and has a variety of uses including as back fill and ground cover in landscaping. So they tear around a lot, wrestle, lunge and pivot etc. This will help tremendously. Crushed Concrete Rock. Foundation for buildings, roads, parking lots, railroads, etc. Thanks for the response. So then when the ground shifts, it may develop sink spots, become wavy, etc but it doesnt matter since your mats are one piece. However, if you can get them small enough (usually 3/8 5/8) to filter through the tines of your manure fork, that will make scooping poop much easier and reduce gravel wastage. When it rains, you may build a patio, gazebo, or other, However, you will need to replace them with a long-term remedy since they wont last. So for the 1000 lb plate compactor you rented was that a separate machine? Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed primarily of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) in the form of the mineral calcite. If your horses are restricted to a small area, they may then start pulling on the cloth to play with it. Im less concerned with the following years, since I may not even be there. Because it packs down fairly solid, it doesnt have the big pointy bits that are inclined to puncture and lead to abscesses. Lets start with these pictures of my first set-up, where I self-boarded my horses on a friends property, and my adventures in paddock footing began. 5. And that way I can keep them on pasture year-round in this super rainy Pacific Northwest climate. I forget the size but its small enough to fall through the manure fork. 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. Also be sure and check out our French Drain post as that worked brilliantly and may replace your trench: https://listentoyourhorse.com/paddock-mud-or-flood-problems-install-a-french-drain/. I havent read all of it yet, but for raking leaves that is very labour intensive I would suggest a leaf blower. After tilling is complete, spread the required amount . All I had to do was put fresh on top. The question is: what should I put down on the surface of this paddock; what drainage materials will work best and not cost me crazy money? What?? Why Do The Horses Always Have Better Ideas Than Me? I live in Maple Ridge and I am about to attempt this for my two horses on a rental property Grades of limestone aggregate include: 2- to 3-inch Limestone - primarily a construction grade of Limestone. In hindsight, even if I could not afford to remove the topsoil and lay down the proper layers first, I should have dumped 3/4 inch minus gravel directly on the grass (at least 3 inches) and then dumped 1/4 inch minus crusher dust directly on top of the gravel (at least 2 inches deep). Outside is not so good; it gets slippery when wet and is even worse when it freezes so this year I have put some gravel/sand mix on top of the chalk in some areas and so far that is performing better. Paul. Obviously droppings always need removing. I also found it really helpful to install a French Drain in my current paddock to help funnel the water off/away from the paddock and this made a huge difference in the effectiveness of my paddock surface. If you can afford concrete I would 100% go with that!! Required fields are marked *. Crushed stone, a mixture of stone dust and stone of various sizes, packs together nicely. So interesting! What is your thoughts of the grids and french drains? This is where we can choose to support our horses in a wholistic manner. I am considering using 3 deep of recycled 1minus concrete directly on top of the fresh scraped and graded ground compacted with his skidsteer and then adding 3 deep of crusher dust or sechelt sand to the top.. Visit your local nursery or landscape supply specialist to see what's available in your area. Best, https://www.listentoyourhorse.com/equine-permaculture-in-rainy-climates-system-for-sustainable-pastures/, https://www.listentoyourhorse.com/adventures-in-culvert-drainage-for-my-horse-paddock/, Ginny Interviews Jini for the Interspecies Evolution Podcast, Montaros Emancipation My Freedom is Your Freedom, Heart Opening Meditation with the Herd & Land, Montaros Journey: Healing the Wounded Angry Masculine, Messages from Burdock (Burrs), Raven & The Herd, The Herd Out My Window Esoteric Musings, Laminitis, Cushings, Founder Healing Session for Your Horse, Pain, Injury, Competition Brainwashing & Dissociation, The Geography of Belonging Horses & Love in Zimbabwe. They went deep to get it too! The discussion seems to be wide ranging and I would appreciate your thoughts. They also recommended I use 6 inches of it. I only had the farrier out once this entire year and