Heres what the 1/4 inch minus crusher dust looks like on the paddock: And heres what the 3/4 inch gravel looks like on the paddock: I figured this would be a really good test to see which gravel held up best under the horses hooves during the rainy season, because I had them side-by-side for direct comparison! Its uses include: On Bike Paths. ft. ($53.81 /case) $5.07 Save 20% ( 139) Model# GDRCOBRG Merola Tile Coppa Brown Gold 12 in. If you were to follow Dr. Swinkers advice, you could use pea gravel 0r 3/4-inch minus gravel on the bottom and crusher dust on top (crusher is really just tiny gravel with gravel particle dust), or limestone gravel and crusher dust, or limestone gravel and sand. For the people that love crusher dust, they seem to love it because it packs down hard and forms a cement-like surface that doesnt sink into mud. Also goes a long way to keep down the fly/flea population. So yes, it will work in this climate (I tried it) but it will only work for one winter. So the layers act as a well-draining foundation. It wouldnt be the most interesting thing Ive ever written, but it might be useful. I would love to turn one of my higher ground areas into a huge covered area with drainage footing and then 8 inches of sand on top just for them to use to lie down Maybe someday. The technique you use to lay down the stone is vital as improper layering could result in the formation of water pockets trapped below the ground, which could cause potholes in the long run. Auburn Hills Main: (248) 338-3310 Oxford Yard: (248) 628-9777 Auburn Hills Scale House: (248) 332-6210 Weather Permitting Since I am not a millionaire, and Im weighing in on what direction to go, the gravel layers actually seems pretty affordable with less maintenance. Bridges of Kentucky > Blog > Uncategorized > crushed limestone for muddy yard. I think the punchiness of horses hooves disturbs the gravel so much, that all that needs to happen is for them to punch through to the geotextile in a very small spot and then that quickly enlarges. Would love to know what works for your climate/conditions , Hi Jini, I too live in eastern Colorado and would love to try the paddock recipe youve provided for this area. The water will travel through the rocks or gravel before entering the pipes. When the two materials are used together, the fine material fills in the voids left by the coarse material. The one thing you notice when youre trying to price out gravel or crusher dust, is that pricing tends to be in cubic yards. Your site is so inspiring and YOU are so generous! And I had to do that every year, for 4 years, until I finally got my friend Mitchell to come in and do it right. This is where we can choose to support our horses in a wholistic manner. They went deep to get it too! Or is that an attachment you put on your own tractor? The biggest issue is the immense amount of dust generated in the stalls. I live in western Oregon and am oh-so-tired-of-mud and looking for an affordable mud free paddock recipe, so to speak. For example, the price for one yard is around $40 at Mains Landscape Supply. The only other consideration is if you want to bring a heavy truck on the paths in that case you definitely need to go with a layer of 3-inch minus road base, then whatever you want on top of that for your horses hooves. . PRICING - State Crushing Landscape Supply PRICING Call for Delivery - Pricing Based on Material & Location See below for price estimates, effective April 1, 2022. In order to alleviate mud problems, consider laying a base of #3 or #4 Limestones on top of which you can layer 2B or 2A . Because it packs down fairly solid, it doesnt have the big pointy bits that are inclined to puncture and lead to abscesses. Arizona River Rock. When hes building horse trails, he puts down the Nilex geotextile, then 5-6 inches of 3 rock, then 6 inches of road base (3/4 minus). But mine prefer to lie out in the field on the frozen mud, so perhaps sand would be better it would be warmer for sure and I think that plays a big part in their choice. You have to pick up manure everyday but so worth it. I would not use it. See how to fix a muddy yard including the different causes of soggy grass, tips to prevent mud from building up, and effective solutions to fix water built-up. We are going to try a small portion of one horses paddock in a different material and Im considering the drainage panels you mentioned. The Easiest Waterhole for Horses that Doesnt Produce Mosquitoes! I am also a muddy hillside east Tennessee horsefarm owner. Okay so when you say stall mats were talking about a completely enclosed area 3 walls and a roof, right? Jini Patel Thompson is a natural health writer and Lazer Tapping instructor. So you could probably get away with less for each layer and maybe dont even need the 3 rock. For my super rainy climate (the Pacific Northwest coast) after trying cheaper variations and having to spend an additional $2,000 on gravel every year, because it just kept sinking I finally hired my friend Mitchell, who gets the commercial-grade barrier material from Nilex, to come in and do it right for me. