Clay soil and drainage

[Fragglerock]

My field is like a bog. Has anyone ever put drainage in? I know it's expensive (I have 6 acres to do) and was it worth doing?

 

[honetpot]

I only have three inches of topsoil, then its clay, then more clay then rock and there is no way the water can drain through. I had some drainage put in, and unless its topped to the surface with gravel and not back filled,the clay stops the water going through. You either have to grade the land so the water runs off and does not pool or I would invest in the largest area of Mudmats I could afford. I have spent £10k on drainage which includes a storage pond but its still gets muddy.

 

[rabatsa]

If you drain is there anywhere to drain the water to? It is no good paying a fortune for drainage if the ditch infrastructure is not there to remove the water.

I would spend the money on mud control mats so there is a decent area that does not bog up. My beasties use the matted area with only forays into the rest of the paddock on dry days.

 

[Goldenstar]

Our land is clay with drains .
They work but they are only as good as where the water can get to .

 

[GinaGeo]

We are on clay. We are on a slope, have drains, and ponds and drainage ditches. But still get dreadful mud if we use the land in winter.

Horses have an all weather, drained and surfaced loafing area that they live on in winter and we only use the paddocks when it's dry. We don't have a high acreage for the horses though - and this is how we work it.

 

[ihatework]

I’m in a clay area and have been very lucky to share the rent on 20 acres that many years ago the owner had drainage put in. It’s unbelievable and means they can stay out 24/7 and even now I can walk across the land with trainers on. I dread to think how much it cost to do mind.

Downsides are there isn’t a deep soil structure any more, so the grass isn’t amazing. But to be honest that’s almost a bonus as you can regulate intake easier

 

[Fragglerock]

If you drain is there anywhere to drain the water to? It is no good paying a fortune for drainage if the ditch infrastructure is not there to remove the water.

I would spend the money on mud control mats so there is a decent area that does not bog up. My beasties use the matted area with only forays into the rest of the paddock on dry days.

Our land is clay with drains .
They work but they are only as good as where the water can get to .

Should have said that it's on a hill and there are drainage ditches that all around. We have actually found a couple of clay pipes that drain onto one but suspect most of them are broken and they are not very close together.

I have a field shelter in the field with a large area of hardstanding. This is at the bottom of the hill and we had french drains around it that work really well as the shelter doesn't flood any more. Any water drains really quickly. It is the winter field so as such it doesn't matter if it gets trashed but it can't be nice for the horses (although the shelter doesn't get used much). I walked in my friends field the other day, less than a mile away and was so envious of what she has - not boggy or muddy although her horses are a lot smaller. 17hh ID doesn't do it any good.