Footing for rainy season

SusieQ · Weanling Joined: 01 Jan 2007 Posts: 3

My horse is in a paddock which is only partially covered. I put shavings under the covered part, the rest is slop. There had been wood chips in the pen, but now it is mainly just mud. The paddock is about 12' x 36' and a little sloped, declining down from the covered end. Does anyone have any recommendations what would work well to improve the footing? I am in "sunny" California.
I would appreciate any tips or suggestions. Thank you!
-Susie

tazzy207 · Member Joined: 10 Sep 2006 Posts: 106 Location: canada

there is a product called hogfuel, look i tup on google its awsome...prevents almost aall mudd,i know people who swear by it.....

Falling · Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 6:53 am Post subject:

try laying sod?

Sorry, that sounds really off hand, but I actually know someone who fixed a similar problem. We have small run-out paddocks attached to each stall, and one of the boarders got sick of her mare rolling in the mud during the wet season so she locked her out of the run for two weeks, bought a pallet of sod, laid it and let it get rooted. After that she went out weekly and cleared the manure from the run and threw out grass seed. it stayed pretty well green and reduced the mud by 90%, although her mare still had green patches from rolling.

The thing with over-grazed paddocks or lots is that you have to get the grass established and then keep on it. That means a lot of outlay in seed.

Bondama · Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 7:21 am Post subject:

I'm dealing with that right now, too! I just planted a 50-lb. sack of rye seeds in one smaller paddock and it's coming along nicely. The grass is about 4 inches tall now, so I let the horses in for about a half hour, then turn them back out again. We're getting lots of rain right now, so it's growing nicely, but the other non-grassed paddock is sloppy. I hate it!
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blissjmc · Yearling Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 24

I'm having the same problems. My whole pasture is nothing but caked mud. As of now my horses have no grass. The only pasture that does have grass they aren't allowed on because its so wet. Only reason why is because they will turn it into mud just like the other pasture. I read about the hog fuel, but they said it only makes things worst. They said it does help but as soon as it starts to break down it makes the muddy area really bad so I dunno about that. I was told to try sand instead. I would go online and research it more before you buy.

tazzy207 · Member Joined: 10 Sep 2006 Posts: 106 Location: canada

Really, Didn't know that, i was just told it was good but if it makes things worse than dont do it ! lol, but ya sand would also work fantastic, it would still be muddy but not slippery mud, wit would be thick, and definitely not as messy, think about it, we put it in our indoor arena, and no matter wut, it doesn't get muddy, even with cattle in it. Another suggestion would be sawdust? we have that i our arena too, youd probably have to use quite a bit in a free run paddock but u could try it.....

P.S. Anyone on this forum, please go look on the conformation forum to critique my 3 year old as a yearling, a 2, and now a 3 yr old! Im not getting very many replies folks! help me out! Thanks! Laughing

blissjmc · Yearling Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 24

I'll have to try that, saw dust or sand. I can get saw dust pretty cheap here so I will try that first. I can't wait til summer, so I can clean up all the hay thats packed down in the mud. Joy. I bought seed, but to early to put that down.

Falling · Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 9:36 am Post subject:

Dawn · Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 7:28 am Post subject:

Be careful of sand, you may have a bunch of horse's start to sand colic. I say this from experience, as we spent a bunch of money putting sand in our runs off the stalls and for some reason 2 of our horse's would "lick" the sand. They did not have any mineral deficiencies, but both did go through two severe bouts of sand colic and we then removed the sand from those turnouts as well as the three others. It was great as far as keeping the muck down, but not worth the anticipated risk in my opinion. Removing that much sand after it has been laid in is a real pain in the ass.

There is a compound out there somewhere that is crushed volcanic rock and the stuff makes any paddock look amazing (winter or summer). It is a fine substance with a little grit to it (similar to a DG inconsistancy). Don't know where you can get it, but at one time it was being marketed experimentally.

Falling · Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 7:44 am Post subject:

horsewoman1965 · Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 4:45 pm Post subject:

We've put down several loads of sand outside loafing sheds and two loads around our main feeding station. We are finally gettting lots of rain (wish we would've had some this summer), but it's still a mess. we don't sink as far into mud but it's still nasty looking and a mess. Also the entrance to the barn where the stud comes and goes. Anyways, I have decided when the weather clears up that I'm gonna get some crushed lime (like whats in the stalls under matts). I'll have to wet it some but that fine powder part of it sets up like concrete and the rocky part of it are small rocks. at least it shouldn't bother the horses to much. We've got limestone gravel going down the lane to the barn and it's holding up nicely. Looks like we'll have to redo some of our driveway though since it's been 3 years.
Here's hoping it works. anybody try this?
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