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. The crushed drain rock is going to roll more than the quarried rock. So they obviously had serious deficiencies (their hooves were pretty bad too and thin tails). Catherine here. Hey Rick, so pleased it was helpful! One thing that I did and would highly recommend is after having the 3 minus delivered we rented a 1000 lb plate compactor and compacted the arena surface for a full week, many, many, many times. Which is 1/4 minus crushed gravel with the fines (rock dust). Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. 4 inches equals .33 feet Thanks for the discussion. Their paddock is 8000 sq feet, so cost is definitely an issue. The horses have lovely pea gravel paddocks with in/out access. As you can see from the 2 photos directly above, it is much easier to rake all the leaves off of the crusher dust. Ive also not had one issue of gravel puncturing or injuring their soles when horses hooves have a place to dry out regularly, and they have a variety of surfaces to choose from, in my experience, their hooves and soles harden up and just take care of themselves. GABION ROCK - 3" X 5" CRUSHED LIMESTONE. I prefer the smaller tractors since they can maneuver better around posts and corners so there is less hand-finishing work for me to do. Its holding up well though and perhaps they will only need to re-do it every 3-5 years now; since theres such a good base on it now. Best, So, how do you fix and dry up a wet yard? As long as you keep their hay off the sand (hay nets with a large bucket or built in container to catch escaped hay underneath?) Paths made of large limestone pavers are also popular, but with big slabs some considerations have to be taken into account. If you let any organic matter build up, it will break down into soil/mush which will defeat the whole purpose, as your horses will now be standing on a wet surface. Which Paddock Surface is Best for a Rainy Climate? I have already tried to scrape down a few layers last year and dig a trench through the center of their paddock but it hasnt worked as i didnt grade the area well enough.. We have tons of experience in residential, commercial and industrial applications . When you say horse rooms Im assuming you mean stalls or stables? My questions are as follows: if I use your advice of geotextile fabric with layers of gravel am I going to get washing of the fine gravel on the slopes with heavy rain? As youve shown, it doesnt hold up well, but its not expensive to replenish here ($250 per 16k lbs.). This reminded me of the two-part base Washington Rock makes for turf sports field. approximate weight per bag. 2. Course you could always do gravel this year whatever packs down solid the best (in my region thats barrier cloth, followed by 3 rock, then 3/4 minus gravel followed by 1/4 crusher dust) and see how it goes with the mats on top of that. They are then free to honor their body wisdom and *listen* to their body because they are not in physical or psychological scarcity. My dilemma has been what product to put underneath. Thanks for the great advice, now I have no more muddy mess around the barn! What is your thoughts of the grids and french drains? All I had to do was put fresh on top. Ideally, gravel should be 3/8" but 3/4" would also work. My arena is also used as the dry area on wet days and overnight hours, I am very happy with my surface. Great info. Nilex is a worldwide company, but if you cant get that material, then just show your supplier the spec sheet and get them to match it. But that is the law. Your email address will not be published. I also have access to granite based stone dust and of course limestone and just about any other rock, sand or clay material. Currently the stall area floor is stall pellets that are wood based mixed with shavings all from the local Tractor Supply. Thanks again. Also can you find any forums or message boards where people have experimented with both? Best article ever- I needed up making it a little simpler and doing geo textile then 6 in granite fines and have no mud in my barn yard- CRUSHED GRANITE. It gets as wet as the paddock, so the same footing will probably be best. Occasionally if on slope older spent chips need shoveling up but they can go on ground, gardens, hardcore roads. (normally everything here gets wet from rain, but dries the next day to hard surface). Part 2. You may always install. Perhaps just 3/4 minus gravel laid 4 inches deep and 2 inches of crusher dust (1/4 minus) on top would be sufficient?? See the video at the end of this post here from a woman who also has 2 acres: https://www.listentoyourhorse.com/how-to-make-a-great-waterhole-for-your-paddock-paradise-or-pasture/, Or, this