Paonia Paddock Paradise

09/30/2024

The smallest haynets have the biggest holes at our place. I don’t think the 1.5” holes slow these guys down AT ALL.

09/22/2024

Why do we charge about double what other neighboring boarding facilities charge?

🐈we offer 24/7/365 slow-fed hay; many other places that feed hay feed a couple meals of hay saving them money but leaving your horse to go through the feast/famine cycle that increases stress and risk of colic and over time metabolic disorders. Hay nets, and many of them were a huge investment.

🐈we offer a paddock paradise track system, which is the only system that tricks the horse into thinking s/he is in wild horse country, so they aren’t standing around bored in a dry lot

🐈I am one of seven ISNHCP instructors in the world, formally educated in the Natural Biological Species’ Needs, so you know your horse will be the healthiest they can be here.

🐈we offer 24/7/365 herd turn out, not tiny separate paddocks that starve horses of the social interaction that is necessary according to their DNA

🐈daily mucking and fence fixing takes loads of time and labor

🐈we offer filtered water so your horse isn’t exposed to heavy metals, including iron

🐈we have surfaced portions of the Paddock Paradise with multiple truckloads of varying gravel sizes, so your horse can build robust feet that will be comfortable on the mountainous trails around here that you love to ride. But that surfacing cost us over $1000 and counting

🐈we offer a safe place to board that cures and prevents laminitis.

We can’t compete with places cutting corners so it’s easier and cheaper for the humans and still break even….

09/15/2024

What laminitis prevention looks like.

What the cure for laminitis looks like.

Keep your horse on a grass free Paddock Paradise to prevent suffering that doesn’t need to happen. To avoid vet bills that you don’t need. To avoid the costs and harms of horseshoes.

Your horse can be sound barefoot if managed according to the equine species’ needs instead of what’s cheapest and easiest momentarily for us humans.

Laminitis is one of the main reasons horses are euthanized. It’s time to take it seriously and find a place that offers species appropriate care.

We have space for a couple lucky horses. Get in touch if you’re interested in having the healthiest horse possible!

09/13/2024

The equine dentist just left. If you’re in the area, Troy Walck is the best. Give him a call next time your horses’ teeth need floating. 🦷

09/08/2024

Better Than an Insurance Policy

"Why pay the vet later when you can prevent chronic disease now?"

Horse owners often rely on insurance policies to help cover the cost of vet bills when their animals fall ill, particularly with chronic conditions like laminitis. But what if there was a way to prevent these diseases altogether? What if, instead of reacting to illness, you could take steps to ensure your horse remains healthy and vibrant throughout its life?

This is where Natural Horse Care (NHC) steps in. Unlike traditional approaches that focus on treating symptoms after they appear, NHC emphasizes prevention—addressing the root causes of common ailments before they develop into costly health issues.

The Hidden Costs of Chronic Disease

Whole Horse Inflammatory Disease (WHID) is one of the most common and devastating conditions in horses, yet it remains relatively unknown. In fact laminitis is a symptom of WHID. It is a chronic condition that underlies many of the symptoms we recognize in horses. During states of inflammation caused by imbalances in the hindgut, harmful bacteria travel throughout the body, slowly damaging soft tissues and organs.

This condition can lead to severe pain, such as during founder, requires expensive treatment, and can ultimately lead to euthanasia. While insurance may help with the financial burden, it doesn't address the heartbreak or the ongoing risks. Relying on treatment after the fact is like putting a bandage on a problem that could have been avoided.

Consider the cost: Insurance policies may cover vet bills, but they do not guarantee your horse’s well-being. The physical and emotional toll of chronic illness is something no amount of money can truly compensate for. Natural Horse Care, on the other hand, empowers you to take control of your horse's health, reducing the need for costly interventions and enhancing your horse's quality of life.

Treating chronic illness doesn’t just drain your wallet—it can stifle your finances, making any significant changes seem like an impossible task. We know this from experience, and now we also know there’s a better path—a path to health.

Prevention is Better Than Cure

But prevention isn't just a concept—it’s a practical, everyday approach. NHC promotes the idea that simple, natural practices can prevent the onset of chronic diseases. By focusing on proper nutrition, 24/7 access to movement, natural hoof care management, and creating a more natural living environment for your horse, you can significantly reduce the risk, if not eradicate it completely.

As Hippocrates wisely said, “Prevention is better than cure.” This timeless principle is at the heart of NHC. By addressing the core needs of your horse and creating an environment resembling their natural habitat and lifestyle, you are investing in long-term health. Instead of waiting for problems to arise, you can create an environment where your horse thrives naturally.

The NHC Approach: Practical and Powerful

Implementing NHC principles isn't complicated. Start with a diet that mimics what horses would naturally eat in their adaptive environment, such as that of U.S. Great Basin wild horses. Follow the AANHCP Recommended Diet and adapt it to your individual situation. Provide access to regular movement, as a horse's body is designed to roam, forage, and stay active. Use Paddock Paradise as your boarding model, and turn your horse's paddock into a paradise. And perhaps most importantly, be proactive in recognizing signs of WHID before they turn into full-blown health issues.

