrush, white lines disease and other fungal and bacterial infections which can affect the hoof’s health.
With all these benefits it is hard to imagine a farm without a dry lot, and by adding one to your facility you can help your horse live a healthy and happy life for years to come.