permaculture system: Gravel is available in two main types: crushed stone and naturally formed gravel. I live in Ireland where we have a wet mild climate. So they tear around a lot, wrestle, lunge and pivot etc. Its a shame that gravel/aggregate companies around the globe cant use the same, standardized terminology, that would make sharing information and understanding things a whole lot easier for those of us in the UK, Australia, Canada, USA etc! Yes the mats may pull away from the edges/wall as the ground underneath becomes uneven, but Im thinking that would be less hassle than multiple join-lines separating. I am curious as to what you went with if you could let us know. Your email address will not be published. It forms from the accumulation of shells, coral, and other debris of marine organisms, as well as the precipitation of calcium carbonate from seawater. How to Manifest the Land of Your Dreams Part 3. I heard the local racetrack likes to use it, but they are also grooming the track daily. Ive never seen 3-inch woodchips for sale anywhere in the Vancouver area. Repair Your Gutter Downspouts And Fix A Defective Drainage System, The Most Effective Short-term Solution For A Muddy Yard, Industrial Paint Colors (Best Shades & Style Options), Blanket Sizes (King, Queen, Full, Twin & Throw), Rustic Kitchen Backsplash(Types of Materials & Designs), Oak Bedroom Furniture (Wood Types & Styles), Office And Bedroom Combination(Layout Ideas), Regency Style Furniture (Design Characteristics), Garden Hose Sizes (Standard Length & Diameter), Types Of Shovels (Uses, Styles & How to Choose), Split Rail Fence Ideas (Types & Design Pictures). I was all ready to order my gravel and tractor (my two new horses arrive at the end of April) until I read that you shouldnt do this work when the soil is muddy. However, you dont want to use sand if your horses are going to be eating on the surface (can cause colic if ingested). BUT, what am I going to put on their paddock surface to create a paddock footing with adequate drainage? And thanks so much for letting all of us know. And next year, I had to spend another $2K to spread 3/4-inch minus gravel on top. The trench feeding the dry well from the gutter downspout should be 11 feet deep and six inches wide, sloping gradually toward the dry well. I am sure alpaca or lama might work too? Tip: When spreading the top layer of crusher dust or 1/4 inch gravel, I have it spread 6-12 inches away from all the walls or sides of the paddock. I have lost so much gravel from throwing it out with the manure, I highly suspect well need to put down a load of crusher dust after scraping/grading this year. Why does Cobra Keep Running Zo out of the Paddock? Note: hiring the tractor cost me $400. muddy , trail users frequently walk to the outside. How To Remove an Old Post using a Farm Jack, Audelina Assigns Me an Exercise to Prepare for Riding, How I Use Wild Oregano Oil with Horses & Dogs, Fencing Pros and Cons & The Best Horse Fence, I Feel Guilty My Vet Injured/Killed my Horse, Horses Help Heal Generational Lines of Dysfunction, Intuitive Herb Selection for Your Horse Part 2, Horse Self-Selects Herbs to Help with Metabolism & Weight Regulation Part 1. We dont know if it built up over years of ingesting a little at a time, or if he somehow swallowed a whole bunch at once. I am totally disillusioned with any gravelled solution now. Rip rap is an aggregate that will perform in the harshest outdoor conditions. I started with the crusher fines, but have not been happy with the pee spots, so Ill go back and do the pea gravel, or maybe put some sand down in the pee hole, then the next 2 layers? Either that or you need to lay the plastic drainage mats but thats even more expensive. Remember that you need to remove all organic matter from the surface of your gravel to ensure it is kept clean and can drain properly. Vet found him full of crusher run. Wow thats crazy! This way, Im not having to shovel it back in to the center as it builds up along the edges (where its wasted). Might be a case of dont ask apologize later if you have to Some of those bylaws are aimed at developers though and they may not bother with small usage it varies though, some are more rabid dog about it. However, on the flip side of that argument, heres what a Farrier has to say about why she prefers crusher dust: As a farrier, my favourite footing in this area is crusher dust. THANK YOU!!! Limestone helps keep the soil pH higher. And unfortunately, I have to report that my experience has been similar. One word of caution: Ive been using it for 6 years, no problems, but recently, recently, almost lost one of my horses to colic. It is crushed up #57 stone combined with . So another friend of mine who builds both roads and horse trails in provincial parks, says that you cant just put the 3-inch rock layer down.