Bedding for a Hardstanding area

[CazD]

I keep three large native ponies on 2 acres of land. In one corner of the field we have sectioned off a rectangular area which has a field shelter in one corner. The rectangular area has been hardcored and we close the ponies in on this area when the ground is really wet and muddy to save the grazing. When the weather is dry they have access to both the field and the rectangular area and shelter. I would like to put down an area inside the rectangle where they could lie down and roll comfortably when they are penned in. At the moment we use woodchip but this becomes smelly and boggy very quickly as the ponies also use it like a sort of cat litter. Is there anything else I could use that might work better?
Thank you.

 

[skye_and_i]

sand, arena surface ect, would drain easily and be easy to muck out and nice to roll on ect. if it got abit smelly you could alsways spray with a diluted jeyes fluid mix.

dont use normal builders sand those cos that'll stain rugs ect, you could use builders sharp sand or find local silica sand quarry!

 

[flyingfeet]

Sand?

You don't really want anything absorbant

 

[CazD]

I'd considered sand but was a bit worried about the colic risk especially when they are penned on the hardstanding as they have a tendancy to snuffle about and eat any leaves etc that blow down from the trees.
Pea gravel has been suggested by a friend - do you think that would work? My horses are all shod.

 

[mrdarcy]

Pea gravel would be ideal. In fact pea gravel is what is recommended for barefoot horses to walk about on so wouldn't matter if your ponies were shod or not.

Do you also bed down inside the field shelter? I bed down my shelters with straw and also throw down any wasted hay that they've left.

 

[CazD]

Hi - no, I dont bed down in the field shelter. It has an earth floor, whereas the rest of the rectangle is crushed stone hardstanding. The shelter isnt really big enough for three ponies to lie in although its just about large enough for them all to go in together to eat and they seem reasonably OK together in it sharing hay (once they've got their pecking order established LOL). If I put bedding in the shelter they just use it as a toilet and with three of them milling around in there it gets very smelly as they all wee for England and the floor just soaks it up (yuck)

 

[Theresa_F]

Is rubber matting possible on top of the hardcore?

 

[CazD]

I couldnt rubber mat the whole area as the expense would be atronomical but am looking just to bed down in one corner. They have rubber matting in the stables but never lie down in there so I'm not sure they would lie down on it outside either but would probably end up rolling on the hard ground (idiots that they are LOL).

Think I might give the pea gravel idea a bit more thought or else just stick with woodchip and renew it yearly.
Many thanks for everyones replies.

 

[HelsB]

What about those holey rubber mat things they use to help driver over mud at some showgrounds etc? Does anyone know what these are called?