Make sure you dont get smooth-edged crusher though it needs to have the jagged/irregular edges to pack properly. and has a variety of uses including as back fill and ground cover in landscaping. After six winters in the Pacific Northwest rainforest, with 3-11 horses, heres what Ive found works best: 1. Right now we have geo textile underlaymen, 5 1 1/4 gravel and 5 5/8 gravel. 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. Im doing some research on how to sort out the high traffic area of stall threshold in a barn I just started managing. There are 4 acres of fields here, and three horses (the land could go to a maximum of 4 horses) so I have enough land for a sacrifice field. 1.5 inches equals .125 feet Several grades from 3/8-7/8 inches will do the job if the color and grade better suits the landscaping. Add more gravel from time to time. Lime is spread on lawns that are not growing well to help the soil become more hospitable for grass. 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. You then start to add layers of more crushed stone or rock, but the size of the stones gets progressively smaller as you get closer to the surface. Im very lucky they have enough room to go elsewhere than their stalls/paddock. Id highly recommend going to look at farms that offer to let you see theirs and take a good hard look at their horses feet. 4 inches equals .33 feet I like the fines so far for helping with the mud, but for sure am trying a longer term solution. The other stuff is too loose and just moves out of the way like pea gravel. Applying straw, pine shavings, or organic mulch to a muddy yard is an excellent temporary remedy. So make sure your two layers, over your Nilex Geotextile, are at least 10 inches deep. With an older or sedate herd, maybe youd only have to top up once ever 2-3 years. NOT smooth edges, with dust fines) then I havent seen any movement even in heavy, weeks-long rain. Ground always shifts. Rip rap is an aggregate that will perform in the harshest outdoor conditions. Road base costs $18 to $30 per ton. During my research, I also called BC Parks & Rec who commission the horse trails in the provincial parks here and asked them what they did, as their trails seem to stay in pretty good shape all winter long, with lots of traffic on them. They have a program that subsidizes horse owners to improve drainage. Your site is so inspiring and YOU are so generous! I would definitely wait until August and do it then. Note: Some people like to put a layer of crusher dust as their top layer, but Ive found the fines in crusher really interfere with drainage, as they form this solid packed layer on top of all the gravel. We built it on a base of 1" crushed limestone at the recommendation of the builder. The whole idea of having a gravel or crusher dust top layer is to prevent wet organic matter (soil, grass, hay, leaves, manure etc.) It would also seem to be easy to clean. Also can you find any forums or message boards where people have experimented with both? I didnt use a membrane and probably would in the future. Gravel is available in two main types: crushed stone and naturally formed gravel. But then youre hooped, because you just wont be willing to scrape away $2,000 worth of gravel and start again with the Geotextile! How Can Animal Communicators NOT be Vegan? 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. 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! 2. Hi Suzy! I tried that one year and it was the worst gravel ever because it slides around so much it also mixes with all the manure particles and you cant ever get the manure off the smooth gravel. 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. Im less concerned with the following years, since I may not even be there. Wish I had better news for you! I also have access to granite based stone dust and of course limestone and just about any other rock, sand or clay material. #4 Gravel stone is made of limerock from 1 inch to 2 1/2 inches in size. And that should be no problem for their hooves either its such a short time. Limestone helps keep the soil pH higher. Please feel free to share your experience and experiments in the Comments section below. If you look at horse stables/properties all over the UK that is what they do. Avoid high-clay soils as subsoils. 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. Yes three walls and an open stall doors to the outside. Stabilizing a Muddy Road. If you ever test your soil and find it to be too acidic -- or below a pH of 7.0 -- a gardening expert would recommend adding lime to the . I really appreciate the knowledge you shared. You need the jagged edges and different particle sizes for the footing to pack down well and not just slide around every time a hoof punches down on it. This rock has rock dust and smaller pieces of rock added to the mixture. 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. I am in the UK. Part 2. Thanks you so much! 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). I live in western Oregon and am oh-so-tired-of-mud and looking for an affordable mud free paddock recipe, so to speak. After scraping down to compacted subsoil, put a commercial-grade barrier material on top of the hard pan soil. 