even then one of the horses didnt need anything the rest of the time they either self-trimmed or I helped them out with a touch-up here and there. Vet found him full of crusher run. State Approved Road Base View Ad. My arena is also used as the dry area on wet days and overnight hours, I am very happy with my surface. Our farrier does not love the pea gravel. Ground always shifts. Can anyone comment on the use and longevity of products like Lighthoof? At that time, I also hadnt bought/used any arena panels which are super useful for cross-fencing or creating smaller paddocks. Neither of these materials work well alone. I ended up having to remove that entire layer and use it as fill elsewhere. . Hi Suzy! Id like something that would be most comfortable as they sometimes stay in there for a longer period of time, like heavy rain or cold windy days. Ideally, spend some time watching where/how water flows in your paddock area. So the plan is just to do stall mats in the 1212 stall areas. Or should I risk making even more mud and do it now? But as mine are so hard on footing, and theres so many of them lunging around, I have to level and add more crusher every year or two. The 3/4 inch gravel gets stuck in your manure fork and you end up throwing away a little bit of your money every day when you clean the paddock: 3. Rain on your crusher dust quickly takes care of this problem though. I live in England and have winter paddocks. Material Price Sheet 2016 Stone is sold per ton, Dirt is sold per yard, Minimum 16 Yard/Ton, Delivery Included No material is kept in inventory, Delivery from commercial mining and stockpile yards at discount. If you do this, be certain to fill up the ground back in with soil and sow turf seeds so the grass grows back as well as the ground doesn't lose absorbent planet. The next winter, you will need to add another 4-6 inches of 3/4-inch minus gravel. Make three zones in your rain garden: a moist zone at the bottom, a middle area, and a transition zone at the lawns border. At the base its currently just packed dirt. Over the last two years we have found that the compacted chalk works well under a straw bed inside. Its usually worth quite a bit of money. Another consideration: If you live in a dry climate with little rain, the dust particles in the crusher dust can work themselves deep into your horses mane and coat. More importantly, you should know that the kitty litter will need to remain in the yard for at least a day or two before it is completely soaked in and then it needs to be removed. I was interested to see if it would work, as a woman had written in (who also lives in this Pacific Northwest climate) to tell me that its never worked for her horses. Hes recovering, but its been a slow, agonizing process. Seriously, DO it. The big problem you get in many (most?) It is mainly used in applications by bodies of water, which is why you commonly see it along streams, rivers and similar locations. When I showed it to my friend Mitchell, he said the two problems with what I did were (a) I did not use industrial-grade geotextile, and (b) I did not put enough rock and gravel on top of the cloth. Scrape off the dirty layer (from dirt and small bits of manure) and re-surface/grade. We have been using cheap quarried chalk (local limestone) and compacting it on site. Now lay a layer of large rock or recycled concrete (3 inches wide or larger rock) on top of the Nilex barrier, about 5 inches deep. Only a few dont fall through. It's also an affordable option, ranging from $0.30 to $0.70 per square foot. Do you have any pics you can upload? Im open to hear any new tips you may have to for my situation. 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). Signup for our newsletter to get notified about our next ride. They have a program that subsidizes horse owners to improve drainage. Arizona River Rock. Post a picture of your horses Id love to see them! Hey Rick, so pleased it was helpful! It makes total sense though that it would be slippery when wet/freezing. But she said she wouldnt use the crusher dust again, since it packs down like cement. Plain pea gravel or limestone costs $28 to $45 per ton. Like Hoffmans? You should dig the hole 4 feet deep and just as wide. what do you think? However, horses hooves are way more punchy than car or truck tires. We have a rescue donkey and rescue OTTB that love to roll in mud but after 4 days of rain, its too much mud! And that should be no problem for their hooves either its such a short time. So, how do you fix and dry up a wet yard? I am sure alpaca or lama might work too? Currently, Im adding bran and mineral oil into the hay