By prioritizing these aspects of care, you’re doing more than saving money on vet bills—you’re giving your horse the gift of a healthier, happier life. That’s something insurance policy simply cannot offer.

A Choice for Better Care

In the end, the choice is clear. Insurance policies can help in times of crisis, but wouldn’t it be better to avoid the crisis in the first place? Natural Horse Care offers a better solution—one that prioritizes your horse’s well-being every day. So why wait to pay the vet later when you can prevent chronic disease now? The Four Pillars of NHC provide a complete framework for your horse’s health. By choosing this path, you’re choosing a better, healthier future for your equine companion.

You can learn more from NHC literature found on www.jaimejackson.com

Reach out to one of our practitioners, or contact us directly www.isnhcp.net/pages/nhc-practioner

Join our community:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/673154910816905/?ref=share

09/06/2024

Get Ready — Morgan Herum is Back with Another Step 2/3 Clinic This Year!

What Can You Expect from Our Training Program?

We’re here to support you every step of the way, from theory to hands-on practice. Our program will immerse you in the principles of natural horse care and provide consistent, detailed guidelines for mastering the Natural Trim method.

Why Choose Us?

At ISNHCP, we are committed to values of integrity, respect, and accountability. We take our responsibility in the equine community seriously. Whether you're looking to trim your own horses or embark on a full-time career, we offer unparalleled knowledge. You'll receive a comprehensive overview of the wild horse model and learn directly from the source. Our education is unique and not available anywhere else.

You can sign up today here:
https://www.isnhcp.net/products/2023-registration-and-tuition
Or learn more about our training program here:

https://www.isnhcp.net/products/prospectus

09/05/2024

You’ve tried every boarding facility, looking for the place that honors all the needs of the equine species.

The first place got A, B, and D right.
The 2nd place got A, C, and D right.
The 3rd place got B, C, and D right.

You want the best for your horse. That’s what we wanted for our horses too, so we built Paonia Paddock Paradise.

The horses spoke. We listened.

As an ISNHCP practitioner and instructor, I thoroughly understand and practice what is species appropriate. So that’s what we offer here: the Four Pillars of Natural Horse Care.

Horse owners that find us say it’s like horse heaven. If that is what you’ve been searching for for your horse, message me and come board with us on the Western Slope of CO.

09/04/2024

I think, often or not, the initial investment required to set up a track system can a point of concern for those considering using one. Whilst I would agree that track systems can be very costly if you decide to take the all-surfaced, purpose-built barn route, there are several things to consider.

First of all, you do not need to have a surfaced track. Whilst it would most likely make things easier for the majority of us that live in countries where excessive rain is to be expected, it isn’t 100% necessary. You can still utilise what you have, be it your own land, rented land or livery yard, by setting up a basic track that still follows the same concept and therefore, provides somewhat similar results. There will of course be expenses involved in the initial er****on of the track, but it can be done on a budget or with certain land restrictions. However, there are repetitive weekly or monthly expenses you can’t get away from, such as buying in hay as their main source of forage.

I think an important aspect of using track systems that goes unspoken about a large portion of the time is that, in my experience and the experience of many others, the investment required to build and maintain the track is far less than the monies required to keep a sick horse functioning in an unsuitable environment.

My horse Dancer has been with me since she was 18 months old and is now 14. During that time, she has seen a chiropractor once, maybe twice, for odd things like falling over but generally, is fairly robust and doesn’t get herself into too much trouble. She has also seen the vet a total of 2 times, both for knocks to the eye. I don’t tend to take chances with eyes, so she was checked over and was given the all clear on both occasions. Now you could argue that my horse has been barefoot and on a track system for the majority of her life, and is at her optimum health because of that, whereas there are many horses with pre-existing conditions that still require regular appointments or visits. While yes, Dancer is absolutely in great health because she has been kept this way since she was very young, the residents in our care with medical issues or those old in age still barely see the vet. They may need a blood test to monitor their Cushings every now and then, but in general, the vet is required very little for their overall health and wellbeing. This applies to accidents, injuries and illness.

There are other money-related factors that should be included in this too, such as my understanding that shoes are not needed and an over-abundance of random, filler-rammed supplements and feed are about as useful as a wet sock. I save money on potions and lotions she doesn’t need for common ailments such as sweet itch, sun burn and splits and cracks, and she maintains her weight, gut function, joint health, hoof health and more by simply living on her track, with no additional exercise or special treatment. Our rehabilitation livery fees are often less expensive for the hands-on care required to help heal a horse than the owner’s past vet bills that kept re-occurring due to an unsuitable environment and/or diet.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Do you find yourself paying less overall with your horse/s on track or more, perhaps for the ongoing work and maintenance? Let me know below!

09/02/2024

We have room for 1-2 barefoot horses on our Paddock Paradise track system. Located in Paonia, CO

We provide

🐴 24/7/365 slow-fed orchard+brome grass hay
🐴24/7/365 herd turnout on varied terrain
🐴partially surfaced track
🐴60’ round pen
🐴endless miles of trail riding in our backyard🐴 ISNHCP trained natural hoof care on site
🐴only $450 per month!

