I have been scratching my head about what to do for the Minions – Waffle, Albie, Storm and Tiddles, especially.
So, like I said yesterday, I have an Agricultural Contractor coming by to discuss the possibilities of turning one of the fields into a track system.
Today I was at the thinking it all out stage so I Googled my property, found the field, printed a version off and sat at the kitchen table sucking my pen end thinking.
This is the field:-
- square = existing septic tank
- squiggles = existing gates
- ovals = rocky outcrops
- dog leg at top = existing hard standing
- black lines = perimeter fence
- squiggly line = occasional stream (but does dry up in summer)
And then I walked it with the dogs as part of their walk.
And then I briefly read the relevant part of a superb book, which was very kindly lent to me (Horse Track Systems by Amy Dell).
This is what I am aiming for, sort of, possibly minus the trees and shelter. This will be the Shetland version.
While I am sad to be losing all the grass on the actual track, hopefully there will be small fields inside the track system for Vitamin and Fivla.
The track will look like this. Boulder rock. This is the track to the side of my shed so I know it is possible.
And these are my workings out, almost using “quotes to support my argument”. As you can see, I have been thinking hard. My brain hurts but if I can build something permanent for the boys, then they will spend spring, summer and autumn there avoiding the grass and then they will go to Leradale hill for the winter. Well, that’s the latest plan.
I am also getting them all tested for Equine Metabolic Syndrome which should give us some answers too.
And then I am selling a kidney.