cubes, and also doing the once a month Sand Clear (for both horses, as a precautionary). BUT mine have extensive gravelled areas so depending on the area you gravel it may not have much effect, or, it could reduce your farrier bills . Because the 4 of gravel that was on top, has either been moved around by punchy horse hooves, or been thrown out along with manure that breaks down into tiny particle sizes. I live in Ireland where we have a wet mild climate. And yes, I can also concur with your friends experience. But let us know what you find out! Angular Crushed Rock, very stable and suitable for paddocks. If you dont have the budget to hire a tractor to remove 6-12 inches of soil, what is a cheaper alternative that might still work, if youre in an area with only occasional rain or flooding? I have been debating over whether i need Geo-textile or not, as some areas are fairly hard but some seem to have some clay So they obviously had serious deficiencies (their hooves were pretty bad too and thin tails). Paths made of large limestone pavers are also popular, but with big slabs some considerations have to be taken into account. We have tons of experience in residential, commercial and industrial applications . parts of the Pacific Northwest and the U.K., is that there is no hard compacted soil, or shale, or rock beneath the topsoil! Use something like this Nilex non-woven geotextile with a load capacity that can withstand rock, gravel and horses hooves. I tried it in two places under a shelter with 4 inches of gravel (3/4 inch minus) and then 2 inches of crusher dust. Thanks for your time. Either that or you need to lay the plastic drainage mats but thats even more expensive. More Miracles in the Singing Horse Matrix, Christmas & New Year 2021 Message from Singing Horse Herd, LTYH Podcast: Non-Verbal Observation & Acknowledgment, Connect Deeper with the Singing Horse Herd, Horse Wisdom: Who Are You, REALLY? Im in Virginia, USA and have been researching what to do for the muddy parts of our barn and our sacrifice lot. If you live in a place that only occasionally gets wet/floods, then you may be able to skip this step. A couple years ago I had a 40 acre place with a separate 4-stall, 3-sided tractor shed about 150 yards from the house. 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: The urine rotted the bottom chips which then decomposed through absorbing wet. Based on United States Geological Survey (2006), Wikipedia has produced the following useful insights giving data regarding crushed limestone.. 1.44 billion tons of crushed stones were used in the construction industry. The other way to look at the weed issue is from a soil ecology perspective. So true! How Did The Paddock Hold Up Over The Year? Google+; Horses must consume relatively large quantities of the green or dried plants before the toxic threshold is reached. First layer of rock should be 40mm crushed rock, with no fines in it. 2.5 inches equals .208 feet You will probably have to clear the top surface of the yard after a while and then let it air dry. These are the best options for driveway surfaces gravel, because they are small stones combined with rock dust, which makes a more solid driving surface. Answer 2B and 2A are identical except that the 2A contains a small amount of Limestone dust (10) mixed in with the stone, which allows it to compact more effectively. (from Kelmor in Chilliwack) We did not do a geo textile cloth (although I had one in my first hog fuel arena). In the table below you will find the average prices for crushed stone . GABION ROCK - 4" X 8" CRUSHED LIMESTONE. An easy way to tell the difference is that crushed drain rock is usually variegated (the grains will have multiple colors) while a quarried rock will mostly consist of the same color hue. I would definitely wait until August and do it then. Thanks again for the very informative article! It would probably be fine in a drier climate but on the Wet Coast, it isnt ideal. Ive heard gravel and have been avoiding it, but I am now considering it from your article/blog. Unfortunately, my landscaper/road builder/horse trail builder guy says that you need to scrape off the dirty layer of gravel at least once a year, and re-grade where needed. Bridges of Kentucky > Blog > Uncategorized > crushed limestone for muddy yard. trailer back into the shed stall area 'cause the ground (field) in front of the tractor shed is Bahia grass and soft . Thank you for the clear answer , and it is my pleasure to present you an invitation to visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to see the Arabian horses in their first homeland. SO pleased for you!! And next year, I had to spend another $2K to spread 3/4-inch minus gravel on top. Will last a lot longer. 