mydaddysjag
Well-Known Member
We are putting up a shed row barn that is 12x24, an 8x12 feed/bedding room, and then a stall. I only even keep geldings, so if needed, the remaining 12x16 can be split into another 8x12. My horse will be out through the day, and in at night. Where our field and pasture tends to stay wet through the early spring, so we are trying to do everything possible to keep it dry. Of course, we have a low budget as well, making it hard to get everything we want done in the time we have (one week to complete the project)
We already installed a french drain and gravel around the base of the barn, the barn is a few inches above the rest of the ground, and my stalls have about 3" of 2b gravel in them. I am going to put stall mats over that. Now Im reading that I should have put limestone or sand under the mats, but honestly, Im not sure I'll have the money to purchase either by next weekend. Is it going to hurt my horse to stand on mats over packed gravel until we get money to get some sand for under them? They are thick rubber stall mats.
I have also been reading that pelleted bedding helps keep stalls drier than sawdust or shavings. Does anyone prefer the pellets over the sawdust? Is it comfortable for the horses to stand on? Should I use pellets, with a thin layer of shavings on top?
Sorry for so many questions, I just dont want to make mistakes that are costly to fix that can be avoided by doing it right in the first place.
We already installed a french drain and gravel around the base of the barn, the barn is a few inches above the rest of the ground, and my stalls have about 3" of 2b gravel in them. I am going to put stall mats over that. Now Im reading that I should have put limestone or sand under the mats, but honestly, Im not sure I'll have the money to purchase either by next weekend. Is it going to hurt my horse to stand on mats over packed gravel until we get money to get some sand for under them? They are thick rubber stall mats.
I have also been reading that pelleted bedding helps keep stalls drier than sawdust or shavings. Does anyone prefer the pellets over the sawdust? Is it comfortable for the horses to stand on? Should I use pellets, with a thin layer of shavings on top?
Sorry for so many questions, I just dont want to make mistakes that are costly to fix that can be avoided by doing it right in the first place.