"Footing"

[gatorbait4sure]

I have a friend who is getting a new horse, and is replacing an area that is full if old bricks and debris (Pulling it all out with a front end loader) and replacing it with something good for the horse.......Neither of us can think of what to use. We live on Cape Cod and sand is EVERYWHERE, plus she lives very near the beach. This area will be used as a paddock (turnout).

Does anyone have any good ideas?

 

[Bluerocket]

topsoil would be my first choice

 

[dangerranger]

Having never been to Cape Cod, so Im only guessing that it rains there quite a bit. [ not our problem here in central CA.] I would start at ground level and build it up with crushed gravel or road base to about 4" above. and then add 3 to 4" of sand above that. this will alow the water to drain throu and away from the horse [ so hes not standing in mud or puddles.] this also makes for easy cleaning . every other year or so youll have to add an inch of sand to replace what was lost with the poop. I build our stalls that way here but not quite as tall as we dont have near as much rain.[ we get all of our rain in a 4 month period] good luck DR.

 

[MiniHoofBeats]

Actually you should look up a guy my step mom and I ran into at Midwest Horse Fair - I wish I remembered the name of his company, we lost his card sadly...he has chipped rubber in either fine, or coarse particles that is specifically for mixing in with the sand/dirt of arena's, outdoors, etc. and it is for better traction and footing for horses! Great stuff it was just awesome but I can't remember the company name....it also came in a rainbow of colors, green, maroon, black, brown, blue, etc.

This Equiflex sounds like it but not good pictures...http://www.earthbound95.com/Equiflex.html

This one looks nice - http://dressagearena.net/pages/footing_dress.html

Here's color examples! - http://www.equi-tread.com/

 

[jbrat]

I'm not sure what to use but I thought it might help to know :

What approx. size of an area and if its big enough if you'd want a grassy area?

Since you refer to it as a turn out instead of a dry lot or ridding paddock.

I like the stuff in link Minihoofbeats posted. I've never seen it around here.

You and your friend have fun with your mini's :bgrin