4. Young's Sand and Gravel, a landscape supply company located in Ohio, charges $20 a ton for all limestone, except for #8, which can cost $2 more a ton. I havent used chalk limestone at all. white rabbit restaurant menu; israel journey from egypt to canaan map crushed limestone for muddy yard. I have a horse and donkey. If you are ordering crusher dust, its best if you can get a look at it, to make sure it is just rock fines and doesnt have clay (or a lot of sand particles) in it. But now I need to gravel the paths on my property- very occasional pick up truck traffic , mostly will be riding on these Im thinking 1/2 in angular rock well compacted 2 inches then 2 inches of granite fines on top of that?? Of course here in our dry part of California I dont really need it but thought it might really help some of you in the wetter climates? This is the best article I have read on this subject! 6. Youre very welcome Catherine! Place crushed gravel on top of that, running the . I like the fines so far for helping with the mud, but for sure am trying a longer term solution. And unfortunately, I have to report that my experience has been similar. I am also a muddy hillside east Tennessee horsefarm owner. Youre welcome Suzy! Thanks for the discussion. If I had known I would need him, I would have had him spend 30-60 minutes removing that topsoil/grass layer first, before spreading the gravel. However, there's a medium between powdered limestone and massive chunks. The paddocks are in one area on a slant so if the chips get a bit tired and over wet I can shovel out the wetter edges. If I could add some thoughts based on my experience working in the sand-and-gravel business: One thing I noticed is that the 1/4 minus you initially used is a crushed drain rock rather than a quarried rock. Honestly, the best solution is concrete all the stables in the UK (same climate) use concrete for high traffic areas. . Ideally, gravel should be 3/8" but 3/4" would also work. Uneven ground doesnt bother my horses at all. Limestone helps keep the soil pH higher. The water will travel through the rocks or gravel before entering the pipes. A local farmer grows willow (hardwood and quick growing) which is not poisonous and originally chipped it for power stations but they had special moisture parameters he could not meet. When you say horse rooms Im assuming you mean stalls or stables? Thanks so much for sharing your methods and experience. I have just purchased a house with 2 acres. Like you mentioned, 1/4 minus is dense and will definitely not drain as well as a coarser product. Again, this article is fantastic! Crushed limestone typically produced by mining limestone or dolomite rock deposits. The one thing you notice when youre trying to price out gravel or crusher dust, is that pricing tends to be in cubic yards. How To Ask the Universe For What You Want And Get It, Dolphin CHOOSES Dental Work with No Anaesthetic. A couple of extra tips; Rip rap is large nearly boulder-size crushed stone. I would still do the Nilex barrier cloth as the bottom layer though, and clear down to hardpan. by. We dont have as much rain as you all in the NW but we do have LOTS of hills and so we get drainage across our fields. 3/4" Crushed Limestone Rock, 57 Stone. He suggests you lay down 5-6 inches of a 3-inch minus rock layer first, to provide that hard layer and then put your gravel on top of that, or you will just have to dump the same amount of gravel every year, year after year, because it just keeps sinking. I want a one time solution with not a massive upkeep. Most of the mud is next to the outside wall of my run in, so the water goes right under it and inside the run in; so in other words when its wet, they have no escape from it. I will leave the back field open for them through the winter until May/June and let them trash it with their hooves and manure. Crushed rock with fines is called Crushed rock 40mm minus. Avoid high-clay soils as subsoils. So the only surface Ive seen work is concrete. It seems there is nothing harder for wear-and-tear on gravel than horses hooves! BUT if you can teach them where to poo that could buy you 2-3 years before having to scrape/freshen. I had my area done 2 years ago. One thing everyone does seem to agree on, is that if you are using crusher dust or pea gravel, its best to scrape off the topsoil (mud) first and get it down to the hard soil surface, then lay your footing. It forms from the accumulation of shells, coral, and other debris of marine organisms, as well as the precipitation of calcium carbonate from seawater. So 6 = .5 feet, or 3 = .25 feet. Btw, did a little research on star thistle as I hadnt heard of it, and I think the important point here is how MUCH the horse would have to consume to be negatively affected: The exact chemical compound responsible for toxicity in Russian knapweed and yellow star-thistle has not been defined; however, a sesquiterpene lactone, repin, is believed to be the key neurotoxin present. Ive been researching every option, trying to come up with the best (and economical) course of action, so I apreciate your in depth article. This should be perfect. 