Building a track - what are the options?

[soloequestrian]

I put down an area of Mud Control mats last summer for winter feeding (big bale haylage in a round feeder). It has been a godsend in this plague of rain - the horses have somewhere to stand out of the mud. The trouble is that they don't want to get off it and move around, the field is unpleasantly slippy and I'm not sure if they are lying down much. I'm thinking of putting in a covered and surfaced loafing area with a track joining the feeding and loafing areas to encourage them to move around and lie down. Looking for ideas/experiences of doing either or both of these things - costs versus effectiveness, that kind of thing. I could use more of the MC mats but wondering if there is anything cheaper and/or more effective for a length of track (maybe 50-60m, it wouldn't be fenced, just to give them something non-muddy to walk on). I did look into hardcore but it was going to work out more expensive, less flexible and probably shorter lived than the mats. TIA!

 

[GinaGeo]

You would eventually lose hardstanding under mud if you aren’t going to fence it off.

But it would at least have a solid base.

We have put a hardstanding track in. Limestone. With a drainage layer underneath where required. Not cheap.

But it’s not going anywhere. We don’t allow them on the fields when it’s muddy though. You soon lose your hardstanding under mud. Tried that -had to dig it back out again. That was a waste of money

At least the mud mats would keep floating.

 

[Exasperated]

I put down an area of Mud Control mats last summer for winter feeding (big bale haylage in a round feeder). It has been a godsend in this plague of rain - the horses have somewhere to stand out of the mud. The trouble is that they don't want to get off it and move around, the field is unpleasantly slippy and I'm not sure if they are lying down much. I'm thinking of putting in a covered and surfaced loafing area with a track joining the feeding and loafing areas to encourage them to move around and lie down. Looking for ideas/experiences of doing either or both of these things - costs versus effectiveness, that kind of thing. I could use more of the MC mats but wondering if there is anything cheaper and/or more effective for a length of track (maybe 50-60m, it wouldn't be fenced, just to give them something non-muddy to walk on). I did look into hardcore but it was going to work out more expensive, less flexible and probably shorter lived than the mats. TIA!

Find out from your local authority what permissions you might need to permanently change any part of your field. Mud mats are liftable, plenty of track surfacing is not, hardcore definitely not.
I’ve heard of a case where the entire area has got to be returned to grassland (L.A.order, involving range of environmental, cultural, legal officials) and sounds like not an isolated one, either.

 

[Nicnac]

I have mc mats around stables as great for going between barns and stables.
My winter field has 2 huge areas of hardstanding. One around trough and t'other around gate where I feed a bit of hay. If hay is empty they walk around the field nibble grass and over to water when thirsty so keep moving.
The issue with tracks is that they move to the feeding areas, stand there for hours and then just move onto next feed spot.
My winter field is rested from mid Feb to November so always comes back.
I replaced my hard standing this year after a good 10 years so good value.