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. Larry. How thick does each layer need to be? I have seen improvement in hoof quality in every foot taken from hogfuel or mud and placed on crusher dust and comparing it to the sand options, it is still a better hoof. Great info. 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 . My 2 boys dont poop in their 24 x 36 paddock area so I cant comment on how much base I lose to a manure fork. Regarding freezing, when it gets below zero, it all freezes. 6 inches equals .50 feet. 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. That was a very interesting read! 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? Particle uniformity refers to the mix of particle sizes within the blend. I usually have my gravel delivered 2-3 days before the Bobcat/tractor guy arrives as my horses love playing on the gravel piles! Ive heard from a number of people whove tried both that limestone packs down better. At that time, I also hadnt bought/used any arena panels which are super useful for cross-fencing or creating smaller paddocks. It wouldnt be the most interesting thing Ive ever written, but it might be useful. $ 30 - Crushed Concrete Base (Base layer of new driveways, binds w dirt) $ 32 - Crushed Concrete 610 (Mix of 1 rock down [] These methods quickly dry up the yard, allowing you to operate on it with a . In 2020, the United States produced a total of about 1.46 billion tons of crushed stone [1]. It consists of a coarse aggregate base and a finer cover layer. Just what I needed for my muddy hillside Tennessee horse farm. Regardless of the problem, drying and repairing the muddy yard is necessary. Why Do The Horses Always Have Better Ideas Than Me? Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. Okay, now that you know what to do Im going to tell you about all the options available and what other people say. Every bit of feedback is useful , Hi! At the base its currently just packed dirt. Crushed limestone #8G (3/8-1/2 inch) is ideal for channeling water runoff on your property. Your email address will not be published. It will all look normal. Thanks! 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. x 12 in. Make three zones in your rain garden: a moist zone at the bottom, a middle area, and a transition zone at the lawns border. Thanks Jini! I think your main question/determinant for the run-in is whether they lie down in there? But she said she wouldnt use the crusher dust again, since it packs down like cement. 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? Sounds like a plan. 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. Thx, Kimberly, Hi Kimberly see points #4,5,6 in the first section: Create a Dry Paddock in even the Rainiest Climate. But if you live somewhere rainy like the Pacific Northwest or UK, then this industrial-grade barrier material is crucial. Then I added 4 inches of 3/4 inch minus gravel, and then 2 inches of crusher dust. In order to safely use limestone for landscaping, remember these points, and your garden will thrive: 1. 2. Decomposed Granite With Stabilizers 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. Should I do the same thing, or should I do something different like sand or pea gravel? material calculator delivery rates #10 Limestone Screenings This is our finely screened crushed grey limestone. With my crew, I need to add a layer of fresh 1/4 minus every Fall. Also check out this post by an Oregon farm as it has a lot of good tips for what works and what doesnt. You could not just have a few inches deep like a shavings. They are never locked up and only have a run in, that is in the paddock. Nevertheless, if its working well for you, then its always good to have options . So youre not looking at any wear from weather elements, just urine and hooves. since there is no way I will ever have a covid vaccine , This is an amazingly helpful article! Only a few dont fall through. Too much depth doesnt matter so much indoors and I had a barn I never had to dig out. Well wool holds 40% its weight in water, so that makes sense. 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. 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. Pea gravel is so good for their feet. 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 have been doing research on the geogrids and stumbled on this wonderful and very helpful ariticle by Jini Thank you The process of limestone formation typically occurs in shallow, warm, marine . 2. Thanks for your time. We recommend using this for the topcoat layer for patios and walls. be very careful There are a couple of ways to create a pea gravel patio: using the bare ground as a base or over a base layer of crushed stone. Rotted chips basically become soil. But Im afraid the only thing that is maintenance-free is concrete! I want a one time solution with not a massive upkeep. 74.9 million tons used for cement manufacturing and the share of limestone are significant in it. Next, on top of the 3 rock, spread another 5 inch deep layer of 3/4 inch minus gravel (sometimes called Road Base). 