If you want your horse to be able to run or play in his paddock an enclosure of about 20 or 30 feet wide by 100 feet in length is needed. The amount of land you have available, the number of horses, their ages, temperaments and the amount of regular exercise they receive all play an important role in determining the size you choose to make your sacrifice area or areas. Using a sacrifice area confines manure and urine to a smaller area where you can have better control of it. Picking up the manure every one to three days will help reduce your horse's parasite load as well as reducing flies and insects. The manure you pick up can be composted and reapplied to your pastures during the growing season.
Footing is an important consideration for sacrifice areas.
Using some type of footing, at least in the high traffic areas, will reduce mud. Hogfuel or wood chips can provide an excellent footing. These wood products can be good environmental controls, too. Through the natural composting process they contribute to the breakdown of the nitrogen in the horse s urine and manure. This process eliminates the urine smell often present in outdoor confinement areas.