©2020 Arcadia Valley Agistment

Access to premium, biodiverse pastures

The land at Arcadia is second to none. We are continuously working on building up the pasture biodiversity across our 50 acres, to ensure the optimum mix of protein, vitamins and minerals from a variety of grasses, sedges and legumes. We do this by soil testing, using natural pest control like dung beetles and guinea fowl, managing water flow on slopes, mulching and composting. We have exciting plans to consult with an expert herbalist to add horse-friendly herbs into our pasture to give your horse a naturally varied diet.

Careful seasonal management, best practice worm management, cross-grazing with cattle and the minimal use of chemicals all help to keep our paddocks in peak condition for your horse.

As well as pasture diversity and soil health, we are also committed to improving our local ecosystem for other plant and animal species. We are currently planting a large number of trees and shrubs that provide natural shade, shelter and wind breaks for the horses but also provide habitat for other animals, birds and insects.

A natural diet full of quality forage

By nature, horses are grazing animals and forage is the foundation of their diet. For optimum health, fibre-rich forage must constantly pass through their digestive tract .  They graze almost all day and night, only taking a few hours here and there to completely rest.

Without this constant grazing, your horse runs the risk of a range of complications – from ulcers along the equine digestive tract, to sand colic and impactions. Restricting long stem forage or fibre can also lead to obesity, a damaged metabolic rate, complications stemming from inflammation of the hypothalamic region of the brain, and more.

It’s why we focus on providing all horses at Arcadia Valley Agistment with premium forage. To help your horse follow their natural cycle of eating and resting, we maximise grazing time which is also a natural form of exercise for your horse as they walk around to graze. The grasses are kept longer (safer) and are never stressed through over grazing. We supplement this grazing with ad lib low-sugar tested hay and a daily hard feed. This hard feed is balanced by a qualified nutritionist to account for seasonal nutrients in the pasture and hay, and is rich in omega 3s to support an anti-inflammatory diet. Each of our horses receive an individualised diet according to their specific needs which includes a custom mineral mix.

The freedom to roam

Horses thrive in an environment where they can roam over varied terrain and graze on natural forage that meets their dietary needs. In the wild, this terrain is called their ‘home range’ – it’s an area containing all the water, food and shelter they need to survive.

At Arcadia Valley Agistment, we have worked hard to create a natural environment that mimics the ‘home range’. Every day, our horses are encouraged to move between paddocks, hay, watering points and a central loafing yard to help strengthen their hooves and muscles naturally. They can choose what to do each day and where to roam using the extensive track system. They also have the space and freedom to gallop at will, as well as plenty of shade to rest during our hot summers and shelter from the colder winds in winter. When the grass is stressed or has high sugar levels the horses can be held off the paddocks without limiting their freedom of movement or access to forage.

Promoting lasting friendship

Equiculture pays close attention to the natural rhythms of horses. It’s based on the idea that horses are happiest in small, stable groups where they can choose to be with other horses or spend time alone. Within a herd, horses develop strong social bonds and they need this companionship for their physical and emotional wellbeing.

It’s why we’re focused on maintaining a small group of horses at Arcadia Valley Agistment who will hopefully stay with us for a long time to maintain herd stability. In this small group, we get to know each and every horse. We closely monitor their wellbeing, watching out for any signs of stress or anxiety so that we can address issues quickly and provide for their individual needs.

Everything we do at Arcadia Valley Agistment is focused on optimising the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of our small herd of horses.

To realise this goal, we follow the principles of Equiculture which is all about responsible, ethical and sustainable horse ownership.

Discover how the principles of Equiculture help us give your horses the best possible life at Arcadia Valley Agistment.

"Natural horse management, guided by science"

Everything we do at Arcadia Valley Agistment is focused on optimising the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of our small herd of horses.
To realise this goal, we follow the principles of Equiculture which is all about responsible, ethical and sustainable horse ownership.

Promoting lasting friendship

Equiculture pays close attention to the natural rhythms of horses. It’s based on the idea that horses are happiest in small, stable groups where they can choose to be with other horses or spend time alone. Within a herd, horses develop strong social bonds and they need this companionship for their physical and emotional wellbeing.

It’s why we’re focused on maintaining a small group of horses at Arcadia Valley Agistment who will hopefully stay with us for a long time to maintain herd stability. In this small group, we get to know each and every horse. We closely monitor their wellbeing, watching out for any signs of stress or anxiety so that we can address issues quickly and provide for their individual needs.

The freedom to roam

Horses thrive in an environment where they can roam over varied terrain and graze on natural forage that meets their dietary needs. In the wild, this terrain is called their ‘home range’ – it’s an area containing all the water, food and shelter they need to survive.

At Arcadia Valley Agistment, we have worked hard to create a natural environment that mimics the ‘home range’. Every day, our horses are encouraged to move between paddocks, hay, watering points and a central loafing yard to help strengthen their hooves and muscles naturally. They can choose what to do each day and where to roam using the extensive track system. They also have the space and freedom to gallop at will, as well as plenty of shade to rest during our hot summers and shelter from the colder winds in winter. When the grass is stressed or has high sugar levels the horses can be held off the paddocks without limiting their freedom of movement or access to forage.

A natural diet full of quality forage

By nature, horses are grazing animals and forage is the foundation of their diet. For optimum health, fibre-rich forage must constantly pass through their digestive tract .  They graze almost all day and night, only taking a few hours here and there to completely rest.

Without this constant grazing, your horse runs the risk of a range of complications – from ulcers along the equine digestive tract, to sand colic and impactions. Restricting long stem forage or fibre can also lead to obesity, a damaged metabolic rate, complications stemming from inflammation of the hypothalamic region of the brain, and more.

It’s why we focus on providing all horses at Arcadia Valley Agistment with premium forage. To help your horse follow their natural cycle of eating and resting, we maximise grazing time which is also a natural form of exercise for your horse as they walk around to graze. The grasses are kept longer (safer) and are never stressed through over grazing. We supplement this grazing with ad lib low-sugar tested hay and a daily hard feed. This hard feed can be balanced by a qualified nutritionist to account for seasonal nutrients in the pasture and hay, and is rich in omega 3s to support an anti-inflammatory diet. Each of our horses receive an individualised diet according to their specific needs which will be developed in consultation with you.

Access to premium, biodiverse pastures

The land at Arcadia is second to none. We are continuously working on building up the pasture biodiversity across our 50 acres, to ensure the optimum mix of protein, vitamins and minerals from a variety of grasses, sedges and legumes. We do this by soil testing, using natural pest control like dung beetles and guinea fowl, managing water flow on slopes, mulching and composting. We have exciting plans to consult with an expert herbalist to add horse-friendly herbs into our pasture to give your horse a naturally varied diet.

Careful seasonal management, best practice worm management, cross-grazing with cattle and the minimal use of chemicals all help to keep our paddocks in peak condition for your horse.

As well as pasture diversity and soil health, we are also committed to improving our local ecosystem for other plant and animal species. We are currently planting a large number of trees and shrubs that provide natural shade, shelter and wind breaks for the horses but also provide habitat for other animals, birds and insects.

"Natural horse management, guided by science"

Discover how the principles of Equiculture help us give your horses the best possible life at Arcadia Valley Agistment.

Guided by Science