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Area Outside Stable

boboren
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Mar 6, 2007, 5:26 PM

Post #1 of 10 (1102 views)
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Area Outside Stable	Can't Post

The area outside our stables now has no grass and virtually is comprised of dirt, mud and manure. That isn't too bad in the summer when it is dry as the manure can be cleaned up rather easily and the horses have no problem walking on it.

However, when it rains or snows and the snow melts, it turns into a quagmire. I don't know what needs to be done to make the area manageable. My thoughts were to dig down and put in a base of gravel and then cover that with six inches of "Stone Dust". But, I don't know if this will be successful or not.

Have any of you experienced this problem and come up with a satisfactory solution? I am open to all ideas.

Bob Oren
Semper Fi

michindo
New Member

Mar 12, 2007, 12:55 PM

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Re: [boboren] Area Outside Stable [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Bob. It was the same all around our stable so I put about 4 in. of wood chips all around it. Of course it depends on a lot of things such as how many horses you have (we have 2 & a min. donkey) and how big the area is. Also, we live in Mo. Ozarks so there is a lot of saw mills around to get chips or sawdust from. Any way, that worked good for us and lasted about 3 yrs. You might want something more permanent though. Also I keep the manure cleaned up around there every day or two.
Michindo

crehberg
Member

Mar 16, 2007, 3:34 PM

Post #3 of 10 (1083 views)
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Re: [boboren] Area Outside Stable [In reply to]	Can't Post

I'm waiting to see any answers also 'cause I know numerous people with this problem who don't have access to wood chips.

boboren
Member

Mar 18, 2007, 8:13 PM

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Re: [michindo] Area Outside Stable [In reply to]	Can't Post

Michindo,

Thanks for your response. I use wood chips, (actually almost more sawdust than chips) for bedding in the stalls. I don't think there are enough actual wood chips in it to be effective for the stable area outside. But, it might work. I have read about different approaches to take. Just not sure of which one would be most effective. Was hoping some of the readers would have some good advice. I do know that what I have is a real mess.

Did you find that water would go through the sawdust and not keep it too soggy? Maybe if I had a base of gravel and then put sawdust down, it might be effective. I did put about 4-6 inches of what was supposed to be wood chips on it last year. Unfortunately, it came from pine tree branches that were cut and chipped and I found that it retained water too much. I couldn't get it to dry out. Perhaps regular wood chips would have been okay.

Bob Oren
Semper Fi

michindo
New Member

Mar 19, 2007, 11:54 AM

Post #5 of 10 (1065 views)
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Re: [boboren] Area Outside Stable [In reply to]	Can't Post

Well, I guess if you had some kind of base it would work ok but definately do not put any sawdust down. Once it got wet it would stick to the horses feet and really make a mess and wouldn't take long to be gone. As long as you can keep sawdust dry it would work ok but even in stalls when a horse pees on it it can get messy. Straight wood chips work the best and if you can get hardwood chips, oak etc. they dry in about a day after a rain. Pine is pretty soft & holds moisture longer. If you have a lot of money I guess you could put rubber mats down. I also thought about a base of something and maybe put down big pieces of old carpeting over it. Now that would be interesting if the area wasn't too large I guess. I don't know what's really best. When I watch movies where they are filming on farms or ranches I never see anything on the ground around the barn except bare dirt. Any way good luck. If you do find something really great please let us know. If I think of anything else I will post it.
Michindo

michindo
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Mar 19, 2007, 12:01 PM

Post #6 of 10 (1064 views)
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Re: [michindo] Area Outside Stable [In reply to]	Can't Post

Bob, I was just reading the thread below this one about making a dry lot and he is talking about puting sand down. That might be good, you wouldn't even need a base with it. I might even try that myself.
Michindo

Mark4510
Silver Member

Jun 13, 2007, 9:01 PM

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Re: [michindo] Area Outside Stable [In reply to]	Can't Post

All of our stalls have a turn out and in the winter the area that the horses tread on the most becomes a red mud shoe pulling nightmare. Over time we found the best solution was to use road base with a sand/DG/stone chip top. In one of the rehab stalls where the turn out is only 12x12 we put 3-4" of road base down and decomposed granite (DG) and its the best one of all. It never turns muddy and is really easy to clean. The top dressing is not sand so the horses tend to not eat it.

Something to consider.....
Mark

michindo
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Jun 18, 2007, 11:42 AM

Post #8 of 10 (952 views)
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Re: [Mark4510] Area Outside Stable [In reply to]	Can't Post

If that is for roads wouldn't it be too hard for horses to stand on for a long time? Maybe not, I don't really know what that stuff is. I guess probably 90% of horse people do nothing at all. I talked earlier about trying out big pieces of carpeting in certain spots. We're taking our old carpet up and I might try that this winter. It may not work but if I do it I will post back sometime and let you all know what happens. Or maybe I will just try wood chips again if I can find them. I thought I could get them anywhere around here but now I can't find any sawmill with a chipper, just sawdust.
Dennis

CarMar
New Member

Jun 22, 2007, 3:34 PM

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Re: [michindo] Area Outside Stable [In reply to]	Can't Post

I don't know if this is something worth looking into but what would you or anyone think about the recycled tires. They are being used more for playgrounds (in place of wood chips). They would provide drainage, wouldn't hurt the horses feet, and wouldn't decompose. My thought about the rug would be mold and mildew with the moisture. Just some thoughts.

CarMar

twhsqurit
Member

Jul 9, 2007, 12:17 PM

Post #10 of 10 (548 views)
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Re: [CarMar] Area Outside Stable [In reply to]	Can't Post

What about burying a drainage tube, or creating a run-off? I do not know your lay out, but this has helped us.
Dani

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