Depth of pea gravel area

MotherOfChickens

MotherOfChickens

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I keep thinking my lot could do with one. I would have trouble putting one in my field though-clay and access problems and ground works are not in budget. I do have a large tarmac area outside the stables though, for grooming etc if I were to put pea gravel down on that, how deep should it be? Any bright ideas on enclosing it as well-sleepers maybe (I realise there would be some constant maintenance involved in that case)?

Anyone done anything similar? I could put rubber mating down underneath-we have this great stuff used on mine conveyor belts not doing anything.
 
You have to very careful puting gravel on concrete or tarmac as it acts like marbles, very unstable. I assume you are trying to construct an all weather turnout area?
 
not really, its somewhere where they are tied up and groomed and faffed around with-its not fenced in so they aren't left there. good point though, I was just wondering if there was a depth of pea gravel that would overcome that e.g. 4-6 inches?.
 
yeah, I've heard its a pain to poo pick and for getting hay etc in. Like I said, its not for heavy use-its just whether the benefits to their feet is worth the hassle. They are all barefoot but either live on clay soil, with a fair bit of roadwork but also stony forestry tracks-I wondered if a change of surface, even just for short regular periods, would be helpful.
 
wood chip wouldn't do anything for their feet, sand would not work in this area (although they would love it). I live on a moor and its very windy. Pea gravel is good for feet.
 
old scaffold boards would be cheaper and cleaner to enclose the area if there is a way of putting in some small uprights to support them (or use the Metposts that attach to concrete)

If contained you have a chance of getting away with pea gravel but you will need to even it out every now and again as it will migrate to the edges

I think nearer to 6 inches than 4 would be right
 
thanks WelshD-it's tarmac and I thought that I couldn't use Metposts with tarmac? it's also a very old, very uneven surface although that bit isn't too bad. I had thought or turning it into a pole yard-by getting posts buried in but I can't convince OH and would be out of budget atm.
 
yes, I saw those too! but I have been told that tarmac isn't suitable but will keep researching. Someone on FB has a pea gravel area (although much bigger than I propose) using sleepers and 5/6 inches of pea gravel and her horses seem to love it. I am wondering if some membrane underneath and up sides, covered in topsoil/sand and gravel on top might be better-the bottom layer of gravel would then have something to bed in to.
 
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