2. Im so happy I found your website! Note: hiring the tractor cost me $400. Ill be staying with the pea gravel for sure. With my crew, I need to add a layer of fresh 1/4 minus every Fall. Call for more details. This way, Im not having to shovel it back in to the center as it builds up along the edges (where its wasted). Your email address will not be published. Gravel cost per yard Pea gravel. The finer material compacts easily but will move under heavy traffic. Scroll. Someone suggested gravel or crushed limestone, but 1) I don't really want a bunch of little rocks in my yard where I have to mow right next to them and have it throw a rock up at me and 2) I think the dogs could slip on it or, perhaps worse, run another mud path right before the limestone. Be aware that there are different types of crusher dust and the type that sets up very firm is what I prefer. $ 30 - Crushed Concrete Base (Base layer of new driveways, binds w dirt) $ 32 - Crushed Concrete 610 (Mix of 1 rock down [] What can I use as a surface layer that will pack down fairly hard and not get cut up by hooves? Plan on spending anywhere between $32 and $55 per cubic yard of clean crushed rock and $15 to $37 per cubic yard of minus crushed rock. If you are putting it over mud, you arent going to get the positive results that many of us see with it. 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. So now that I have all the information needed to make a good decision about what is the best paddock surface for horses in a wet, rainy climate its time to look at what Im prepared to spend! INC. - Eighty Four 1016 Pennsylvania 519 Eighty Four, Pennsylvania 15330 (724) 222-4303 Get Directions Kirby Agri 500 Running Pump Road Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17601 717-229-2541 Get Directions I wonder if he was eating the crusher seeking to address a mineral deficiency You can just offer the plain (unflavored, no molasses) basic Hoffmans Minerals in a feeder/bucket in a covered area and let them help themselves. Both areas were destroyed in a couple of months once the rains started the cloth was either sticking up all over the place (the other woman said her horses would then grab it in their teeth and pull on it we just cut it off), or it had disappeared into the muck. Shamanic Journey & Psychic Predictions from 5 Years Ago! Beautiful! Perhaps just 3/4 minus gravel laid 4 inches deep and 2 inches of crusher dust (1/4 minus) on top would be sufficient?? . The pea gravel has to be changed over to new, clean material every few years, I think. Even though we moved some gravel over from other parts of the paddock, the gravel had sunk down into the soil all over, so there wasnt much left to scavenge. The cost per yard can start at $30 and go up to $45. Texas Aggregate & Base Materials can fill all your base material needs from recycled concrete, rip-rap, limestone, sand or gravel. 1. Natural Decomposed Granite This is a great alternative to mulch that can be placed around plants, shrubs, and trees. Granite Base. Of course you can always start with that and if its not enough, then add more on top. Nearly all the faces of the fragments are fractured. My dilemma has been what product to put underneath. Bulk crushed stone and gravel prices are $10 to $50 per ton on average. Dont worry about timing everything to occur on the same day. Still deciding on what to put on the top. king county (washington) considers gravel non permeable and wants you to get a grading permit to add any gravel. Im doing some research on how to sort out the high traffic area of stall threshold in a barn I just started managing. Add more gravel from time to time. They said it packs down better than pea gravel in the rain, there are less of the tiny stones to get stuck in the horses hooves, and its easy to shovel manure off of. Smaller stones, averaging under 1/2 in., are best for paths because they offer more comfort underfoot and pack together better. How thick does each layer need to be? So instead of implementing what I know would be a great solution, instead, Im trying to figure out the most cost-effective way of making sure my horses dont get thrush and can maintain healthy hooves through this years wet, rainy Winter and Spring. My horses are surrounded by toxic plants not one of them has ever become sick. Growsource supplies and delivers gravel and rock products for projects of all sizesfrom five to 10 yards (depending on the delivery area) at a time. We built it on a base of 1" crushed limestone at the recommendation of the builder. They are never locked up and only have a run in, that is in the paddock. It needs to be deep enough that the rock compacts and locks together so one layer (of 3 rock) is not enough. 