Paddock management and rotation — rest the fields, match the horses

The winter paddock is a mud pit by October. The summer pasture has bare patches where nothing grows back. Bella and Nova end up in the same turnout group again even though everyone knows they fight. And the new boarder has no clue which horses go where.

This is daily life at most stables. Not because people don’t care, but because the knowledge lives in one or two people’s heads — and never gets written down where everyone can see it.

The old way

Paddock planning at a typical stable usually looks like this:

• The stable owner remembers which horses can go together — but only when they’re on site
• Paddock condition is judged by gut feeling — “that one looks a bit wet, let’s use the other”
• Rotation happens when it’s already too late — the ground is torn up before anyone acts
• Seasonal rules live in someone’s head — winter paddocks, summer pastures, transition periods — nothing documented

The result is uneven grazing pressure, unnecessary conflicts between horses, and land that takes years to recover.

How paddock management works in EquiDuty

EquiDuty gives you a complete picture of your paddocks, your horses, and the connection between them — in real time.

1. Visual paddock map

You see all paddocks on a map directly in the app. Each paddock shows:

• Name and size — Winter Paddock 1, West Summer Pasture, Small Paddock
• Current condition — green, yellow, or red based on the latest log
• Which horses are out right now — and which turnout group they belong to
• Days since last rest — so you can see at a glance which paddocks need rotation

Instead of walking around and checking, you have the overview in your pocket.

2. Turnout groups and compatibility

This is where you solve the Bella and Nova problem once and for all. You create turnout groups based on which horses work well together:

• Group A: Molly, Sigge, Kasper — calm geldings that get along
• Group B: Bella, Tjansen, Wilma — mares that do well together
• Group C: Nova (alone) — doesn’t go with other mares

The system warns you if you try to place horses in the same paddock that have been marked as incompatible. Nobody needs to remember — the rule lives in the system.

3. Condition logging

After each day, you or whoever brings the horses in can log the paddock condition in a few taps:

• Ground moisture — dry, damp, wet, standing water
• Grazing height — good, short, overgrazed
• Hoof damage — none, mild, severe

The logs build up over time and give a clear picture of which paddocks wear out fastest. You stop guessing — you see it in data.

4. Rotation suggestions

Based on condition logs and how long each paddock has been in use, EquiDuty suggests when it’s time to rotate. The system considers:

• Days since last rest
• Latest condition assessment — a paddock with hoof damage gets prioritised for rest
• Seasonal rules you’ve set — for example “Winter Paddock 2 is only used November through March”
• Group assignment — the right group to the right paddock

You get a notification: “West Summer Pasture has been in use for 14 days and grazing height is short. Suggesting rotation to East Summer Pasture.” You approve, adjust, or postpone — with one tap.

5. Seasonal rules

Many stables have clear seasons: winter paddocks with harder ground, summer pastures with rest periods, spring transition windows. In EquiDuty you set rules per paddock:

• Winter Paddock 1: active 1 November - 31 March
• West Summer Pasture: active 15 May - 15 September, max 14 consecutive days of use
• Small Paddock: year-round, max 2 horses

The rules apply automatically in rotation suggestions. Nobody needs to remember that “it’s time to switch to the winter paddocks.”

What difference does this make?

Before EquiDuty:

“Which horses were in which paddock yesterday? Wasn’t it Kalle who said we should switch this week? And can Bella go with Nova, or was it Nova and Wilma that don’t get along?”

With EquiDuty:

“East Summer Pasture has rested for three weeks and is green. Group B is scheduled there today. The rotation suggestion for next week is ready.”

Everyone sees the same information. New boarders can bring in the horses without asking ten questions. The stable owner no longer has to be the only one who knows.

Get started

1. Create a free account and add your paddocks with names and sizes
2. Define turnout groups — which horses go together, which ones need to be kept apart
3. Set seasonal rules for paddocks with limited use periods
4. Start logging conditions — it takes ten seconds per paddock after bringing in
5. Get your first rotation suggestion — within a week the system has enough data

Your paddocks will thank you. Your horses will thank you. And you can stop keeping it all in your head.

EquiDuty is built for stables. Paddock management and rotation suggestions are included in all plans — start free and upgrade as you grow.