3. I forget the size but its small enough to fall through the manure fork. Nearly all the faces of the fragments are fractured. Beautiful! Congrats though and how exciting! Because it packs down fairly solid, it doesnt have the big pointy bits that are inclined to puncture and lead to abscesses. However, I cant imagine anyone giving away fleece for free around here! For the bag of 50 pounds, you can pay anywhere from $5 to $10. king county (washington) considers gravel non permeable and wants you to get a grading permit to add any gravel. Regardless, I dont think its a good option and I would never use it again. I dont know if this will help anyone, beyond being aware of it, as Im not sure myself how to prevent it. Google+; But let us know what you find out! The best way to fix a muddy driveway is with TRUEGRID permeable pavers. 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. Our farrier does not love the pea gravel. And it will drain even less well if its quarried rock rather than crushed drain rock. Meditation Claim Your Reality in this Crazy World, When your Horse says No Perhaps the Process IS the Point, How to Manifest the Land of Your Dreams Part 4. Have you ever read about this? Rain on your crusher dust quickly takes care of this problem though. 1.5 tons can cover one cubic yard. The toxic effects of Russian knapweed and yellow star-thistle are cumulative, meaning that poisoning normally results when levels of the toxin build up in the body over time due to horses routinely grazing these plants. It is still porous so urine soaks through reducing the need for bedding removal. how essential is the geotextile if you have scraped down a few feet? It can also be called quarter minus, or flume sand. . The big problem you get in many (most?) 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. She began riding at age 2 in Kenya, and got her first horse at age 8 in Alberta, and so continues a life-long journey and love affair with these amazing creatures. And repeat, ongoing. It has been suggested that a horse must consume 60% of its body weight in green Russian knapweed plant material before toxicity symptoms appear. For a 6-foot- (1.8- meter-) wide trail, this amounts to about 1 cubic yard (0.76 cubic meter) of loose material per 6 . Every one of my 11 horses knows this. While several sizes and types of gravel may be used for the drain, your best option may depend upon the slope of the yard and whether you use a perforated pipe to help whisk the water away. Crushed Limestone Is Ideal for Livestock Stalls Powdered dolomite lime is excellent for all types of plant agriculture, and solid hydrating limestone is great for building. This size rock resembles lemons or grapefruits and provides a firm base for the driveway. My dilemma has been what product to put underneath. The size ranges from 1 to 3 and ultimately best from a company that screens it for horse gallops (Dormit woodfibre in UK supplies a lot for arenas and gallops). All your information is invaluable, thank you very much. Which Paddock Surface is Best for a Rainy Climate? Great info Donna thanks so much for sharing your knowledge! That said, there have been some crusher dusts surfaces that while I feel they are an improvement over hogfuel or mud, are still not the best. 2. While similar to gravel in its size and texture, limestone offers a larger variety of colors to choose from and is extremely durable. It also drains well and is easy to hose down. 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. Thanks for the interesting discussion. Ask yourself WHY your fields are hosting these plants? How to Manifest the Land of Your Dreams Part 2, Neem Leaf for Horses Anti-Parasitic, Natural Wormer, Summer Frolic with The Singing Horse Herd, Exploring with a Wild Mustang No Training No Touching, How to Manifest the Land of Your Dreams Part 1, Wild Oregano Heals Horses Intense Bug Allergy & Itching, Horse Wisdom: Transmuting Patriarchy or Dominance, Meditation Journey with The Herd for Anxiety, Loneliness or Fear, Horse Wisdom: Integrating Spiritual Shifts in the Physical Body, Aligning with Dog Wisdom No More Food Anxiety, Understanding & Listening to Dogs My Approach. If you live in a place that only occasionally gets wet/floods, then you may be able to skip this step. If you have loose or sandy soil, you'll need a base layer. And unfortunately, I have to report that my experience has been similar. Thought it was super great idea and she layered it with old hay/brush/sticks and other stuff (hence the lasagna reference) and said it had held up for two winters now! Crushed limestone drive from the concrete driveway to the tractor shed, stalls were crushed limestone too. In this front area I call the paddock are their water tubs and 2 walk-in shelters, each with its own slow feeder and rubber mats. I would not use it. Dr. Ann Swinker (professor of Equine Sciences) says: Ideally a two layer footing system works best when working with gravel. My friend Mitchell Allen, who builds horse trails in public parks uses this exact material. So yes, it will work in this climate (I tried it) but it will only work for one winter. 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?? A French drain offers a gravity-assisted means of keeping the yard free from excess moisture. Some terms that indicate compacting gravel are: crushed rock, crushed limestone, crushed stone, crusher run, fines, stone dust, aggregate, road base, paver base and decomposed granite (mixed with sand or stone dust). from coming into contact with your horses hooves, and then to facilitate the drainage of rainwater away from the surface, so your horses hooves stay drier. 