3/4 in. The process involves breaking of collected rocks down to the specific sizes with the help of different rock crushers/machines. Et voila! or a covering to avoid water accumulation. When the two materials are used together, the fine material fills in the voids left by the coarse material. If you live in a climate that only gets occasional rain, or a short rainy season, then you may be able to just lay either a commercial-grade shielding fabric or a specialized plastic draingrid on top of the hard pan soil, then layer 2-4 inches of 3/4 inch minus pea gravel and top that with a 2-inch layer of 1/4 inch minus limestone gravel, or crusher dust. 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. Thank you for your great article!!! Thank you very much for this information, I am in Colorado, down on the plains, so we dont get a lot of rain, but for sure the snow then the horses runs fall apart. But by April, the area around the slow feeders was wet and mucky. For example, the price for one yard is around $40 at Mains Landscape Supply. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. 4 inch Dig 2 inches of lime stone compacted. This size rock resembles lemons or grapefruits and provides a firm base for the driveway. It can pack into a hard surface with limited drainage capacity. Heres all the reasons why I should have done it that way. Using pea gravel as a base for your hot tub has some distinct advantages.. Place 4 inches of medium-grade construction gravel on top of the landscape cloth, . It will all look normal. Remember, he uses 5-6 inches of 3 rock on top of the Nilex geotextile, then 5-6 inches of 3/4 minus gravel on top of that. Awesome Sherry! This hole area is low. Usually its okay, but one year (same supplier) the crusher had clay in it and it completely packed down and stopped all drainage from happening! Gravel is bound to have runoff, so your installation of a French drain was a great idea. Fantastic information Pippa thanks so much for letting us know! If you have a fenced yard, this is also a great way to reduce mud around the perimeter where your dog most likely walks the most to patrol the yard. Mitchell uses the Nilex 4551 Non-woven Geotextile when he builds horse trails in provincial parks. This year added more 57s, more screenings. On a full rainy day, these patches fill with standing water there is no drainage: So why not just use the 3/4 inch gravel? Thanks for the great advice, now I have no more muddy mess around the barn! I would put drains (herring bone or french) if I did it again just to avoid water logs. Ive heard from a number of people whove tried both that limestone packs down better. Do not just go buy geo-textile cloth from your local nursery or hardware store (tried that, doesnt work!). It is still porous so urine soaks through reducing the need for bedding removal. It gets as wet as the paddock, so the same footing will probably be best. But that is the law. Rubber Mats Even I get confused. He was stunned by the county thinking gravel is non permeable and says they are dead wrong. They can get a little waterlogged mid winter and usually it means they are old and not as absorbant and I take the depth down. Best to get new woodchips and not from a poisonous tree and without any greenery. Cover the fabric with a 4- to 5-inch layer of crushed #1 or #2 limestone rocks. When youre scraping the soft soil off (see step 2 below) try to grade the area so water will be encouraged by slope and gravity to flow where you want it to. I live in western Oregon and am oh-so-tired-of-mud and looking for an affordable mud free paddock recipe, so to speak. I usually have my gravel delivered 2-3 days before the Bobcat/tractor guy arrives as my horses love playing on the gravel piles! So yes, it will work in this climate (I tried it) but it will only work for one winter. Then I added 4 inches of 3/4 inch minus gravel, and then 2 inches of crusher dust.

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