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. This size rock resembles lemons or grapefruits and provides a firm base for the driveway. I think for small, enclosed spaces like that, sand and/or rubber mats would be better because the horse needs to lie down on it. approximate weight per bag. 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). Will dogs poop on pea gravel? Awesome feedback! It doesnt matter how much you scrape and pack, your gravel (even 3 road base!) 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. Its working out perfectly. A muddy backyard in a small property can be solved with ease by covering the mud with concrete. Paulo from Winnipeg Drywall and Stucco in Winnipeg. Thanks so much for your help! I guess it goes back for centuries in the European countries and the lady that wrote the list was from Scotland. It needs to be deep enough that the rock compacts and locks together so one layer (of 3 rock) is not enough. I think your climate is a lot drier though and you get snow/ice most of the winter, right? Ive also had a few that you had to be careful even with thumb pressure because that was enough to poke a hole through the sole.). 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? All Rights Reserved. Horse was very lame. and I love the photos!!!! Also handy in the shed to clean out all dust. 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. Ill be staying with the pea gravel for sure. 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. That's where limestone from Baker Lime can help. You can also subscribe without commenting. 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? Here are a few reasons why crushed limestone can be a good choice. This layer of stone is your simulated bedrock, and it's the foundation of your new driveway. I havent tried draingrids or mudgrids myself, so I cant comment on them. Now I can focus on other things (water, feeders, trailer, star thistle, fences)! 4. I heard the local racetrack likes to use it, but they are also grooming the track daily. Now Im going to moving my other mare over so wanted to check whats the best footing as I live on Vancouver Island, the place with the most rainfall on the planet. part of doing a crushed stone base to to dig up the grass and top soil and dig down . It forms from the accumulation of shells, coral, and other debris of marine organisms, as well as the precipitation of calcium carbonate from seawater. And I would think youd want to use sharper-edged gravel (not smooth) so it can bite into the limestone and hold I discovered this by adding a load of smooth gravel on top of my crusher dust (1/4 gravel) to see what would happen, and it just slid around and was useless. Limestone fits and compresses better, by digging in deeper is better, then relaying on the plastic edging to keep the blocks and limestone in place. Perhaps just 3/4 minus gravel laid 4 inches deep and 2 inches of crusher dust (1/4 minus) on top would be sufficient?? Even I get confused. I tend to scrape old chips off at end of summer because with wind and sun a lot naturally disappear. 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. that would be cool . Not only does this make them very hard to brush clean, but the particles are super fine dust that occasionally irritate the horses eyes and are certainly not healthy for you or your horse to be inhaling. Wish I had better news for you! But by April, the area around the slow feeders was wet and mucky. However, on the flip side of that argument, here's what a Farrier has to say about why she prefers crusher dust: "As a farrier, my favourite footing in this area is crusher dust. 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? Scraped out dirt, put in drain, geotextile, big rocks, then 57s, then screenings. Thanks for the discussion. 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. It can also be called quarter minus, or flume sand. e.g: 500 square feet x .5 feet depth = 250 cubic feet. Scrape off the dirty layer (from dirt and small bits of manure) and re-surface/grade. Great info. white rabbit restaurant menu; israel journey from egypt to canaan map crushed limestone for muddy yard. I live in Chilliwack, so have the same weather as you . And unfortunately, I have to report that my experience has been similar. Excellent article, and appreciate the before and after pics. For yellow star-thistle, toxicity symptoms may arise after horses have ingested 85 to 100% of their body weight in green plant material. Among the other options are crushed stone #411, quarry process, pea gravel, jersey shore gravel, marble chips, and river rock. GAH this is the bane of my existence! You should definitely do that! Heres what it looked like after the two truckloads of 3/4 inch gravel was spread out: I was happy with this for a few days, and then I started fretting about the fact that there really wasnt much room for them to move around and exercise, yet stay on the gravel. 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. Dr. Ann Swinker (professor of Equine Sciences) says: Ideally a two layer footing system works best when working with gravel. 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. As I have 2 horses I intend to build a small turnout paddock for the winter months. Paths made of large limestone pavers are also popular, but with big slabs some considerations have to be taken into account. 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 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. I would not use it. I have heard that pea gravel is best although it doesnt pack down. I have been on two rental properties and each time didnt think it was worth doing the geotextile, but even if you only stay 2 years, its worth it. Thanks you so much! But again, after researching, I think thats an issue of the existing surface, how much is used, and what the resulting footing is like. 2015-2023 Listen To Your Gut Enterprises Inc. ALL images and text. So true! Be aware that there are different types of crusher dust and the type that sets up very firm is what I prefer. ft. (1/3 cu. So they tear around a lot, wrestle, lunge and pivot etc. Next, on top of the 3 rock, spread another 5 inch deep layer of 3/4 inch minus gravel (sometimes called Road Base). "It's a very modern look, but I tried to soften it with the gravel and plantings, like the ferns in the gravel," says Klausing. 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. AND does it need the same amount of drainage capacity as your paddock, or less? It simply means that the particle size of the gravel is guaranteed to be less than the measurement. Beautiful! The sand was dumped and spread about 2 weeks later. It was great to read such an informative article. 