EQUINE track systems are an increasingly popular way of managing horses that aim to replicate the way horses live and move in nature. CAFRE led the way in championing this innovative horse management system in Ireland and the likes of Sandy Hills and Meadow Track Livery are offering their unique facilities.

Unlike traditional paddocks or stabled environments, a track system involves creating a circular or looping pathway around a piece of land, often with varied surfaces, feeding stations, water points and enrichment features along the route. This system encourages horses to move continuously throughout the day, supporting both their physical and mental well-being.

At the heart of a track system is the idea that movement is essential for a horse’s health. In the wild, horses naturally roam long distances each day, as they forage for food and water. Domesticated horses, however, are often confined to small paddocks or stables, where their movement is severely limited. This lack of movement can lead to a variety of health problems, including obesity, laminitis, colic, poor hoof health and behavioural issues. By encouraging natural movement, track systems can help to prevent many of these common health concerns.

Continuous exercise

One of the main advantages of a track system is the promotion of healthy, natural movement. As horses travel along the track to reach hay stations, water, and mineral licks, they engage in low-impact, continuous exercise. This constant movement helps to maintain healthy joints, muscles and hooves. It also improves circulation and digestion, which are both essential for overall well-being.

Hoof health, in particular, can improve significantly on a track system. Because horses are moving over various surfaces - such as gravel, sand, grass, and dirt - their hooves are naturally worn and conditioned. This helps promote stronger, healthier hooves and can reduce the need for intensive farrier intervention. Horses with barefoot hooves often thrive on track systems, as the different surfaces stimulate the hoof structures to function properly.

Another crucial benefit is weight management. Many domesticated horses are prone to obesity, due to limited movement and overfeeding. On a track, horses move much more than they would in a static paddock, burning calories naturally throughout the day. This is particularly beneficial for breeds prone to metabolic issues, such as ponies and native breeds.

Reduces stress

Track systems are not only good for the body, but also excellent for a horse’s mental and emotional health. Horses are social animals and a well-designed track allows them to live in a herd environment, promoting natural behaviours like grooming, playing, and resting together. The ability to choose where to be and who to be with reduces stress and boredom, both of which are common in more restrictive living environments.

Because track systems often include environmental enrichment, such as logs to step over, sheltered areas and strategically placed forage, horses are mentally stimulated, as they explore their surroundings. This reduces stereotypical behaviours (like cribbing and weaving) that can arise from frustration or lack of stimulation.

One of the key elements of a track system is the promotion of natural grazing behaviours. Horses are trickle feeders by nature, designed to eat small amounts throughout the day. On a track, hay and forage are spread out in different locations, encouraging horses to move and “search” for food, as they would in the wild. This mimics natural foraging, which supports healthy digestion and prevents issues, such as ulcers and colic.

Herd dynamics

Living in a herd on a track, allows horses to develop and maintain healthy social relationships. The space and movement reduce instances of aggression, because horses can choose to move away from conflicts. The system also allows for natural herd dynamics to play out in a way that is often impossible in stabled or isolated paddock situations. A stable social structure contributes to the overall mental and emotional stability of each horse.

Track systems can also protect pasture health. By limiting grazing areas and keeping horses moving, the land in the centre of the track can recover and be used for rotational grazing. This prevents overgrazing and land degradation, a common issue with traditional turnout systems.

Equine track systems offer a comprehensive, horse-centred approach to management that supports the natural needs of horses. By promoting movement, social interaction, mental stimulation and natural feeding patterns, track systems help to prevent many common health and behavioural problems seen in domestic horses.

For owners seeking to provide a healthier and more natural lifestyle for their horses, a track system is an innovative and effective solution that benefits not only the horses, but also the land they live on. Generally, track systems are utilised mainly by leisure horse owners or equine-assisted businesses, but perhaps the bigger question is could track systems be used by competition and racehorses - there are obvious questions that may be raised there around safety, routine or peak fitness requirements for top-level competition, for example - a pilot study would go a long way to answering some of those questions, but finding an owner or trainer happy to guinea pig their stock may be a mission.