Check out our website:

Natural Horse Boarding in a Track System

09/01/2024

Wouldn’t it be amazing to be confidently self-sufficient when it comes to taking care of your horses’ hooves? Or to launch a career helping horses?

There’s time to enroll in the ISNHCP (go to http://ISNHCP.net) and get your Step 1 coursework done in time for the Step 2/3 clinic, where we’ll spend 5 solid days trimming cadaver feet and learning the art and science of sequencing.

In the Step 2 Cadaver Trimming Clinic, you will learn how to measure hooves and then trim based on the measurements. In the Step 3, Sequencing Clinic, you will learn how to safely position yourself, the horse, and a handler, effective and humane horse handling, and efficient tool and equipment handling.

08/15/2024

There is no “waiting” in a Paddock Paradise track system. And therefore, none of the anxiety and frustration that comes with being confined and isolated to a stall or small paddock. Increasingly, people are becoming aware that it is no more humane than keeping a child locked in a small room away from other children or worse, keeping a human in solitary confinement. Horses do not belong in storage.

Not only is this excruciatingly boring - and stressful - for all members of the species but simply unfair.

If they are not turned out with other equine pals in a species-appropriate environment when you are not around, it is only fair that you lose sleep worrying about them until you find a better solution. We have to do better for these animals by asking boarding facilities / livery yards to create a track or to allow you to create a track for your horses and those belonging to other like-minded people. Or lease property if you cannot become a land-owner. Share it with others so it costs less and you can take turns doing chores. Start as small as you your budget allows and let it grow/expand over time.

There is always a way. It may not happen overnight but it can happen. Best of luck! Jill

08/07/2024

When Paddock Paradise was first introduced as a new paradigm in horse keeping practices, many horse owners opposed the idea as a result of not understanding it, not liking the ‘inconvenience’ of changing and/or simply because people are often skeptical of ANY ideas that are new, different or foreign to their traditions or way of thinking.

Thankfully, the logic of this system resonated with some of us immediately and one by one, we gave it a try. Now, it continues to be a fast-growing model for healthy horse keeping around that world. When we speak of their health, we mean the physical, mental and emotional symptoms of good health for all domestic horses!

07/07/2024

Another sparkling review of Paonia Paddock Paradise, written in a thank you note, name cut our for privacy protection.

Horses and their humans alike feel a great sense of relief when they find us. Finally a boarding facility that honors ALL of horses’ needs! No nonsensical projection of human needs/wants onto the horses, for example fancy stables with glamorous stalls. At Paonia Paddock Paradise, we are educated on the species specific needs based on the research of Jaime Jackson and provide horses with those nonnegotiables.

06/25/2024

It’s Rainbow Season here at Paonia Paddock Paradise! The rainbow does indeed show you where the pot of gold that you have been searching for is! For a price that is extremely reasonable, compared to many species inappropriate board, (especially when you consider the vet bills that end up resulting from mismanagement), your horses could live the lives they deserve 24/7/365:
🐎turnout in a herd
🐎slow fed grass hay at a variety of hay stations
🐎freedom to choose what activity to pursue
🐎enriching footing and obstacles
🐎supervision of an ISNHCP practitioner and instructor

06/21/2024

We do not advise ‘strip-grazing’ or turning the horses into the center for ‘standing hay.’ Part of the formula for achieving safe grass hays is by having it cut and allowing it to cure, which begins the process of breaking down and reducing the sugar and starch stored in the plants (the process of respiration).

There is no safe way for horses to graze in grass pastures that are not located in or in similar biomes as their natural/adaptive habitat. The only time we suggest turnout in the center is for some playtime.

(Jaime Jackson addresses the herds of wild horses/ponies living in environments to which the species did not adapt 1.4 million years ago in his book The Natural Trim: Principles and Practice. These include but are not limited to the Kaimanawa horses of New Zealand, the Camargue ponies of France, the the Chincoteague ponies of Assateague Island, the Duelmener ponies of Germany and the Dartmoor ponies of southwestern England. NHC advocates have observed these herds and their hooves and found them to frequently be “overgrown, suffering from diseases, and badly in need of natural hoof care.” On page 37 is a photo of a Dartmoor mare whose hoof “is covered with stress rings, a telltale symptom of chronic laminitis.”

Photos by

06/14/2024

06/11/2024

Someone recently critiqued the set up of hay in hay nets within the Bale Barns or Hat Huts as unnatural.

Yes, haynets and manmade hay feeders are not natural to horses. If we are to argue over what is natural to horses-is man keeping horses natural? Is farming natural? Are humans natural?

Back on point: Nets slow down the pace in which the horse consumes their forage, making the act of eating *more naturally* paced.

Without the Bale Barn, horses tend to p**p and p*e on their *expensive* hay. Hay is by far our biggest expense for keeping these giant creatures. So we want to minimize waste to keep our costs down for ourselves and costs down for boarders.

Hay also most closely resembles the *natural* diet of free roaming horses in the US Great Basin, being that it is HIGH fiber. Horses’ primary nutrition need is fiber and I recently read that hay is much higher in fiber than fresh grass.