Answer

By Your Horse

Instructor Jane Vargerson advises…

Winter is awful, with mud everywhere. Section a piece of the paddock off and let it recover – the cheapest and most effective way is with electric fencing. Most farm and equestrian shops sell electric tape and posts. Remember that you horse requires one-and-a-half acres, especially if they live out all the time.
If your remaining grazing gets very muddy then contact a local farmer. Once it’s dry enough, he can roll it to flatten the poached ground and apply a fertiliser to improve the quality of the grass. Leave your horses on the untreated section and only move them across when the ground has recovered completely.

Instructor Alison Ritchie adds…

If you decide to divide your field then do it early on and, if it’s large enough, split it into three because each will get a longer rest. But remember that smaller areas will become more poached. Gateways can be a problem, so add hardcore. If it’s a problem every year then consider concreting such areas.