3/4 in. What Is Rip Rap Gravel? The most common approach to firming up a muddy road is to add gravel. I thought I could get a few friends out and spread the gravel using rakes, but when I looked at the size of the piles and realized how heavy the gravel was, I decided to hire a local farmer to come spread it for me. You might also want to look into the Paddock Paradise, or, Walking Track system. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. So you watch where water flows when its raining, and then scrape and lay your gravel during summer when its dry. And include the UK terminology because thats even harder to figure out Post a link here if/when you do! Our horses can come and go as the please into the paddock and back out into the property. . However, horses hooves are way more punchy than car or truck tires. 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. The biggest issue is the immense amount of dust generated in the stalls. It will naturally get pushed out to the edges over time anyway. Thanks for all the valuable info. 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. This is really labor intensive and I totally did not anticipate the amount of leaf raking I was going to have to do! Beware of Temperature-Absorbing Materials Or email them to me and Ill upload them: service@listentoyourhorse.com And do you have any pics of the barn you never had to dig out? 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. wearing surface. Grades of limestone aggregate include: 2- to 3-inch Limestone - primarily a construction grade of Limestone. I was at a different stable where the horses just pulled up the barrier after digging down to it. Be aware that there are different types of crusher dust and the type that sets up very firm is what I prefer. So for the 1000 lb plate compactor you rented was that a separate machine? It was great to read such an informative article. Its uses include: On Bike Paths. You first have to put a commercial-grade shielding material used in road building like Nilex down on the soil and then lay down the 3-inch rock or recycled concrete (often cheaper), and then the gravel. Gravel/Crushed Rock fills approximately 1/3 cu. Im going to pick his oh-so-experienced brain and see if he knows anything we dont already know or has some tips or tweaks that make a world of difference. However, depending on the surface you lay the crusher dust on, it can also mix easily with the mud and be gone by the next rainy season. Granite Base. 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. Have to be careful, Ive seen a smaller piece (at another barn) of chip get wedged up hard in between the bar and frog. I am curious as to what you went with if you could let us know. Place crushed gravel on top of that, running the . HOW are these plants, actually helping or addressing an imbalance in your soil? Coarse aggregate does not compact easily; many voids may result leaving the surface uneven and difficult for livestock to walk on. What is Gravel? No the woodchips are not from the bark which is very tannic. Ive noticed those small plastic grids to lay on the ground surface to fill with gravel but they are pretty spendy. I am totally disillusioned with any gravelled solution now. So you cannot leave any of this organic matter sitting on your gravel, or else it will quickly break down into a mucky layer that defeats the whole purpose. Our rock and gravel delivery services have been used to install driveways, drainage systems, garden paths, roads, and much more. The process involves breaking of collected rocks down to the specific sizes with the help of different rock crushers/machines. I think your climate is a lot drier though and you get snow/ice most of the winter, right? Im on year 4 of doing that and it just keeps disappearing into our rain-soaked soil. Mix the Soil-Cement. After tilling is complete, spread the required amount . Cover the fabric with a 4- to 5-inch layer of crushed #1 or #2 limestone rocks. He was stunned by the county thinking gravel is non permeable and says they are dead wrong. So the plan is just to do stall mats in the 1212 stall areas. I have friends who have used almost the same formula but without the compacting and have to pick the rocks regularly (at least weekly, if not more often). Awesome Sherry! It is abundant, widely available, and inexpensive. Paths made of large limestone pavers are also popular, but with big slabs some considerations have to be taken into account. 2.5 inches equals .208 feet The water will travel through the rocks or gravel before entering the pipes. Excellent article, and appreciate the before and after pics. Clear all soft organic soil, grass, down to the compacted subgrade soil. I have hired a contractor with a huge tracked skid steer who specialises in fine grading to fill my trench back in and grade and scrape their entire paddock so that it has a nice gentle slope. I will probably go with the princess option , again thanks a million. it should be good. This should be perfect. I guess it goes back for centuries in the European countries and the lady that wrote the list was from Scotland. While you could use a number of materials to make your parking area, using gravel is a cost-effective option that provides you with a structurally sound end product.