Concreting Gateways

[winchester]

Has anyone ever concreted gateways in their fields?

Does it help in the Winter? Any pros and Cons?

I am on Clay so hoping it might help my fields a little......

 

[BigRed]

My friend is on clay, she has a concrete apron in the gateway which she calls her pony patio. But she only has two, so it's not that bad.

I put road planings down in my gateway, I think it's better if you have the type of horses who lurk there waiting to come in, but planings will eventually sink of course. I only have two as well...

 

[smiffyimp]

We have concrete at our main gate, it does get a bit muddy round the edge but not bad, however there is no horse left in the field to trample the gate way which is probably why it doesnt get bad. We're on clay too.

 

[Honey08]

It definately helps. It gives the horses something to stand on at the gateway, and means that you can safely turn them round and shut the gate when turning out.

The cons of concrete are -
A) Can get slippery, so needs to be rough not smooth.
B) Actually against planning rules, looks ugly and stands out like a sore thumb.

I use hardcore or plainings in the gateways of our wet clay fields. There is a 8' square pad around the gateway, which the horses can stand on, rather than mud while waiting to come it. It also means you don't get your wellies sucked off your feet when catching them! Again, its not in planning regulations for greenbelt areas, but isn't so noticeable, and will grass over a bit in time. If you put enough down (6" thick plus) it doesn't really sink.