Cross Visits (CV)
Cross-visits play a very relevant role in the context of the European Network for knowledge exchange and peer-to-peer learning among actors and stakeholders of the horse sector to improve the resilience of equine farms, involving EUnetHorse partners.
Within the EUnetHorse project, 8 cross-visits will be organized. For each visit, a mixed group composed by EUnetHorse partners and 1 or 2 farmers, trainers and advisors from all EUnetHorse countries will visit one or two farms (during one or two days) to encourage peer-to-peer learning within the equine sector, contributing significantly to the project’s goals. Participants will receive information on technical solutions (how to implement, technical choice of the solution, costs generated by the solution, assets of the solution, etc.). After each cross-visit, feedback will be collected from participants. Farmers will be encouraged to share their thoughts such as ‘is it possible to implement the same solution in my farm?’, ‘does it need any adaptation?’, ‘what did you like/dislike in the demonstration?’. Moreover, via email or by offering a post-visit report contact among participants will be maintained to ensure that the new knowledge and experiences gained during the visit are being implemented successfully. Participants will be encouraged to share their experiences with others in their community.
Visited farms during the 2nd EUWS - GERMANY
Pferde am Arkusberg
Farm overview: Founded in 2017 and located in Gleichen (Germany), the farm employs one full-time worker, though three people are involved. The idea came in 2015, inspired by the daughter’s desire to be self-employed and to incorporate horses into her father’s farming business. After researching horse care, they identified a market need for a paddock trail, which they developed.
Main activities: The farm focuses on horse boarding, grassland management, hay and crop production, and beef cattle farming.
- Equine count: 16–20 horses
- Land area: 50 hectares
Cross Visit’s objectives: To visit a paddock trail with two groups of horses: one with “normal” feeding and another “diet” group with restricted feeding. The paddock trail system is like a paddock paradise housing, it promotes horse movement by creating fenced corridors leading to strategic points like water, hay, and grass.
Animal welfare: The horses enjoy free movement along a 2 km trail with paddock mats on the ground. They are housed in groups and fed high-quality hay produced on-site, using a modern air-drying system. Riding areas are constructed using the horse-friendly TTE Riding Area Elastic system, which ensures proper drainage and comfort.
Economy & ecology: The farm operates efficiently with minimal labor relative to the number of horses. The trail also incorporates ecological elements such as vegetation hedges, shaded areas, deadwood corners, and dry stone walls.
Reitstall Pavel
Farm overview: Founded in 1979 by the farmer’s parents and located in Calden- Fürstenwalde (Germany), the farm now employs 12 staff members and three family members. Philipp Pavel, the current manager, grew up on the farm and pursued formal education in horse farming after school. He has 14 years of experience, including equine studies, horse training, and a B.Sc. in Business Administration.
Main activities:
- Horse boarding
- Riding school
- Amateur breeding (max. 2 foals per year)
- Grassland management and pasture care
- Equine count: 180 horses
- Land area: 100 hectares
Cross Visit’s objectives: To demonstrate various horse housing systems (indoor box, paddock box, group housing) with different types of bedding. The farm features three indoor and three outdoor riding arenas, two of which have an automated water adjustment system using a cistern to collect rainwater for irrigation. The other arenas have sand floors with surface watering.
The farm aims to highlight:
- The impact of housing conditions on horse welfare and health.
- The benefits of a modern feeding technique using automatic feeders for hay and concentrate, which reduce labor and control feed intake.
- The farm’s resilience through diversification and providing good working conditions for employees.
Visited farms during the 1st EUWS - FRANCE
Numenor Stud Farm
Numenor Stud Farm, managed by Marine and Julien, is located near the Dombes region in France. They offer various methods of insemination, embryo transfer, breeding and foaling services, and stallion breeding services. They also breed French saddle horses, and they select high performance innovative female genetics to meet riders’ expectations.
- Surface area: 75 hectares of utilised agricultural area including 30 hectares for grazing (food autonomy for hay);
- Workforce: 2 managers and 0.7 paid workers.
- Horse accommodation: 2 open stables for mares and foals during winter (group housing system), around 20 individual stalls for mares and foaling, and 3 stalls for stallions. The individual stables are designed to be able to monitor mares and foals from the aisle.
- Technical facilities: 1 gynecology and artificial insemination room, 1 laboratory for insemination and embryo transfer, 1 collection room and its dedicated laboratory.
Havre de Galahia
Active stable providing equine mediation workshops and boarding services.
Carole is highly involved in preserving equine welfare and finding sustainable solutions for her farm. She restored the pastures and managed her grasslands to preserve grass diversity and quality, together with hedges and ponds.
She has chosen innovative riding surfaces, using boxwood shavings in her indoor arena. This kind of surface does not need to be watered and provides good quality of soil.
All horses have access to free movement, slow feeding and are group housed.
Cross-visits are important for several reasons.
To find out, click on the flower petals:
Diverse-perspectives
The equine sector exhibits a wide range of practices, challenges, and approaches across different countries due to variations in climate, geography, culture, and local regulations. Cross-visits provide an opportunity for stakeholders to gain insights from equine farms in different European countries, enabling them to learn about different and meaningful strategies, techniques, and innovations. This exposure fosters a more comprehensive understanding of the sector’s intricacies and encourages the adoption or adaptation of best practices that may be applicable across borders.
Knowledge Transfer
Cross-visits facilitate the direct exchange of knowledge, experiences, and expertise among participants. By physically visiting equine farms in other countries, stakeholders can witness firsthand the application of various management practices, husbandry techniques, and technologies. This immersive experience goes beyond theoretical knowledge-sharing, promoting practical learning and skills development that can be directly implemented in their own contexts.
Peer-to-Peer Learning
Equine farm owners, managers, and professionals often have valuable insights and practical solutions that peers can benefit from. Cross-visits create an environment where stakeholders can engage in meaningful discussions, share challenges, brainstorm solutions, and collaborate on innovative approaches. Peer-to-peer learning promotes a sense of community, encourages open dialogue, and fosters the emergence of collective thinking within the network.
Cultural Exchange
Cross-visits provide a unique opportunity for cultural exchange and interaction among participants from diverse countries. This cultural dimension adds depth to the learning experience as stakeholders gain an understanding of different traditions, perspectives, and approaches of equine husbandry. The exposure to different cultures can broaden horizons and stimulate creative thinking.
Enhanced Resilience
The primary goal of the project is to improve the resilience of equine farms. Cross-visits contribute to this objective by exposing stakeholders to various strategies for addressing challenges such as disease outbreaks, environmental changes, market fluctuations, and regulatory shifts. By learning from farm experiences in different countries, participants can develop a more robust set of tools and strategies to enhance the resilience in their own operations.
Network Building
Cross-visits offer a platform for building and strengthening relationships among stakeholders from different partner countries. These interactions foster a sense of camaraderie and collaboration, leading to the creation of a cohesive European network. The connections established during cross-visits can extend beyond the project’s duration, facilitating ongoing information sharing and cooperation within the equine sector.
Therefore, cross-visits in the context of a European Network for knowledge exchange and peer-to-peer learning within the equine sector contribute significantly to the project’s goals by enabling stakeholders to learn from one another, exchange practical insights, enhance their resilience, and foster a sense of interconnectedness across borders.
Cross-visits have been orchestrated as a means of fostering knowledge exchange and collaboration within the equine sector, originating with the intent to introduce farmers to innovative practices. In more recent times, these cross-visits have evolved to encompass not only the sharing of experiences among farmers in a peer-to-peer setting but also the facilitation of co-creative knowledge processes among farmers and various stakeholders.