by Ron and Blue Sill
(Palmdale, CA USA)
I am so glad to see more people demonstrating that a lane system is an important and proven alternative horse keeping method.
We are ten years on the ground here at the Equuscape Project on a dry lot in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. Our project is designed to meet both the needs of our horses and our needs as their keepers. We run a business at our location and using stacking principles found in Permaculture we layered training elements into our plan that also serve as natural obstacles adding another dimension while encouraging movement on a quite small pattern. Our challenge was to fit this important concept onto a small space and house five draft and draft cross horses and a mini.
Keeping horses this way is proven to be beneficial to their 'horseness' and our goal has been to demonstrate it is possible to accomplish this in a small space. Not everyone is able to buy or lease the "ideal" property and yet they want to provide a nurturing environment for their horses.
See www.equuscape.org for details and pictures.