6 inches equals .50 feet. Still deciding on what to put on the top. If you are already starting with fairly hard footing underneath, crusher dust may not be your best option but on the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley [of BC, Canada], it is rare for it not to be an improvement.. They dont lie down in there and only really use it for a shelter. So I would rather rake and sweep. 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. Their paddock is 8000 sq feet, so cost is definitely an issue. 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! But Im afraid the only thing that is maintenance-free is concrete! Im open to hear any new tips you may have to for my situation. The perm agg base coarse is basically a coarse 1-1/4 minus, and the perm agg top coarse is a coarse 5/8 minus (basically a 3/4 minus). So the only surface Ive seen work is concrete. No bark or greenery. Ask yourself WHY your fields are hosting these plants? HOWEVER, now that were heading into 2022, Ive had almost 3 years with the professional job that Mitchell did and the geotextile cloth is coming through. Texas Aggregate & Base Materials can fill all your base material needs from recycled concrete, rip-rap, limestone, sand or gravel. 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. 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. 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. It will naturally get pushed out to the edges over time anyway. For one tone of crushed limestone, you would pay around $25 to $35. I live in Ireland where we have a wet mild climate. 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). Wow thats crazy! Thanks for your time. 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. They are never locked up and only have a run in, that is in the paddock. To ensure adequate drainage for the stable when using any type of flooring, elevate the top of the stall floor at least 12 inches above the outside ground level. And yes, because horses hooves pound gravel and shift it around unevenly, eventually you will have spots where the geocloth is exposed usually at the edges of an area. BUT, what am I going to put on their paddock surface to create a paddock footing with adequate drainage? The only other option I can think of, is to save your money on the material underneath and put that towards having custom-cut mats that fill the stall, wall-to-wall in one piece. Limestone Screenings - this includes limestone aggregate that is relatively small down to fine particles. Or for sure you will be re-doing every year. The thing that packs down the hardest especially if you water/soak it and use a 1000 lb compactor is Crusher dust. It is a material that people are familiar with in almost all parts of the world. https://www.listentoyourhorse.com/equine-permaculture-in-rainy-climates-system-for-sustainable-pastures/, great info, i really appreciate you sharing with others as it takes time to post such info with pictures, too. 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.. NATIVE SOUTH TEXAS RIVER ROCK. Awesome Sherry! This will help tremendously. (Aggregate = rocks; permeable = allows water to pass through.). Problem is, it doesnt pack down the way Id like. 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. to see prices and products. NOT smooth edges, with dust fines) then I havent seen any movement even in heavy, weeks-long rain. king county (washington) considers gravel non permeable and wants you to get a grading permit to add any gravel. Doing so can decrease the accumulation of dust inside your home and make the space useful as another living space like a porch or even a mini court for your kids. Gravel or 5 ml washed sand. Gravel is available in two main types: crushed stone and naturally formed gravel. I want a one time solution with not a massive upkeep. Particle uniformity refers to the mix of particle sizes within the blend. My question is this: When I do the paddock area with the 3 layers of stone like you explained; what do you recommend for inside the run in? I will say, that year was the worst for rain weve had in a decade or so tons of houses had their basements flooded for the first time ever. And that way I can keep them on pasture year-round in this super rainy Pacific Northwest climate. 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? It has great drainage, and my one complaint is that it gets dusty in the summer, but I consider that a small price to pay for a dry arena in the winter. If the supplier charges by the yard, then the costs can be about $27 . Gravel cost per yard Having said all that, if you have an active herd like mine and youve got an area thats sheltered from rain theyre still going to move it around and carve it out over the winter. Live and learn! When its settled a bit , say 12 months add another layer of 20mm minus, crushed rock and out a roller or wackier over it. I live in a dry, desert region in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and I have purebred Arabian horses. Angular Crushed Rock, very stable and suitable for paddocks. Vet found him full of crusher run. 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. Fortunately, some remedies are transitory, while others are long-term. 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. A friend of mine who builds roads in the Vancouver area and whose father builds horse arenas told me that you can go down 6 feet and you still wont hit any kind of hard soil or anything that would provide a barrier to your gravel sinking away. The crushed drain rock is going to roll more than the quarried rock. 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/. ), they told me that the Cloverdale Racetrack uses limestone gravel for their track. Im definitely going to send your article to my boss and see what she thinks. At the base its currently just packed dirt. 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? But she said she wouldnt use the crusher dust again, since it packs down like cement. The larger chunks of rock are also easily caught in the rake, so you end up dumping a lot of the gravel you just paid money for, out with the leaves which does not feel good! So 6 = .5 feet, or 3 = .25 feet. Arizona River Rock. That said, you pretty much have to see the different types and as was mentioned by someone else, you have to know how the surface below it will effect it. 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