Suggestions for paddock

reba4 · 08-26-2006, 06:25 PM

I have a small paddock on the side of my barn, abotut 65'x65'. It is a clay type of soil that floods anytime there is rain. I was thinking of having a load of sand brought it. Any suggestions on this problem?

Here is a pic before rain

Same paddock after a rain storm.

mrebele · 08-26-2006, 07:05 PM

Besides being new horse owners, my husband and I own a campground. Although we haven't had a lot of experience with paddocks, I can tell you that when we have a campsite to build and it is like that, we usually remove some of the mucky clay on top before we bring fill in. We even bring in gravel for a solid base and then top it off with sand. I am not sure if that is a good idea for a paddock though.

Sometimes if you just throw sand on top, the sand will sink into the clay and it won't solve the problem. Good luck with your paddock. I'll follow this thread to see how you make out.

MaggyMae · 08-26-2006, 07:07 PM

Oh my.....I think I'd go rent a Ditch Witch and use it to make an outlet, sloped down into a ditch....maybe by the cornfield.... so the paddock can drain before I put down sand. I don't think sand on top would do much. You would have to plow it into the clay....using a whole lotta sand and going down pretty deep to get water to percolate through it.. Much easier to cut a drain, I think.
Just my 2 cents, tho.

cook1745 · 08-26-2006, 07:24 PM

I would also say make a drain some how maybe ever put some pipes in and allow it to drain off some where else. Two of my pasture have drainage systems in them and they really help.

Littonian · 08-26-2006, 07:29 PM

We had an area that was heavily travelled by the horses, it was a double gate area and the mud would come up over the tops of tall wellie boots. Ugh.

Our solution was some stuff called AgriWeb. The park service used it in the Gettysburg Battlefield park on the trails.

Here's a website:

http://www.alcoa.com/alcoa_consumer_...eb/webload.asp

It is fairly labor intensive, and not cheap, but we've had ours in for 2 years, and it's dry year round. We put it in two area, and the difference was astonishing.

**taelesean** · 08-26-2006, 08:15 PM

What I see is that the horses have beat the ground down in the middle of that paddock. Drains won't really help, and sand certainly won't either. What you need to do is regrade that paddock so that the middle is higher than the edges, and there is no lip at the fenceline, so the water flows away. You may need to add a considerable amount of fill to the paddock (maybe you could get the fill by diggin a drainage ditch away from the paddock) From the looks of it, you are also getting some runoff from that road back there.

Once the center is built up, then top it with gravel and pound it in (to help keep the new grade where it is), and then top it with sand to reduce the loose mud and give your horses softer footing.

pauldonnelly · 08-29-2006, 11:35 PM

try putting a ad out for free dumping of fill dirt .

might even post a ad in your local paper

08-26-2006, 06:25 PM
reba4 Long Yearling Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Traverse City, Michigan Posts: 1,007	Suggestions for paddock I have a small paddock on the side of my barn, abotut 65'x65'. It is a clay type of soil that floods anytime there is rain. I was thinking of having a load of sand brought it. Any suggestions on this problem? Here is a pic before rain Same paddock after a rain storm. __________________

08-26-2006, 07:05 PM
mrebele Weanling Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 431	Besides being new horse owners, my husband and I own a campground. Although we haven't had a lot of experience with paddocks, I can tell you that when we have a campsite to build and it is like that, we usually remove some of the mucky clay on top before we bring fill in. We even bring in gravel for a solid base and then top it off with sand. I am not sure if that is a good idea for a paddock though. Sometimes if you just throw sand on top, the sand will sink into the clay and it won't solve the problem. Good luck with your paddock. I'll follow this thread to see how you make out.

08-26-2006, 07:07 PM
MaggyMae Yearling Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 716	Oh my.....I think I'd go rent a Ditch Witch and use it to make an outlet, sloped down into a ditch....maybe by the cornfield.... so the paddock can drain before I put down sand. I don't think sand on top would do much. You would have to plow it into the clay....using a whole lotta sand and going down pretty deep to get water to percolate through it.. Much easier to cut a drain, I think. Just my 2 cents, tho. __________________ Visit the U.S. Equine Rescue League website to learn about our rescued horses: http://www.userl.org/index.html

08-26-2006, 07:24 PM
cook1745 Greenbroke Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Mexico Posts: 3,634	I would also say make a drain some how maybe ever put some pipes in and allow it to drain off some where else. Two of my pasture have drainage systems in them and they really help.

08-26-2006, 07:29 PM
Littonian Weanling Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 338	We had an area that was heavily travelled by the horses, it was a double gate area and the mud would come up over the tops of tall wellie boots. Ugh. Our solution was some stuff called AgriWeb. The park service used it in the Gettysburg Battlefield park on the trails. Here's a website: http://www.alcoa.com/alcoa_consumer_...eb/webload.asp It is fairly labor intensive, and not cheap, but we've had ours in for 2 years, and it's dry year round. We put it in two area, and the difference was astonishing. __________________ Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely, but rather to skid in sideways, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO - what a ride!"

08-26-2006, 08:15 PM
taelesean Administrator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 5,756	What I see is that the horses have beat the ground down in the middle of that paddock. Drains won't really help, and sand certainly won't either. What you need to do is regrade that paddock so that the middle is higher than the edges, and there is no lip at the fenceline, so the water flows away. You may need to add a considerable amount of fill to the paddock (maybe you could get the fill by diggin a drainage ditch away from the paddock) From the looks of it, you are also getting some runoff from that road back there. Once the center is built up, then top it with gravel and pound it in (to help keep the new grade where it is), and then top it with sand to reduce the loose mud and give your horses softer footing. __________________

08-29-2006, 11:35 PM
pauldonnelly Weanling Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Noble oklahoma Posts: 440	try putting a ad out for free dumping of fill dirt . might even post a ad in your local paper __________________ Show me the open trail and get outa my way me and the kids are comin thru