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.